Algebra/Number Theory Seminar

Special values of L-functions - a classical approach

Siddhi Pathak, Chennai Mathematical Institute, India

Thursday, March 31st, 2022
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Zoom id 566 385 6457 (no password)

In 1734, Euler observed that the values of the Riemann zeta-function at even positive integers are rational multiples of powers of \(\pi\). However, the odd zeta-values remain a mystery to this day. In fact, it is widely believed that the odd zeta-values do not satisfy any polynomial relation over the rationals with \(\pi\). Almost three centuries after Euler, several different perspectives have emerged to study the general case of special values of L-functions. In this talk, we discuss a more analytic and classical approach and describe recent progress on related conjectures by Chowla, Erdos and Milnor.

Event contact: dinesh dot thakur at rochester dot edu