Flat surfaces and pentagon billiards
Speaker:
Diana Davis, Swarthmore College
Date and Time:
Tuesday, November 6, 2018 - 6:00pm to 7:00pm
Location:
Fields Institute, Room 230
Abstract:
Maryam Mirzakhani proved deep theorems about spaces of flat surfaces. In this talk, we'll look at just two of those surfaces, the double pentagon and the golden L. We'll explore how understanding those two surfaces can help us to understand the beautiful patterns that arise as periodic billiard trajectories on the regular pentagon.