Mathematics Colloquium

Arthur Jaffe

(Harvard)

"What is reflection positivity?"


Date: Mon, May 6, 2013
Time: 17:15
Place: Research II Lecture Hall

Abstract: Functions can be even or odd under reflection, so in general a reflection is never positive. However a subtle positivity condition provides the key idea to relate a space of functions to standard quantum theory. A similar positivity condition is useful in the study of quantum information theory and of statistical physics. We explain the concept of reflection positivity in some simple examples and also present some new results.