Minicourse Update
Posted by Tom Trogdon on March 17, 2025
Our three minicourses are: Giorgio Cipolloni: Wigner matrices: A toy model for Quantum Chaos
Abstract: We will begin with discussing Quantum Unique Ergodicity (QUE) and of the Eigenstate Thermalization Hypothesis (ETH), which are fundamental signatures of quantum chaos. However, not much is known about QUE/ETH mathematically for generic quantum systems.
Instead, we study a probabilistic version of these concepts using Wigner matrices, which are more tractable mathematically. The main input to prove QUE/ETH for Wigner matrices are the recently developed multi-resolvent local laws, i.e. compute the deterministic approximation of products of resolvents.
Towards the end of the course, we will discuss some applications of these results/techniques as well as more physically relevant open problems.
Govind Menon: The geometry of the deep linear network
Abstract: The deep linear network is a matrix model of deep learning. It models the effect of overparameterization for the construction of linear functions. Despite its simplicity, the model has a subtle mathematical structure that yields interesting insights into the training dynamics of deep learning.
We explain a (matrix) geometric perspective for the analysis of the DLN. The heart of the matter is an explicit description of the underlying Riemannian geometry. The use of Riemannian geometry provides unity with the theory of interior point methods for conic programs, and it is helpful to contrast the gradient flows that arise in each setting.
Michael W Mahoney: Random matrix theory and modern machine learning
Abstract: TBA