IST Courses on Algebraic Geometry - 2013

June 25-28, 2013 - Porto, Portugal

Geometry of Higgs Bundles

Lecturers

Steven Bradlow (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
Oscar García-Prada (Instituto de Ciencias Matemáticas, CSIC, Madrid)

Abstract

Higgs bundles appear in several guises including (a) as solutions to gauge-theoretic equations for connections and sections of a bundle (b) as holomorphic realizations of fundamental group representations or, equivalently, local systems and (c) as special cases of principal bundles with extra structure (principal pairs). Each point of view leads to a construction of a moduli space, i.e. a geometric object whose points parametrize equivalence classes of Higgs bundles. The first part of this mini course will explain these different points of view and describe how they are related. We will then explore some key topological and geometric features of the moduli spaces. We will confine attention to Higgs bundles over closed Riemann surfaces.

Resources

Higgs Bundles resources for the lectures

About the courses

The course is the seventh of a series of courses aimed at graduate students and researchers in the area of algebraic geometry and researchers from other areas. The courses usually take place at the Instituto Superior Técnico (Lisbon) but this year's edition will take place at the University of Porto.

Previous courses.

Location and travel information

The lectures will take place at the Department of Mathematics, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.

Arrival by plane: Porto Airport (OPO) is about 15 km from the Mathematics Departments and the hotels. There is a direct metro connection from the airport; the closest station (10-15 minutes walk to the hotels and Mathematics Department) is Casa da Música. A taxi from the airport will cost 15-20 euros.
Arrival by train: Most trains arrive in Campanhã station, see the CP web page for timetables, etc. From here you can either take the metro to Casa da Música and walk, or take bus no. 207 to the stop Planetário (near the Mathematics Department) or the stop Junta Massarelos (near the hotels).

A Google map with location of the hotels, the Casa da Música metro station and the Mathematics Department can be found here.

Schedule for the lectures

Time	Tuesday, June 25 (Room 0.29/1.07)	Wednesday, June 26 (Room 1.07)	Thursday, June 27 (Room 1.22)	Friday, June 28 (Room 1.22)
11:30-12:30	-	-	-	Bradlow
14:30-15:30	Bradlow (Room 0.29)	García-Prada	García-Prada	García-Prada
15:30-16:00	Coffee	Coffee	Coffee	-
16:00-17:00	García-Prada (Room 1.07)	Bradlow	Bradlow	-

Room 1.21 has been reserved for the use of participants outside the times of the lectures.

Accommodation

You are responsible for making your own hotel reservations.

Special rates for participants have been negotiated with the Hotéis Fénix chain:

HF Ipanema Park ***** - Single (Standard): 58€, Twin (Standard): 63€, Single / Twin (Executive): 73€, Extra Bed: 30€.
HF Ipanema Porto **** - Single (Standard): 55€, Twin (Standard): 59€, Extra Bed: 26€.
HF Fénix Porto **** - Single (Standard): 55€, Twin (Standard): 59€, Single / Twin (Privilege): 68€, Extra Bed: 26€.
HF Tuela Porto *** - Single (Standard): 52€, Twin (Standard): 55€, Extra Bed: 20€.

To take advantage of these prices, please book through the following link: http://www.hfhotels.com/porto/istcourses2013, or mention the IST courses 2013 offer in your direct contact with the hotels.

If you are looking for a cheaper alternative, a nice option is the following (about 30 minutes walk from the department; nearest metro station (15 minutes walk) Trindade, nearest bus stop (bus no. 207) Hosp. Sto. António).

Gallery Hostel Porto

Here is a list of some other hotels which are conveniently located in the vicinity of the department (10-15 minutes walk):

Registration

There are no fees for participation but registration is compulsory. The deadline for registration was May 31, 2013 but if you are interested in participating, please send an e-mail to the organizer.

List of Participants.

Further information

Please contact Peter Gothen by e-mail to pbgothen(at)fc.up.pt, including the text "IST Courses" in the subject line of your message.

Please note that no financial support will be available for participants.