The ACO Seminar (2015–2016)

Configuration spaces of points are well studied in algebraic topology. Giving the points some positive thickness has obvious physical meaning: in this case the configuration space is equivalent to the phase space, or energy landscape, or a hard spheres gas. But despite their obvious mathematical and physical appeal, little is known so far about the topology of such spaces. I will survey some recent results in this area (joint work with a number of collaborators), covering computational and theoretical aspects.