Colloquium: Determinants, Schubert varieties, and quiver representation varieties

Dr. Jenna Rajchgot from the University of Saskatchewan will be giving a colloquium talk on "Determinants, Schubert varieties, and quiver representation varieties" on Friday Jan. 31st, 3:30-5:00pm in COR B112.

Abstract:

Determinantal varieties are algebraic varieties defined by the simultaneous vanishing of minors of matrices. They are important in algebraic geometry because many naturally occurring algebraic varieties have determinantal structure.

After reviewing some of these ideas, I'll focus on two such families of algebraic varieties:

(i) Schubert varieties in flag varieties and multiple flag varieties; and

(ii) representation varieties of Dynkin quivers.

The study of each family is motivated by questions in algebraic geometry and representation theory and has led to beautiful combinatorics.

Furthermore, each family contains, as special cases, classes of determinantal varieties of independent interest. 

I'll discuss an ongoing research program on unifying problems about the equivariant geometry and combinatorics of representation varieties of Dynkin quivers with the corresponding problems for Schubert varieties in multiple flag varieties (joint with R. Kinser), as well as some consequences on combinatorial formulas for degeneracy loci (joint with R.Kinser and A. Knutson).