Resurgence and non-perturbative physics: from quantum mechanics to superconductors

by Prof. Marcos Marino (Geneva University)

Tuesday 28 Apr 2020, 14:15 → 15:15 Europe/Stockholm

Video conference equipment

https://stockholmuniversity.zoom.us/j/67620824857

It is often said that perturbation theory is insufficient to understand many physical problems, and that non-perturbative effects are needed. It turns out that making this statement precise requires the mathematical framework of resurgence theory, in which perturbative series are extended to so-called trans-series, and non-perturbative effects can be detected by looking at perturbation theory at large orders. In this talk I will first review the basics of the theory of resurgence, and then present some of its recent applications to problems ranging from the exact WKB method to superconductivity.