Michael Siler : The Geometry of Carrier Graphs and Hyperbolic 3-Manifolds

Posted by Holly Krieger , part of the Graduate Student Colloquium.

At

Jan. 23, 2012, 4:15 p.m.

In

SEO 636

Abstract

I will introduce carrier graphs, which are a simple tool for using the geometry of a hyperbolic 3-manifold to study generating sets of its fundamental group. I will describe how they have been used to make progress on the long standing rank versus genus conjecture and give connections between carrier graphs and geometric group theory. Though all are welcome to attend, this talk is intended to be accessible to graduate students of all levels, and no background knowledge of geometric group theory or hyperbolic geometry is expected.