Thursday, November 13
Milner 216, 1:00 PM
Title: The classical periods of abelian integrals II
Abstract: The periods of abelian integrals appear in complex function theory, number theory, algebraic geometry and mathematical physics. Beginning with an example from elementary calculus, we will give an informal discussion of abelian integrals and their periods. There will be no rigorous proofs. Towards the end of the lecture, we hope to illustrate our own contribution to the subject by determining the periods associated to the Fermat curve. This talk will assume little background and is especially suitable for students (graduate and advanced undergraduate).