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Goncharov's programme, and depth reductions of multiple polylogarithms (in weight 6)

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Speaker: 
Steven Charlton
Affiliation: 
MPIM
Date: 
Wed, 07/08/2024 - 14:30 - 15:30
Location: 
MPIM Lecture Hall
Parent event: 
Number theory lunch seminar

Multiple polylogarithms $Li_{k_1,\ldots,k_d}(x_1,\ldots,x_d)$ are a class of multi-variable special functions appearing in connection with K-theory, hyperbolic geometry, values of zeta functions/L-functions/Mahler measures, mixed Tate motives, and in high-energy physics.

One of the main challenges in the study of multiple polylogarithms revolves around understanding how on many variables a multiple polylogarithm function (or 'interesting' combinations thereof) actually depend (''the depth''), as for example $Li_{1,1}$ can already be expressed via $Li_2$. Goncharov gave a conjectural criterion (''the Depth Conjecture'') for determining this, using the motivic coproduct, as part of his programme to investigate Zagier's Polylogarithm Conjecture on values of the Dedekind zeta function $\zeta_F(m)$.
 

I will give an overview of multiple polylogarithms, Goncharov's Depth Conjecture, and its implications. I will try to discuss what is currently known, including recent results in weight 6, and what we are still trying to investigate.
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