Title: K-theory, representation theory, and the Baum-Connes conjecture.

Speaker: Rufus Willet (U. Hawai`i)

Abstract: I’ll describe what K-theory is, and why it’s relevant to representations of groups via group algebras. If the group is infinite, I’ll discuss how analytic data enters the picture via various completions of the group algebras involved, and some examples. I’ll finish by describing the Baum-Connes conjecture, which posits a topological formula for the relevant K-groups, and some recent attempts to fix counterexamples.

Some of this is joint work with Paul Baum and Erik Guentner, and some with Alcides Buss and Siegfried Echterhoff.