Bott periodicity from algebraic geometry

Jim Bryan (University of British Columbia)

10-Feb-2022, 23:30-00:30 (2 years ago)

Abstract: A famous theorem in algebraic topology is Bott periodicity: the homotopy groups of the space of orthogonal matrices repeat with period 8: pi_k(O) = pi_{k+8}(O) . I will give an elementary overview of Bott periodicity and then I will explain how to formulate and prove a theorem in algebraic geometry which, when specialized to the field of complex numbers, recovers the usual topological Bott periodicity, but makes sense over any field. This is work in progress with Ravi Vakil.

algebraic geometrynumber theory

Audience: researchers in the topic


SFU NT-AG seminar

Series comments: Description: Research/departmental seminar

Seminar usually meets in-person. For online editions, the Zoom link is shared via mailing list.

Organizers: Katrina Honigs*, Nils Bruin*
*contact for this listing

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