Observables in the Batalin-Vilkovisky formalism: from Feynman diagrams to commutative diagrams

Abstract: This talk will discuss a convergence between perturbative QFT and higher algebra, in the sense of homological algebra, operads, and higher categories, although we do not expect the listener to have any expertise in those topics. A key notion here is a factorization algebra, which captures the local-to-global nature of the observables of a field theory and which is due to Beilinson and Drinfeld. With a focus on the example of Chern-Simons theory, we will discuss how the BV/factorization package offers a new view on the emergence of algebraic structures, like braided monoidal categories, from physics.

mathematical physics

Audience: researchers in the discipline

( video )

One world IAMP mathematical physics seminar

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