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Dylan Thurston

Publications and source records attributed to Dylan Thurston.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2024

Models of random spanning trees

There are numerous randomized algorithms to generate spanning trees in a given ambient graph; several target the uniform distribution on trees (UST), while in practice the fastest and most frequently used draw random weights on the edges and then employ a greedy algorithm to choose the minimum-weight spanning tree (MST). Though MST is a workhorse in applications, the mathematical properties of random MST are far less explored than those of UST. In this paper we develop tools for the quantitative study of random MST. We consider the standard case that the weights are drawn i.i.d. from a single distribution on the real numbers, as well as successive generalizations that lead to \emph{product measures}, where the weights are independently drawn from arbitrary distributions.

cs.DM↗
arXiv2023

Bordered HF- for three-manifolds with torus boundary

We define an invariant for bordered 3-manifolds with torus boundary, taking the form of a module over a weighted A-infinity algebra associated to a torus defined in previous work. On setting U=0, we obtain the bordered three-manifold invariants with torus boundary constructed earlier.

math.GT↗
arXiv2023

Floer homology beyond borders

Bordered Floer homology is an invariant for 3-manifolds with boundary, defined by the authors in 2008. It extends the Heegaard Floer homology of closed 3-manifolds, defined in earlier work of Zoltán Szabó and the second author. In addition to its conceptual interest, bordered Floer homology also provides powerful computational tools. This survey outlines the theory, focusing on recent developments and applications.

math.GT↗
arXiv2021

Morsifications and mutations

We describe and investigate a connection between the topology of isolated singularities of plane curves and the mutation equivalence, in the sense of cluster algebra theory, of the quivers associated with their morsifications.

math.GT↗
arXiv2021

A bordered HF- algebra for the torus

We describe a weighted $A_\infty$-algebra associated to the torus. We give a combinatorial construction of this algebra, and an abstract characterization. The abstract characterization also gives a relationship between our algebra and the wrapped Fukaya category of the torus. These algebras underpin the (unspecialized) bordered Heegaard Floer homology for three-manifolds with torus boundary, which will be constructed in forthcoming work.

math.GT↗
arXiv2021

Bordered Heegaard Floer homology: Invariance and pairing

We construct Heegaard Floer theory for 3-manifolds with connected boundary. The theory associates to an oriented, parametrized two-manifold a differential graded algebra. For a three-manifold with parametrized boundary, the invariant comes in two different versions, one of which (type D) is a module over the algebra and the other of which (type A) is an A-infinity module. Both are well-defined up to chain homotopy equivalence. For a decomposition of a 3-manifold into two pieces, the A-infinity tensor product of the type D module of one piece and the type A module from the other piece is HF^ of the glued manifold. As a special case of the construction, we specialize to the case of three-manifolds with torus boundary. This case can be used to give another proof of the surgery exact triangle for HF^. We relate the bordered Floer homology of a three-manifold with torus boundary with the knot Floer homology of a filling.

math.GT↗
arXiv2020

Diagonals and A-infinity Tensor Products

Extending work of Saneblidze-Umble and others, we use diagonals for the associahedron and multiplihedron to define tensor products of A-infinity algebras, modules, algebra homomorphisms, and module morphisms, as well as to define a bimodule analogue of twisted complexes (type DD structures, in the language of bordered Heegaard Floer homology) and their one- and two-sided tensor products. We then give analogous definitions for 1-parameter deformations of A-infinity algebras; this involves another collection of complexes. These constructions are relevant to bordered Heegaard Floer homology.

math.RA↗
arXiv2020

Grid diagrams and Heegaard Floer invariants

We give combinatorial descriptions of the Heegaard Floer homology groups for arbitrary three-manifolds (with coefficients in Z/2). The descriptions are based on presenting the three-manifold as an integer surgery on a link in the three-sphere, and then using a grid diagram for the link. We also give combinatorial descriptions of the mod 2 Ozsvath-Szabo mixed invariants of closed four-manifolds, in terms of grid diagrams.

math.GT↗
arXiv2018

Cluster algebras and triangulated surfaces. Part II: Lambda lengths

For any cluster algebra whose underlying combinatorial data can be encoded by a bordered surface with marked points, we construct a geometric realization in terms of suitable decorated Teichmueller space of the surface. On the geometric side, this requires opening the surface at each interior marked point into an additional geodesic boundary component. On the algebraic side, it relies on the notion of a non-normalized cluster algebra and the machinery of tropical lambda lengths. Our model allows for an arbitrary choice of coefficients which translates into a choice of a family of integral laminations on the surface. It provides an intrinsic interpretation of cluster variables as renormalized lambda lengths of arcs on the surface. Exchange relations are written in terms of the shear coordinates of the laminations, and are interpreted as generalized Ptolemy relations for lambda lengths. This approach gives alternative proofs for the main structural results from our previous paper, removing unnecessary assumptions on the surface.

math.GT↗
arXiv2014

Notes on bordered Floer homology

This is a survey of bordered Heegaard Floer homology, an extension of the Heegaard Floer invariant HF-hat to 3-manifolds with boundary. Emphasis is placed on how bordered Heegaard Floer homology can be used for computations.

math.GT↗
arXiv2010

A bulk inflaton from large volume extra dimensions

The universe may have extra spatial dimensions with large volume that we cannot perceive because the energy required to excite modes in the extra directions is too high. Many examples are known of such manifolds with a large volume and a large mass gap. These compactifications can help explain the weakness of four-dimensional gravity and, as we show here, they also have the capacity to produce reasonable potentials for an inflaton field. Modeling the inflaton as a bulk scalar field, it becomes very weakly coupled in four dimensions, and this enables us to build phenomenologically acceptable inflationary models with tunings at the few per mil level. We speculate on dark matter candidates and the possibility of braneless models in this setting.

hep-th↗
arXiv2010

On combinatorial link Floer homology

Link Floer homology is an invariant for links defined using a suitable version of Lagrangian Floer homology. In an earlier paper, this invariant was given a combinatorial description with mod 2 coefficients. In the present paper, we give a self-contained presentation of the basic properties of link Floer homology, including an elementary proof of its invariance. We also fix signs for the differentials, so that the theory is defined with integer coefficients.

math.GT↗
arXiv2008

Transverse Knots Distinguished by Knot Floer Homology

We exhibit pairs of transverse knots with the same self-linking number that are not transversely isotopic, using the recently defined knot Floer homology invariant for transverse knots and some algebraic refinements of it.

math.GT↗
arXiv2007

Cluster algebras and triangulated surfaces. Part I: Cluster complexes

We establish basic properties of cluster algebras associated with oriented bordered surfaces with marked points. In particular, we show that the underlying cluster complex of such a cluster algebra does not depend on the choice of coefficients, describe this complex explicitly in terms of "tagged triangulations" of the surface, and determine its homotopy type and its growth rate.

math.RA↗