MaPSS: Mathematical Postgraduate Seminar Series: Armstrong -- Group actions, groupoids, and their C*-algebras

Dear All, 

We are delighted to present the MaPSS Seminar topic of Monday 07/08; please see the
abstract below.  

**This Semester the Seminar will always run on Monday, at 5:00pm in 535A** 

Following the talk, there will be pizza on offer.  

Speaker: Becky Armstrong (Sydney University) 

Title: Group actions, groupoids, and their C*-algebras 

Abstract: C*-algebras were first introduced in order to model physical observables in
quantum mechanics, but are now studied more abstractly in pure mathematics.  Much of the
current research of C*-algebraists involves constructing interesting classes of
C*-algebras from various mathematical objects---such as groups, groupoids, and directed
graphs---and studying their properties.  Groupoid C*-algebras were introduced by Renault
in 1980, and provide a unifying model for C*-algebras associated to groups, group
actions, and graphs.  In this talk, I will define topological groupoids and examine
Renault's construction of groupoid C*-algebras.  I will discuss several examples of
groupoids, including group actions and graph groupoids, and will conclude with a brief
description of my PhD research. 

Supervisors, please encourage your students to attend.  

Thanks, MaPSS Organizers