Infinite Groups Seminar 2011

Monday, 14th Feb 2011

V206, Mathematics Building

(Department of Mathematics, Bucknell University)

The automorphisms of McCullough-Miller space

McCullough-Miller space X = X(W) is a topological model for the outer automorphism group of a free product of groups W. We will discuss the question of just how good a model it is. In particular, we consider circumstances under which Aut(X) is precisely Out(W).

ARC Laureate Fellow Prof. George Willis

(CARMA, The University of Newcastle)

Rigidity of Homomorphisms from Arithmetic Groups to Totally Disconnected Groups

The talk will explain joint work with Yehuda Shalom showing that the only homomorphisms from certain arithmetic groups to totally disconnected, locally compact groups are the obvious, or naturally occurring, ones. For these groups, this extends the supperrigidity theorem that G. Margulis proved for homomorphisms from high rank arithmetic groups to Lie groups. The theorems will be illustrated by referring to the groups $SL_3(\mathbb{Z})$, $SL_2(\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{2}])$ and $SL_3(\mathbb{Q})$.

http://www.maths.usyd.edu.au/u/SemConf/InfGps/index.html