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Back to Algebraic Geometry Seminar: Fall 2011

Algebraic Geometry Seminar


Date: Tuesday, Dec 6, 2011

Time: 3:30PM - 4:30PM

Location: LCB 222


Jonathan Wise

Stanford University

Title

Infinitesimal deformation theory and Grothendieck topologies

Abstract

To probe the infinitesimal structure of a moduli space of geometric objects, one seeks to understand families of those objects over “fat points”. Remarkably, these deformation problems tend to admit cohomological solutions of a common form: obstructions in H^2, deformations in H^1, and automorphisms in H^0. I will offer an explanation for this common form, coming from some exotic Grothendieck topologies. We will see how this point of view works in several examples. No prior knowledge about Grothendieck topologies or deformation theory will be assumed.

Algebraic Geometry

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