Mathematics Graduate Student Colloquium

MGSC Website: http://math.uci.edu/~mgsc/

An example of classification: Discrete Spectrum Transformations

Andrew-David Bjork
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
4:00 pm - 4:50 pm
MSTB 114

Talk Abstract:

Transformations on probability spaces arise in many branches of mathematics. Classifying such transformations is a fundamental question asked by researchers, not yet completely solved. Finding a way to classify transformations is a growing field of study. We would like to be able say exactly when two measure preserving systems are isomorphic in ways that do not involve explicitly checking the definition. Therefore, we look for invariants that classify systems. Most often, we seek a numerical invariant. Sometimes a more complex classification is required. In this talk I will present a successful classification of some measure preserving transformations by an algebraic structure. This result was a triumph of early Ergodic Theory. We will also touch on more recent results that have a much less optimistic feel to them.

About the Speaker:

Andrew-David went to High School at Lycee Victor Hugo, in Caen, France. He graduated in June of 1995. He then went to a small liberal arts college in Santa Barbara called Westmont where he met his wife, Naomi. He graduate Magna cum Laude with a BS in Math in 1998, and enrolled in a Masters program at UCSB, which he completed in 2000. After working in accounting for 2 years, he completed a Teaching Credential from CSUN in 2003. He is currently in his 4th year of graduate work at UCI.

Refreshments:

Pizza will be served after the talk.