Colloquium: "Heegaard Floer Homology, L-spaces, and Dehn Surgery"

Sarah Rasmussen, University of Cambridge

Abstract: Heegaard Floer homology (HF) is an invariant of closed oriented 3-manifolds.  Such a 3-manifold is called an L-space when its reduced HF vanishes. I will briefly discuss the role of HF, and related gauge-theoretic invariants, in the study of 3- and 4-dimensional geometry and topology, and how an improved understanding of L-spaces can potentially broaden that role.  Finally, I will describe recent progress in the study of L-spaces, particularly within the context of Dehn surgery.

Tea @ 3:45 in Cupples I, Room 200

Host: Rachel Roberts