The Category Theory of Quantum Field Theory

Add to your list(s) Download to your calendar using vCal

• Jamie Vicary, Oxford University Computing Laboratory
• Tuesday 22 February 2011, 14:15-15:15
• MR3, Centre for Mathematical Sciences.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Nathan Bowler.

The foundations of quantum field theory are murky, and we are very far from finding a clear mathematical perspective from which to understand them. However, in the regime where physics is ‘topological’, it is profoundly clear that the correct perspective is higher category theory. I will talk about why this is, and describe some recent results on the classification of topological quantum field theories that relies directly on cutting-edge pure-categorical technology. You don’t need to know any quantum field theory to understand this talk!

This talk is part of the Category Theory Seminar series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• All CMS events
• All Talks (aka the CURE list)
• CMS Events
• Category Theory Seminar
• DPMMS Lists
• DPMMS Pure Maths Seminar
• DPMMS info aggregator
• DPMMS lists
• MR3, Centre for Mathematical Sciences
• School of Physical Sciences

Note that ex-directory lists are not shown.