Colloquium: Fritz Gesztesy
Event Type:
Colloquium
Speaker:
Fritz Gesztesy, Baylor University
Event Date:
Thursday, March 22, 2018 -
3:30pm to 4:30pm
Location:
SMLC 356
Audience:
Faculty/StaffStudents
Sponsor/s:
Maxim Zinchenko
Event Description:
Title: Trace formulas and zeta functions for differential operators - or, a spectral theorist computes pi
Abstract: We discuss an effective method of computing traces, determinants, and zeta functions for some classes of linear operators and apply this to the concrete case of Sturm-Liouville operators.
To illustrate the formalism, we will sketch a spectral theorist's computation of pi, Jacobi’s classical transformation formula for one-dimensional theta functions (utilizing the heat equation on the circle), and sketch a derivation of a formula for Apery’s constant, zeta(3), employing a trace formula.
The talk will minimize technicalities and be accessible to students.
This is based in part on recent joint work with Klaus Kirsten.