Book Description

These proceedings are from the Tenth International Conference on Representations of Algebras and Related Topics (ICRA X) held at The Fields Institute. In addition to the traditional ``instructional'' workshop preceding the conference, there were also workshops on ``Commutative Algebra, Algebraic Geometry and Representation Theory'', ``Finite Dimensional Algebras, Algebraic Groups and Lie Theory'', and ``Quantum Groups and Hall Algebras''. These workshops reflect the latest developments and the increasing interest in areas that are closely related to the representation theory of finite dimensional associative algebras. Although these workshops were organized separately, their topics are strongly interrelated. The workshop on Commutative Algebra, Algebraic Geometry and Representation Theory surveyed various recently established connections, such as those pertaining to the classification of vector bundles or Cohen-Macaulay modules over Noetherian rings, coherent sheaves on curves, or ideals in Weyl algebras. In addition, methods from algebraic geometry or commutative algebra relating to quiver representations and varieties of modules were presented. The workshop on Finite Dimensional Algebras, Algebraic Groups and Lie Theory surveyed developments in finite dimensional algebras and infinite dimensional Lie theory, especially as the two areas interact and may have future interactions. The workshop on Quantum Groups and Hall Algebras dealt with the different approaches of using the representation theory of quivers (and species) in order to construct quantum groups, working either over finite fields or over the complex numbers. In particular, these proceedings contain a quite detailed outline of the use of perverse sheaves in order to obtain canonical bases. The book is recommended for graduate students and researchers in algebra and geometry.