Jacques Tits Chair 2024

The first edition of the Jacques Tits chair has been awarded by the BMS to Emmanuel BREUILLARD (University of Oxford). 

E. Breuillard will visit Belgium in the context of the J. Tits chair during January 13–24 and February 10–21 (2025). 

In the first part of his stay, he will give a mini-course titled ‘Character varieties of random groups'. 

Abstract

The mini-course will be devoted to the study of the finite dimensional linear representations of random finitely presented groups. We will show how the combinatorial and probabilistic ideas from the theory of random walks on groups meet diophantine analysis and algebraic geometry over large finite fields to help understand the nature of these representations. The construction of free subgroups - which will be the topic of the inaugural lecture - and the geometric and number-theoretic techniques it involves will play an essential role.

Schedule

• Monday 13/01/2025 15:00-18:00, in room A of the Fondation Universitaire in Brussels (rue d'Egmont 11, B-1000)
  Inaugural lecture ‘The Tits alternative and its many facets’, followed by a reception.
   
• Wednesday 15/01/2025 11:00-13:00, in auditorium CYCL01 at UCLouvain (Chem. du Cyclotron 2, B-1348)
  Mini-course 1. Expander graphs and spectral bounds for large finite simple groups. 
   
• Friday 17/01/2025 11:00-13:00, in auditorium CYCL01 at UCLouvain (Chem. du Cyclotron 2, B-1348)
  Mini-course 2. Diophantine heights on character varieties and the height gap theorem.
   
• Tuesday 21/01/2025 11:00-13:00, in aula van de Tweede Hoofdwet at KU Leuven (Kasteelpark Arenberg 41, 3001 Leuven)
  Mini-course 3. Uniform spectral gaps for group actions and non-concentration estimates for random walks. 
   
• Thursday 23/01/2025 11:00-13:00, in room A214 at KULAK (Etienne Sabbelaan 53, 8500 Kortrijk):   
  Mini-course 4. Random character varieties.

Registration

Registration for the inaugural lecture is required. As usual, registration is free for BMS members, and otherwise is the price of the BMS yearly membership. NB: Due to space restrictions, the number of attendants will be limited to 75 people.

During the second part of his stay (Feb. 10–21), E. Breuillard will be available for discussions or invitations for seminars in any Belgian universities.   

More info : francois(dot)thilmany(at)uclouvain(dot)be and jonas(dot)dere(at)kuleuven(dot)be