Symmetries and Diagram Algebras

Dr. Alexander Wilson
Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Oberlin College

In this talk I will introduce you to the world of symmetric group representations through diagram algebras, which trace their origin to the Temperley-Lieb algebra with applications in integrable models, knot theory, and quantum groups. For representation theory, these algebras offer a sneaky path toward solving difficult problems by understanding the ways that graph-theoretic diagrams combine. The only background I will assume is some familiarity with linear algebra, so if you like (or at least tolerate) playing around with pretty combinatorial objects, I hope you’ll attend!