We propose a new second-order method for geodesically convex optimization on the natural hyperbolic metric over positive definite matrices. We apply it to solve the operator scaling problem in time polynomial in the input size and logarithmic in the error. This is an exponential improvement over previous algorithms which were analyzed in the usual Euclidean, “commutative” metric (for which the above problem is not convex).
 

Let F be a family of subsets over a domain X that is closed under taking intersections. Such structures are abundant in various fields of mathematics such as topology, algebra, analysis, and more. In this talk we will view these objects through the lens of convexity.
 
We will focus on an abstraction of the notion of weak epsilon nets:
given a distribution on the domain X and epsilon>0,
a weak epsilon net for F is a set of points that intersects any set in F with measure at least epsilon.
 

The problem of bounding character twists of low-rank L-functions has been attacked using a variety techniques, including delta methods and analysis of period integral representations. I'll discuss this problem, emphasizing joint work with Roman Holowinsky in which we give new bounds with simple proofs for the case of GL(3).