Series: Mathematics Colloquium

Date: Thursday, October 17, 2002

Time: 4:30 - 5:30 PM

Place: 102 McAllister Building

Host: Ping Xu

Refreshments: 4:00 - 4:30 PM, in 212 McAllister

Speaker: Roger Penrose, Oxford University and Penn State

Title: Twistor Geometry

Abstract: 

Twistor theory was originated over thirty years ago, as an attempt to
construct a physical theory that brings together space-time geometry
with quantum-mechanical principles.  Space-time points are taken to be
secondary constructs, the complex (holomorphic) geometry of twistor
space being regarded as primary.  In space-time terms -- to a first
approximation -- a twistor itself may be taken to represent an entire
light ray, those rays passing through a fixed space-time point
providing a Riemann sphere in twistor space.  While its status as a
physical theory still remains uncertain, twistor geometry has provided
a good many intriguing and powerful mathematical ideas which have
found application in various different areas of mathematical research.