Speaker: Ahsan Khan (Harvard)

Title: Poisson Vertex Sigma Models

Abstract: I will discuss a generalization of the two-dimensional Poisson sigma model to a holomorphic-topological field theory in three dimensions. It is defined from the data of a Poisson vertex algebra and when specialized to well-known PVAs, the field theory can be identified with field theories such as Chern-Simons theory and (higher spin) gravity. I'll explain how PVA modules correspond to line defects in this theory, and finally, I'll aim to explain how this field theory sheds light on the deformation quantization problem of Poisson vertex algebras.

Zoom: https://mit.zoom.us/j/93615455445. For the Passcode, please contact Pavel Etingof at etingof@math.mit.edu.