A great circle on the 2-sphere cannot be disjoined from another great circle if you only allow area-preserving transformations. This simple example has a far-reaching generalisation in higher dimensions using the language of symplectic geometry. The analogue of a great circle from our toy problem would be a La- grangian submanifold and the persistent intersections between two Lagrangians can be studied using ideas of Andreas Floer from the 1980s which have led to spectacular applications in dynamics and in understanding mirror symmetry. In this talk, I will explain that there are hints of even more subtle persistent inter- section phenomena (surplusection) which go beyond Floer theory. I will give examples where surplusection occurs, and explain what it has to do with the following open question in Euclidean geometry. Given a convex body K in n- dimensional Euclidean space, is there a point in K which lies on 2n normals to the boundary? (Joint with Georgios Dimitroglou Rizell)
Bâtiment 26 - Amphi 111
comments