Date & Time: Wednesday, January 08, 2014, 17:15-18:30.
Venue: Institute Auditorium, SoM, IIT Bombay
Speaker: M. Ram Murty, Queen's University
Title: Ramanujan and the Zeta Function
Abstract: In the 18th century, Euler proved that the Riemann zeta function evaluated at even arguments is always a rational multiple of a power of $\pi$. Hence, these values are all transcendental. The values of the zeta function at odd arguments still remain a mystery. However, in his celebrated notebooks, Ramanujan discovered a marvelous formula for these values that links them to the theory of modular forms. We will give an overview of the contributions of Euler and Ramanujan and report on some recent advances in the theory. The talk will be accessible to a general audience.