Decoupling and applications: from PDEs to Number Theory.

(The talk is aimed at early graduate students)

Decoupling estimates were introduced by Wolff [1] in order to improve local smoothing estimates for the wave equation. Since then, they have found multiple applications in analysis: from PDEs and restriction theory, to additive number theory, where Bourgain, Demeter and Guth[2] used decoupling-type estimates to prove the main conjecture of the Vinogradov mean value theorem for d>3.

In this talk I will explain what decoupling estimates are, I will talk about its applications to the Vinogradov Mean Value theorem and local smoothing, and I will explain the main ingredients that go into (most) decoupling proofs

[1] Wolff, T. (2000). Local smoothing type estimates on Lp for large p. Geometric & Functional Analysis GAFA
[2] Bourgain, J., Demeter, C., & Guth, L. (2016). Proof of the main conjecture in Vinogradov’s mean value theorem for degrees higher than three. Annals of Mathematics, 633-682.