Georgia Institute of Technology College of Sciences

We discuss the higher Teichmuller space A_{G,S} defined by Fockand Goncharov. This space is defined for a punctured surface S withnegative Euler characteristic, and a semisimple, simply connected Lie groupG. There is a birational atlas on A_{G,S} with a chart for each idealtriangulation of S. Fock and Goncharov showed that the transition functionsare positive, i.e. subtraction-free rational functions. We will show thatwhen G has rank 2, the transition functions are given by explicit quivermutations.

Systems biology focuses on modeling complex biological systems, such as metabolic and cell signaling networks. These biological networks are modeled with polynomial dynamical systems. Analyzing these systems at steady-state results in algebraic varieties that live in high-dimensional spaces. By understanding these varieties, we can provide insight into the behavior of the models. Furthermore, this algebro-geometric framework yields techniques for model selection and parameter estimation that can circumvent challenges such as limited or noisy data. In this talk, we will introduce biochemical reaction networks and their resulting steady-state varieties. In addition, we will discuss the questions asked by modelers and their corresponding geometric interpretation, particularly in regards to model selection and parameter estimation.

The Parameterization Method is a functional analytic framework for studying invariant manifolds such as stable/unstable manifolds of periodic orbits and invariant tori. This talk will focus on numerical applications such as computing manifolds associated with long periodic orbits, and computing periodic invariant circles (manifolds consisting of several disjoint circles mapping one to another, each of which has an iterate conjugate to an irrational rotation). I will also illustrate how to combine Automatic Differentiation with the Parameterization Method to simplify problems with non-polynomial nonlinearities.

SGSW is a third level specialization of Navier-Stokes (via Boussinesq, then Semi-Geostrophic), and it accurately describes large-scale, rotation-dominated atmospheric flow under the extra-assumption that the horizontal velocity of the fluid is independent of the vertical coordinate. The Cullen-Purser stability condition establishes a connection between SGSW and Optimal Transport by imposing semi-convexity on the pressure; this has led to results of existence of solutions in dual space (i.e., where the problem is transformed under a non-smooth change of variables). In this talk I will present recent results on existence and weak stability of solutions in physical space (i.e., in the original variables) for general initial data, the very first of their kind. This is based on joint work with M. Feldman (UW-Madison).