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Host: Mathematics Research Centre
Homepage: http://www.maths.warwick.ac.uk/research/programmes/current/other_items_99-2000/op_alge_Sept99.html
Email: peta@maths.warwick.ac.uk
Organizers: David E Evans (Cardiff), Yasuyuki Kawahigashi (Tokyo University), Iku Nakamura (Hokkaido), Miles Reid (Warwick)
Description:
The workshop brings together specialists in operator algebras,
statistical mechanics, conformal field theory and algebraic geometry to
explore recently observed connections between different approaches
to the algebra and geometry of finite subgroups of SU(2) and SU(3).
On the face of it, II_1 and III_1 subfactors in operator algebras,
modular invariant partition functions in conformal field theory, finite
subgroups of SU(n) and the resolution of their orbifolds are
more-or-less unrelated topics. Nevertheless their study leads to
combinatorics displaying all kinds of analogies. Our SU(2) cases,
along with many other areas of mathematics are governed by the ADE
classification. Recent work in trying to understand the higher rank
case, so far mainly SU(3), involves induction of sectors in nets of
subfactors, the classification of conformal boundary conditions,
cohomology of the resolution of a singularity - all of which provide
fusion graphs generalising the ADE classification. The main objective
of this workshop is to probe for connections at a deeper level to
explain the empirically observed similarities between the results. We
expect this to lead to progress in solving open problems.
Date received: August 28, 1999
© 2008 Atlas Conferences Inc.