Geometric Analysis and Topology Seminar

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Characteristic Classes of Complex Hypersurfaces

Speaker: Laurentiu Maxim, University of Wisconsin

Location: Warren Weaver Hall 202

Date: Friday, April 2, 2010, 11 a.m.

Synopsis:

An old problem in geometry and topology is the computation of topological and analytical invariants of complex hypersurfaces, e.g., Betti numbers, Euler characteristic, signature, Hodge-Deligne numbers, etc. While the non-singular case is easier to deal with, the singular setting requires a subtle analysis of the intricate relation between the local and global topological and/or analytical structure of singularities. In this talk I will explain how to compute characteristic classes of complex hypersurfaces in terms of local invariants of singularities. This is joint work with S. Cappell, J. Schuermann and J. Shaneson.