Abstract: Gromov's celebrated theorem asserts that given a group G generated by a finite set S, if the number of elements which are a product of at most n elements of S is bounded by a fixed polynomial in n then G has a finite index nilpotent subgroup. In the talk we shall describe some far reaching developments of the last 5 years surrounding this result. Among these is a very surprising path linking deep theorems of two retired members of the department (Freiman, Hirshfeld) originating in very different areas of research (harmonic analysis, logic).

Coffee will be served at 12:00 before the lecture
at Schreiber building 006