Mathematisches Kolloquium
On Thursday June 6th, 2019, at 16:30h
Martin Bridson
(University of Oxford)
will give a talk in lecture hall A027 on
Finite Shadows of Infinite Groups: From Profinite Triviality to Profinite Rigidity
Abstract: There are many situations in geometry and group theory where it is natural, convenient or necessary to explore infinite groups via their finite-dimensional representations or their actions on finite objects. How much understanding can one gain about an infinite group in this way? Sometimes little, sometimes a lot. Can one construct algorithms that can recognise when two finitely presented groups have the same finite quotients,or decide whether a group has any finite-dimensional representations? Which groups that arise in nature are completely determined by their finite images? I shall sketch some of the rich history of these problems and explain how input from geometry and low-dimensional topology have transformed the subject in recent years.
Everyone is invited! Join us for coffee and tea in the common room (B448) half an hour before the talk.