Whittaker Functions: Number Theory, Geometry and Physics (13w5154)

The Banff International Research Station will host the " Whittaker Functions: Number Theory, Geometry and Physics" workshop from October 13th to October 18th, 2013.

Whittaker functions are higher-dimensional generalizations of
classical Bessel functions that arise naturally as solutions to rather
independent problems in number theory and in physics.
This workshop intends to explore the deeper connections between
these two subjects suggested by their common link to Whittaker
functions.

By studying various modes of generalizing the notion of Whittaker
functions, we witness new algebraic structure which hints at
some of these possible connections. The fields of study which are
brought to bear in these investigations include some of the most
remarkable mathematics of the past half-century, including
crystal graphs, quantum groups, and the Yang-Baxter equation.
The workshop brings together a mix of experts and junior faculty
in these and related areas in an attempt to make further progress in
this rapidly evolving field.

The Banff International Research Station for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery (BIRS) is a collaborative Canada-US-Mexico venture that provides an environment for creative interaction as well as the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and methods within the Mathematical Sciences, with related disciplines and with industry. The research station is located at The Banff Centre in Alberta and is supported by Canada's Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), Alberta's Advanced Education and Technology, and Mexico's Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT).