McGill.CA / Science / Department of Physics

Informal Pizza Seminar

The Riemann Zeta Function: A physisict's perspective

R.K. Bhaduri

McMaster University

After giving a brief mathematical introdction, we focus on the zeros of the zeta function on the complex plane. The density of these zeros suggests a dynamical connection through the periodic orbit theory. The spacings of these zeros have a chaotic distribution, but they encode all the information about the primes. Using Riemann's original formula, the sequence of the primes can be accurately generated from the zeros. We conclude by giving some analogies from statistical mechanics.

Tuesday, April 15th 2003, 13:00
Ernest Rutherford Physics Building, room 326