Mathematics Seminar Series

New York City College of Technology(CUNY) 

 

 

Abstract of the Talk by: Dr. Hans Schoutens

Ultraproducts in Algebra

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


An ultraproduct is a tool from logic, and, unfortunately, scarcely known by algebraists. I will argue for their usefulness by showing that it can make the "students binomial" theorem true over the complex numbers: (a+b)^v=a^v+b^v. More precisely,  the exponent v in this magic formula is an ultraproduct of prime numbers, and therefore defines an endomorphism, called the ultra-Frobenius. Its action on various cohomology groups is quite extraordinary, and leads to knew characterizations of rational singularities. I will provide in this talk the general context, sketch the construction of an ultraproduct, and state some results. A basic knowledge of algebra should suffice.

 


 

 


 

 

 

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