University of Sydney Algebra Seminar

Marcy Robertson (University of Melbourne)

Monday 31 October, 12-1pm, Place: Carslaw 375

Framed Little Discs and The Grothendieck-Teichmüller Group

In this talk we describe how ribbon braid groups can be used to provide groupoid models for the framed little 2 disks operad. We will then show how one uses these groupiod models to show that (homotopy) automorphisms of framed little disks is equivalent to a model of the Grothendieck-Teichmüller group. This talk will not assume familiarity with operads or Grothendieck-Teichmüller theory. All work is joint with Geoffroy Horel and Pedro Boavida.