Title: Alexandrov Geometry and recent applications

Time: May 26, 2011 2:00-3:00 pm

Venue: Room 1328, BICMR Resource Building, Peking University

Abstract:
In this lecture, we discuss some basic theory of possibly singular spaces with a lower curvature bound. Among other things, we review critical point theory for distance functions developed by Grove-Shiohoma, Gromov, Perelman and others. The semi-gradient flows of distance functions and their orbit stability will be address. If time permits, we report on the recent applications of these results to the classifications of 3-manifolds, as Perelman proposed.

This lecture is accessible to advanced graduate students and non-experts.