Surveys in Differential Geometry

Volume 26 (2021)

Rigidity of moduli spaces and algebro-geometric constructions

Pages: 31 – 49

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4310/SDG.2021.v26.n1.a3

Author

Benson Farb (Department of Mathematics, University of Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.)

Abstract

In this paper we propose two guiding principles that suggest a number of conjectures (some now proved) about various forms of rigidity for moduli spaces arising in algebraic geometry. Such conjectures have group-theoretic, topological and holomorphic aspects, and so they also provide motivation for natural problems in geometric group theory and topology.

In memory of S.S. Chern

This paper is based on a lecture I gave at Chern’s 110th birthday conference on October 12, 2021. I would like to thank Professors Shing-Tung Yau and Shiu-Yuen Cheng for soliciting the talk and this paper. — The Author

Published 22 January 2024