Quantum numbers? Surely you’re joking, Mr. Feynman!

by Prof. Valentin Ovsienko

Thursday 12 Dec 2024, 16:15 → 17:15 Europe/Brussels

CYCL01 (Marc de Hemptinne (chemin du Cyclotron, 2, Louvain-la-Neuve))

The ideas of quantum physics have had an enormous impact on the development of mathematics, all domains have been influenced. Numerous notions have emerged, like quantum groups and algebras, quantum calculus, special fonctions, among others. Numbers, the most elementary and ancient concept at the heart of mathematics since the Babylonians, should also have their place in the quantum landscape. The talk will give an elementary and accessible overview of the emerging theory of quantum numbers, or "q-numbers", including motivations, first results and the relation with other branches of mathematics.