Geometry and representation theory of tensors for computer science, statistics and other areas

July 21 to July 25, 2008

at the

American Institute of Mathematics, Palo Alto, California

organized by

Joseph Landsberg, Lek-Heng Lim, Jason Morton, and Jerzy Weyman

This workshop, sponsored by AIM and the NSF, will be devoted to translating questions from quantum computing, complexity theory, statistical learning theory, signal processing, and data analysis to problems in geometry and representation theory. In all these areas varieties in spaces of tensors invariant under linear changes of coordinates appear as central objects of study. Despite their different origins, there are striking similarities among the relevant varieties and this workshop will study ways of approaching questions such as finding defining equations, hidden symmetries, and singularities.

The main topics for the workshop are

  1. Geometric approaches to P?=NP
  2. Algebraic statistics, particularly hidden variable models
  3. Multi-linear techniques in data analysis and signal processing
  4. Entanglement in quantum information theory
By the end of the workshop, researchers in the relevant areas will be up to date on what is known about their questions from a geometric perspective and geometers will have a list of open questions to work on. We hope this workshop is the beginning of collaborations between mathematicians and researchers in the targeted areas.

This workshop is a followup to MSRI graduate workshop with the same title.

The workshop will differ from typical conferences in some regards. Participants will be invited to suggest open problems and questions before the workshop begins, and these will be posted on the workshop website. These include specific problems on which there is hope of making some progress during the workshop, as well as more ambitious problems which may influence the future activity of the field. Lectures at the workshop will be focused on familiarizing the participants with the background material leading up to specific problems, and the schedule will include discussion and parallel working sessions.

The deadline to apply for support to participate in this workshop has passed.

For more information email workshops@aimath.org

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