Peter Bürgisser: From polynomial identity testing to geodesic optimization via invariant theory

Location

FR4, Albanova

Schedule

14:15–15:00 ​Pre-colloquium by Thomas Grill in FB53.

15:15–16:15 Colloquium lecture by Peter Bürgisser.
16:15–17:00 SMC social get together with refreshments.

Abstract

The solution of the noncommutative version of Edmond's problem by tools from invariant theory has initiated an algorithmic study of orbit problems for group actions. Over the complex numbers, in high level of generality, these may be reformulated as geodesic optimization problems. They can be effectively solved by relying on a convexity property discovered by Kempf and Ness. The complexity of the procedures is dominated by numerical parameters as they are arising in geometric invariant theory.