Friday, March 14th, 2014
11:00am - 12:00pm, in Science 2-065

Ricardo Castaño-Bernard

Kansas State University

Geometric transitions via affine geometry and mirror symmetry

Abstract: Geometric transitions relate pairs of Calabi-Yau manifolds acquiring singularities, such as nodal also --called "conifold" singularities-- by either replacing it by a Lagrangian 3-sphere (smoothing,) or a symplectic 2-sphere (resolution). Geometric transitions play a role in geometry (algebraic, symplectic, mirror symmetry) and string theory (mirror symmetry, Gopakumar-Vafa conjecture). In this talk, I will provide a picture of how conifold transitions can be understood in terms of Strominger-Yau-Zaslow (SYZ) mirror duality. Along the way I will provide as much background material as possible.