DIMACS - RUTGERS EXPERIMENTAL MATHEMATICS SEMINAR

Sponsored by the Rutgers University Department of Mathematics and the
Center for Discrete Mathematics and Theoretical Computer Science (DIMACS)

Co-organizers:

Andrew Baxter, Rutgers University, baxter{at} math [dot] rutgers [dot] edu

Lara Pudwell, Rutgers University, lpudwell {at} math [dot] rutgers [dot] edu

Doron Zeilberger, Rutgers University, zeilberg {at} math [dot] rutgers [dot] edu

Title: Geometry of Hyperdeterminants

Speaker: Debbie Yuster, DIMACS

Date: Thursday, October 25, 2007 5:00pm

Location: Hill Center, Room 705, Rutgers University, Busch Campus, Piscataway, NJ

Abstract:

Hyperdeterminants are the analogs of determinants for higher-dimensional matrices. Hyperdeterminants arise in many contexts in mathematics and other sciences, and have some very interesting associated geometry. For example, the 2x2x...x2-hyperdeterminant has a strong relationship to triangulations of the n-cube. In this talk we will explore the geometry of the 2x2x2- and 2x2x2x2-hyperdeterminants. I will also discuss how we exploited symmetry in order to compute the 2x2x2x2-hyperdeterminant (a challenge issued by I.M. Gelfand). This is joint work with Peter Huggins, Bernd Sturmfels, and Josephine Yu.