Annual Foundation Schools (AFS)

Objectives of AFS

Basic knowledge in algebra, analysis, discrete mathematics and topology forms the core of all advanced instructional schools the schools to be organized in this programme.
The objective of the Annual Foundation Schools, to be offered in Winter and Summer every year, is two fold:
  1. To bring up students with diverse backgrounds to a common level.
  2. To identify those who are fit for further training.
Any student who wishes to attend the advanced instructional schools is strongly encouraged to enroll in the Annual Foundation Schools.

Format of AFS

The topics listed in the syllabi will be quickly covered in the lectures. There will be intensive problem sessions in the afternoons. The objective will not be to cover the syllabus prescribed, but to inculcate the habit of problem solving. However, the participants will be asked to study all the topics in the syllabus at home since the syllabi of these schools will be assumed in all the advanced instructional schools devoted to individual subjects.

Participants in AFS

These schools will admit 40 students in their first and second years of Ph. D. programme, students of M. Sc. (II Year), university lecturers and college teachers who lack the knowledge of basic topics covered in these schools.

A participant who has attended AFS-I and II will never be allowed to attend these again.

Syllabus for the Annual Foundation School (AFS)-II (Jun., 2006)

Algebra-II

(1) Basic commutative algebra-I: Prime ideals and maximal ideals, Zariski topology, Nil and Jacobson radicals, Localization of rings and modules, Noetherian rings, Hilbert Basis theorem, modules, primary decomposition, integral dependence, Noether normalization lemma, principal ideal theorem, Hilbert's Nullstellensatz, structure of artinian rings, Dedekind domains. (12 lectures)
(2) Introduction to Algebraic Number Theory: (6 lectures)
(3) Introduction to Algebraic Geometry: (6 lectures)

Text/References:
1. M. F. Atiyah and I. G. Macdonald, Introduction to commutative algebra.
2. D. Eisenbud, Commutative algebra with a view towards algebraic geometry.
3. P. Samuel, Algebraic Number Theory.

Complex Analysis

(1) Euclidean similarity geometry, inversive geometry, hyperbolic geometry and complex analysis.
(2) Analytic functions, Path integrals, Winding number, Cauchy integral formula and consequences. Hadamard gap theorem, Isolated singularities, Residue theorem, Liouville theorem.4
(3) Casorati-Weierstrass theorem, Bloch-Landau theorem, Picard's theorems, Mobius transformations, Schwartz lemma, Extremal metrics, Riemann mapping theorem, Argument principle, Rouche's theorem.
(4) Runge's theorem, Infinite products, Weierstrass p-function, Mittag-Leffler expansion.

Text/References:
1. Murali Rao & H. Stetkaer, Complex Analysis, World Scientific, 1991
2. L. V. Ahlfors, Complex Analysis, McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1996
3. A. R. Shastri, Complex Analysis
4. Krantz
5. A. F. Beardon, Geometry of Discrete Groups, GTM Springer Verlag.

Algebraic Topology

(1) Basic notion of homotopy; contractibility, deformation etc. Some basic constructions such as cone, suspension, mapping cylinder etc. fundamental group; computation for the circle. Covering spaces and fundamental group. Simplicial Complexes, CW complexes.
(2) Simplicial Complexes, CW complexes. Homology theory and applications: Simplicial homology, Singular homology, Cellular homology of CW-complexes, Jordan-Brouwer separation theorem, invariance of domain, Lefschetz fixed point theorem etc.
(3) Categories and functors; Axiomatic homology theory.

Texts/References:
1. E. H. Spanier, Algebraic Topology, Tata-McGraw-Hill
2. A. Hatcher, Algebraic topology, Cambridge University Press.

Schedule of Lectures

Lecture   9.00 - 10.00 
Lecture  10.30 - 11.30 
Lecture  11.45 - 12.45 
Tutorial  2.15 - 4.15
UM Lecture   4.30 - 5.30



Syllabus for Annual Foundation School-II (December 2004)

Algebra II
(1) Homological algebra: Derived functors, projective modules, injective modules, free and projective resolutions, tensor, exterior and symmetric algebras, injective resolutions, Ext and Tor. ( 12 lectures)
(2) Basic commutative algebra: Prime ideals and maximal ideals, Zariski topology, Nil and Jacobson radicals, Localization of rings and modules, Noetherian rings, Hilbert Basis theorem, modules, primary decomposition, integral dependence, Noether normalization lemma, principal ideal theorem, Hilbert's Nullstellensatz, structure of artinian rings, Dedekind domains. (12 lectures)
Text/References:
1. M. F. Atiyah and I. G. Macdonald, Introduction to commutative algebra.
2. D. Eisenbud, Commutative algebra with a view towards algebraic geometry.
Complex analysis
(1) Analytic functions, Path integrals, Winding number, Cauchy integral formula and consequences. Hadamard gap theorem, Isolated singularities, Residue theorem, Liouville theorem.4
(2) Casorati-Weierstrass theorem, Bloch-Landau theorem, Picard's theorems, Mobius transformations, Schwartz lemma, Extremal metrics, Riemann mapping theorem, Argument principle, Rouche's theorem.
(3) Runge's theorem, Infinite products, Weierstrass p-function, Mittag-Leffler expansion.
Text: Complex analysis by Murali Rao & H. Stetkaer, World Scientific, 1991
Algebraic topology
(1) Basic notion of homotopy; contractibility, deformation etc. Some basic constructions such as cone, suspension, mapping cylinder etc. fundamental group; computation for the circle. Covering spaces and fundamental group. Simplicial Complexes, CW complexes.
(2) Simplicial Complexes, CW complexes. Homology theory and applications: Simplicial homology, Singular homology, Cellular homology of CW-complexes, Jordan-Brouwer separation theorem, invariance of domain, Lefschetz fixed point theorem etc.
(3) Categories and functors; Axiomatic homology theory.
Texts/References
1. E. H. Spanier, Algebraic Topology, Tata-McGraw-Hill
2. A. Hatcher, Algebraic topology, Cambridge University Press.
Number Theory Arithmetic functions, congruences, quadratic residues, quadratic forms, Diophantine approximations, quadratic fields, Diophantine equations.
Text/References :
1. A. Baker, Theory of numbers.
2. K. Ireland and M. Rosen, A classical introduction to modern number theory.