Questions tagged [index-theory]
The index-theory tag has no usage guidance.
173
questions
107
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What do heat kernels have to do with the Riemann-Roch theorem and the Gauss-Bonnet theorem?
I know the following facts. (Don't assume I know much more than the following facts.)
The Atiyah-Singer index theorem generalizes both the Riemann-Roch theorem and the Gauss-Bonnet theorem.
The ...
81
votes
3
answers
12k
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Intuitive explanation for the Atiyah-Singer index theorem
My question is related to the question Explanation for the Chern Character to this question about Todd classes, and to this question about the Atiyah-Singer index theorem.
I'm trying to learn the ...
61
votes
3
answers
5k
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Atiyah-Singer theorem-a big picture
So far I made several attempts to really learn Atiyah-Singer theorem. In order
to really understand this result a rather broad background is required: you need
to know analysis (pseudodifferential ...
50
votes
0
answers
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Atiyah's paper on complex structures on $S^6$
M. Atiyah has posted a preprint on arXiv on the non-existence of complex structure on the sphere $S^6$.
https://arxiv.org/abs/1610.09366
It relies on the topological $K$-theory $KR$ and in ...
48
votes
0
answers
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What is the current understanding regarding complex structures on the 6-sphere?
In October 2016, Atiyah famously posted a preprint to the arXiv, "The Non-Existent Complex 6-Sphere" containing a very brief proof $S^6$ admits no complex structure, which I immediately read and ...
45
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0
answers
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What is the "real" meaning of the $\hat A$ class (or the Todd class)?
In the Atiyah-Singer index theorem as well as in the Grothendieck-Riemann-Roch theorem, one encounters either the $\hat A$-class or the Todd class, depending on the context. I want to focus on the ...
27
votes
2
answers
2k
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Atiyah-Singer style index theorem for elliptic cohomology?
In 1994, Mike Hopkins wrote a paper called Topological Modular Forms, the Witten Genus, and the Theorem of the Cube. As usual, the introduction was fantastic, explaining the power of various cobordism ...
24
votes
3
answers
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How we do actually compute the topological index in Atiyah-Singer?
This is migrated by math.stackexchange as I did not receive an answer. I do not know if it is too naive for this site.
I am taking a lectured class in Atiyah-Singer this semester. While the class is ...
21
votes
2
answers
2k
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Applications of Atiyah-Singer using pseudodifferential operators
Though the Atiyah-Singer index theorem holds for pseudodifferential operators, all the applications of the index theorem I know of only need it for Dirac-type operators. I know that pseudodifferential ...
18
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3
answers
3k
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Atiyah-Patodi-Singer Eta invariant and Chern-Simons form
I am trying to understand the Atiyah-Patodi-Singer index theorem in the case of Dirac operators in four dimensions. I have three questions about the eta invariant:
1) Is eta a topological invariant (...
18
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2
answers
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What is the role of equivariance in the Atiyah-Singer index theorem?
I'm trying to read through "The index of elliptic operators I," and here's what I understand of the structure of the proof:
Define (using purely K-theoretic means) a homomorphism $K_G(TX) \to R(G)$...
18
votes
2
answers
1k
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Karoubi versus Kasparov K-theory
I have the following, probably very elementary question: Let $Cl^{p,q}$ be the Clifford algebra on generators $e_i$, $i=1, \ldots, p+q$
with $e_i e_j = -e_j e_i$ and $e_{i}^{2}=-1$ for $i=1,\ldots,p$, ...
17
votes
3
answers
1k
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Geometric meaning of L-genus
Is there any reasonable geometric meaning of the L-genus for smooth manifolds? or perhaps easier, for complex algebraic surfaces?
The question came up after a friend and I realized that we don't ...
15
votes
1
answer
999
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Atiyah's proof of the moduli space of SD irreducible YM connections
In the paper "Self-duality in Four-dimensional Riemannian Geometry" (1978), Atiyah, Hitchin and Singer present a proof that the space of self-dual irreducible Yang-Mills connections is a ...
15
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0
answers
331
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Beyond smoothness-the clear picture about the notion of a differential form
In this paper N.Teleman constructs the signature operator on an arbitrary (closed, oriented) Lipschitz manifold with coefficients in a vector bundle $\xi$. In particular the notion of a differential $...
14
votes
5
answers
3k
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Generalization of winding number to higher dimensions
Is there a natural geometric generalization of the winding number to higher dimensions?
I know it primarily as an important and useful index for closed, plane curves
(e.g., the Jordan Curve Theorem),
...
14
votes
1
answer
365
views
Is it possible to classify finite dimensional vector bundles in terms of Fredholm operators?
Let ${\mathcal K}$ be the space of Fredholm operators on a Hilbert space. It is well known that ${\mathcal K}$ represents $K$-theory. Let ${\mathcal K}_0$ be the path component of ${\mathcal K}$ of ...
13
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1
answer
1k
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Atiyah-Singer for pseudodifferential operators via heat kernel?
The Atiyah-Singer theorem for Dirac-type operators can be proved using the heat kernel and this proof has an advantage over the proof via K-theory, because the first is local but the latter is not. ...
13
votes
1
answer
703
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Atiyah-Singer index theorem, pairing between K-homology and K-theory and Chern character
There is a general (abstract) index theorem in noncommutative geometry: you take a
K-theory class and K-homology class (which is represented by a triple $(A,H,F)$) and
you pair them together. This ...
13
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0
answers
1k
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Eta-Invariant and Atiyah-Patodi-Singer Index Theorem
In Quantum Field Theory and Jones Polynomial (equation 2.16), Witten used a formula relating the APS eta-invariant to the Chern-Simons action. Witten claimed that it is derived from the Atiyah-Patodi-...
12
votes
3
answers
812
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Index of a family of operators
In the usual setting of the Atiyah-Singer index theorem the situation is as follows: we have a closed smooth manifold $M$ without boundary and $D$ is some elliptic differential operator acting on ...
12
votes
0
answers
537
views
Elementary-ish geometric proof of Hirzebruch signature theorem for Riemannian 4-manifolds?
The Hirzebruch signature theorem tells us that for a smooth compact oriented 4-manifold, the signature $\sigma(M)$ is proportional to the first Pontryagin number of $M$:
$$
3\sigma(M)= p_1(M) = k \...
11
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2
answers
1k
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Elliptic operators corresponds to non vanishing vector fields
Added, June 19, 2019: The main motivation of this post is to associate an index to differential operator associated to a dynamical system such that the index has an interesting ...
11
votes
1
answer
586
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supersymmetry and the de Rham complex
In Alvarez-Gaume's paper "Supersymmetry and the index theorem" there is
given a certain supersymmetric Lagrangian whose quantization, apparently, leads to the de Rham Laplacian on the exterior ...
10
votes
2
answers
2k
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Atiyah Singer index theorem and Hodge de Rham operator
When I read about Atiyah Singer index theorem I met the following example: let $M$ is (orientable closed smooth) Riemannian manifold and consider Hodge-de Rham Dirac operator defined by $d+d^*$ (...
10
votes
1
answer
583
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Index of Dirac operator and Chern character of symmetric product twisting bundle
I am having trouble understanding a couple of lines of computation from Theorem 13.30 in Besse's Einstein Manifolds text
We are twisting the spinor bundle (on Einstein 4-manifold) $\Sigma$ with an ...
10
votes
1
answer
769
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Baum Connes conjecture and Atiyah-Singer index theorem
Baum Connes conjecture is considered as a far generalisation of the Atiyah Singer index theorem (in K-theoretical formulation). I would like to understand how the latter follows from this conjecture. ...
10
votes
0
answers
172
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Baum Connes conjecture and abstract isomorphism
Baum-Connes conjecture states that for a locally compact group $G$ the so called assebly map $\mu$ between $G$-equivariant K-homology of the universal example for proper actions of $G$ and K-theory of ...
10
votes
0
answers
732
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What is Quillen's contribution to index theorem?
In the book "Heat Kernels and Dirac Operators" by Berline, Getzler and Vergne it is said that "Our book is based on a simple principle, which we learned from D. Quillen: Dirac operators are a ...
10
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0
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399
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Between Being a Connection and Being an Elliptic Operator
Let $E$ be a smooth complex vector bundle over a smooth compact manifold $M$ and let $H$ be the $Z_{2}$-graded (with the $Z_{2}$-grading given by even/odd forms) Hilbert space of $L_{2}$ (with respect ...
9
votes
2
answers
1k
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Understanding the analytic index map of the Atiyah-Singer index theorem
Hi,
I'm currently trying to understand the Atiyah-Singer index theorem and its proof as presented in the book "Spin Geometry" by Lawson and Michelsohn.
I do not understand why the analytic index map ...
9
votes
1
answer
706
views
Is there a version of the Poincaré–Hopf theorem for manifold with corners?
As we know, the square $S=[0,1]\times[0,1]$ is not a manifold with boundary. Instead, it's a manifold with corners. For a tangent vector field on a compact manifold with boundary, we have the Poincaré–...
9
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2
answers
420
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Matrix of cosecants appearing in equivariant index computations
In a computation of characters of certain representations of finite cyclic groups which appear as equivariant indices of Dirac operators (using the Atiyah-Bott fixed point formula, cf. [1, Theorem 8....
9
votes
1
answer
463
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Functoriality for wrong way maps
In the K-theory formulation of the index theorem one defines the topological index in terms of the so called wrong way maps. Those maps are defined for embeddings of compact manifolds $i:X \to Y$: see ...
9
votes
0
answers
512
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Why is the symbol map in Atiyah–Singer paper continuous?
I am reading "Index of elliptic operators: I", by Atiyah and Singer these days and I am trying to understand all the paper. I find it difficult to verify the following statement on page 512:...
9
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0
answers
218
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Torsion in Atiyah Singer index formula
In the papers of Atiyah and Singer, they first show their index theorem and then derive some index formulas.
For the Fredholm index living in the integers, they use the fact that on spheres the Chern ...
9
votes
0
answers
256
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Chern-Simons form and Rarita-Schwinger operator
The Rarita-Schwinger (RS) operator naturally generalizes the Dirac operator and in Physics it describes particles with spin-3/2.
I was wondering if there exists any reference concerning the ...
9
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0
answers
404
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Why does the index of the Dirac operator on a manifold with boundary live inside the Pfaffian line of the boundary Dirac operator?
I am trying to understand a statement from page 72 of What is an elliptic object? by Stolz and Teichner.
They have a spin Riemannian 2-manifold $\Sigma$, with boundary 1-manifold $Y$. The Dirac ...
8
votes
1
answer
367
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Do we have a "topological assembly map" in the Baum-Connes conjecture?
In the equivariant Atiyah-Singer index theorem, when $G$ is a compact group acting on a manifold $M$ and $R(G)$ is the representation ring of $G$. We have the analytic index
$$
\text{a-ind}: K^*_G(TM)\...
8
votes
1
answer
525
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Further directions of index theory
The Atiyah-Singer theorem is a major achievement of twentieth century mathematics. It has inspired a lot of work and people started to develop generalizations of this theorem. I would like to know the ...
8
votes
1
answer
517
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KK-theoretical proof of Atiyah-Singer index theorem
Does anyone know of any detailed proof of the Atiyah-Singer Index Theorem using KK-theory/ Kasparov products? References to any papers and textbooks are greatly appreciated. Thanks!
8
votes
1
answer
270
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Noncommutative Fredholm operators
Let $A$ be a unital $C^*$-algebra and $F:H_A\rightarrow H_A$ a Fredholm operator on the standard Hilbert $A$-module $H_A:=l^2(A)$. Is it true that $\mbox{ker}(F)$ and $\mbox{coker}(F)$ are finitely ...
8
votes
1
answer
281
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Failure of Fredholm property of elliptic PDE systems
Roughly speaking, a PDE operator satisfies the Fredholm property if its principal symbol is elliptic and the information provided on the boundary satisfies the Shapiro-Lopatinskii condition.
What can ...
8
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0
answers
400
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Atiyah-Singer theorem in heat kernels and Dirac operators
I'm reading "Heat kernels and Dirac operators" by Berline, Getzler and Vergne.
I have some trouble to understand a identity on the bottom of page 146 which is essential for the proof of the ...
8
votes
0
answers
111
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Euler number of the complex of basic forms
Let $G$ be a compact Lie group and $\pi:P \to M$ a principal $G$-bundle. I would like to understand the geometry of $M$ through $P$ with the $G$-action.
I am trying to understand the Hopf bundle ($G=...
7
votes
1
answer
516
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preliminary reading recommendation before embarking on Connes non commutative geometry book?
I want to try to understand non commutative geometry by reading Connes's book
..and I am discovering it is a hard book to read :-) as I miss a lot of background specially in operator algebra and ...
7
votes
1
answer
690
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Parametrized Atiyah-Singer index theorem
Let $M$ be any smooth manifold (could be unorientable - I think). Let $E,F \to M$ be two complex vector bundles. Let $S$ be any compact space, and let $D_s:E\to F,s\in S$ be a continuous family ...
7
votes
1
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2k
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Normal coordinates near the boundary
Let $M$ be an Riemannian manifold with boundary $\partial M$ and $e_n$ be a unit normal vector on $\partial M$. With respect to $e_n$, around a point $p$ on boundary, we have the usual normal ...
7
votes
1
answer
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What's the relation between the heat kernel proof of the index theorem and deformation quantization?
In the book "Heat kernels and Dirac operators", I found the slogan by Quillen in the Introduction: "Dirac operators are a quantization of the theory of connections, and the supertrace of the heat ...
7
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0
answers
248
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Applications of the Atiyah-Patodi-Singer eta-function $\eta(s)$
The eta function of a differential operator was used by Atiyah, Patodi and Singer to derive their famous index theorem, and is given by
$$
\eta(s)=\sum_{\lambda\neq 0}(\mathrm{sign}\lambda)|\lambda|^...