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FRINATEK-Fri prosj.st. mat.,naturv.,tek

Equations in Motivic Homotopy

Alternative title: Ligninger i motivisk homotopi

Awarded: NOK 10.9 mill.

An algebraic variety is the set at which a given collection of polynomials simultaneously vanish. Algebraic geometry is the study of algebraic varieties. Going back to antiquity, many central problems in mathematics are concerned with counting and constructing algebraic varieties. During the last century, algebraic geometry has benefited from various tools and perspectives offered by algebraic topology, the qualitative study of shape. Motivic homotopy theory (also called A1-homotopy theory) is a discipline within algebraic topology that has especially close ties to algebraic geometry. Many of the research projects in EMOHO revolve around the role of motivic homotopy theory in counting of symmetries and constructing varieties.

This research project lies at the interface of algebraic geometry and homotopy theory, two pillars of contemporary mathematics. Algebraic geometry has ancient origins with many connections to real-world problems. Its goal is to understand the geometry of algebraic varieties or solutions sets of polynomial equations. Homotopy theory on the other hand is developed more recently and aims to study a general notion of shape; such invariants do not depend on the way a space is pulled or twisted, and is less rigid than the idea of shape studied in algebraic geometry. Perfectly shaped higher dimensional spheres are simple yet important building blocks for geometric structures. It turns out that spheres of different dimensions can fit together in only certain combinations to create more complicated geometric objects. The computation of stable homotopy groups of the sphere is among the most fundamental problems in homotopy theory. By importing the notion of spheres to the study of algebraic varieties one arrives at the modern subject of motivic homotopy theory. This idea provides novel ways for qualitatively describing the shapes of equations, and has in the past twenty-five years enjoyed spectacular successes in resolving open problems. Several arithmetic and geometric phenomena which appear delicate are invariant under motivc homotopies. The project addresses directly the heart of motivic homotopy theory by computing invariants like numbers, groups, rings, and sheaves to understand shapes. Motivic homotopy theory heavily utilizes the fact that the stable motivic homotopy category behaves like a derived category of modules. The motivic sphere behaves as a brave new system of numbers which has much deeper structures than numbers we use in our daily lives. Computing the symmetries of the motivic sphere is one of the overarching themes in the subject. This project aims to broaden and deepen our knowledge in this fundamental area of mathematics.

Publications from Cristin

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FRINATEK-Fri prosj.st. mat.,naturv.,tek