Seminar

Generalized Cross-Ratios and Transversals

Abstract:

After introducing the standard cross-ratio, we discuss a generalization of the cross-ratio to higher-dimensional Grassmannians. As an application, we give a short proof of the following theorem in projective geometry: Any four n-plane subspaces in general position in a projective space of dimension 2n+1 over an algebraically closed field have exactly n+1 common transversals.
 

Polarizations of Powers of Maximal Ideals in a Polynomial Ring

Abstract:

We give a complete combinatorial characterization of all possible polarizations of powers of the maximal ideal $(x_1,x_2,\dotsc,x_n)$ in a polynomial ring of $n$ variables. We also give a combinatorial description of the Alexander duals of such polarizations. In the three variable case we show that every polarization defines a (shellable) simplicial ball. We conjecture that any polarization of an artinian monomial ideal defines a simplicial ball. This is joint work with Gunnar Fløystad.