Let M be a complete two-dimensional surface immersed into the three-dimensional Euclidean space. Then a classical theorem of Hilbert says that when the curvature of M is a non-zero constant, M must be the sphere. On the other hand, when the curvature of M is zero, a theorem of Hartman-Nirenberg [4] says that M must be a plane or a cylinder. These two theorems complete the classification of complete surfaces with constant curvature in R 3.

We consider topological defect lines (TDLs) in two-dimensional conformal field theories. Generalizing and encompassing both global symmetries and Verlinde lines, TDLs together with their attached defect operators provide models of fusion categories without braiding. We study the crossing relations of TDLs, discuss their relation to the ’t Hooft anomaly, and use them to constrain renormalization group flows to either conformal critical points or topological quantum field theories (TQFTs). We show that if certain non-invertible TDLs are preserved along a RG flow, then the vacuum cannot be a non-degenerate gapped state. For various massive flows, we determine the infrared TQFTs completely from the consideration of TDLs together with modular invariance.

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We consider the solution of the rational matrix equations, or generalized algebraic Riccati equations with rational terms, arising in stochastic optimal control in continuous- and discrete-time. Fixed-point iteration and (modified) Newton's methods will be considered. In particular, the convergence results of a new modified Newton's method, for both continuous- and discrete-time rational Riccati equations, will be presented.

We present the recent work on the noncommutative Fourier transform for subfactors and locally compact quantum groups, a Survey.We give a short introduction to subfactors and locally compact quantum groups and their properties;the Hausdorff-Young inequality and its extremal functions;Young's inequality and its extremal pairs;uncertainty principles and its minimizers;a noncommutative sum set theorem.