Series Title
"Mathematical Aspects of the Theory of Aperiodic Solids"

Lecture 1
"Structural Aspects and Noncommutative Topology."
Tuesday, May 3, 3 PM, MS 6627

Lecture 2
"Coherent and Dissipative Transport."
Thurday, May 5, 3 PM, MS 6627

Lecture 3
"Noncommutative Geometry, the Quantum Hall Effect and Prospects."
Friday, May 6, 3 PM, MS 6627

Background:

Mathematician and theoretical physicist Jean Bellissard received his doctorate with a thesis in quantum field theory in in 1974 from the University of Marseille. He is been a leader in the field of quantum statistical mechanics, emphasizing in his research the study of aperiodic solids, a basic field which he helped to found. In particular, since the early 1980's he has championed the use of the non-commutative geometry of Connes as a key tool for many problems. Among the many topics to which he has contributed are gap-labelling of Schrodinger operators, the quantum Hall effect, quasi-crystals and transport problems.

Until 1991, Bellissard was Professor of Physics (eventually Classe Exceptionelle) at the University of Provence. He then became, until 2002, Professor and founding Head of the group in Theoretical Physics at the University Paul Sabatier (Toulouse) from 1991-2002. He has been a Senior Member of the elite Institut Universitaire de France since 1995, and is currently also Professor of Mathematics and Physics at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Professor Bellissard is a past winner of the Prix Langevin of the French Physical Society (1989) and he became Chevalier de l'Ordre des Palmes Academiques in 1996. He was an ICM speaker in 1994.