Pablo Boixeda (MIT)

Title: On the center of the small quantum group

Abstract: The question of the center of the quantum group at a generic parameter was understood by Drinfeld in 1989, but the center of this algebra when you specialize
at a root of unity remained an open question. By work of Lachowska, Qi, and
Bezrukavnikov we had some description of the center of the small quantum group.
In joint work with Bezrukavnikov, Shen, and Vasserot, we prove a more concrete
description of the center of the small quantum group, in terms of the cohomology
of a certain affine Springer fiber.