# 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-Singer index theorem. I cannot find any clue how one can derive that formula from APS index theorem.

In the following, I will briefly explain equation 2.19 in that paper, and will write the Atiyah-Patodi-Singer index theorem. Please help me figure out how one can derive that equation from APS index theorem.

Let $$Y$$ be a closed three dimensional manifold. Let $$G$$ be a compact simple gauge group, whose Lie algebra is denoted by $$\mathfrak{g}$$. Let $$E$$ be a $$G$$-bundle over $$Y$$, with connection $$1$$-form $$A\in\Omega^{1}(Y,\mathfrak{g})$$. The Chern-Simons action is given by

$$I[A]=\frac{1}{4\pi}\int_{Y}\mathrm{Tr}\left(A\wedge dA+\frac{2}{3}A\wedge A\wedge A\right).$$

Let $$D_{A}$$ be the covariant derivative. Then, one is interested in the operator

$$L=\bigg( \begin{matrix} \ast D_{A}&-D_{A}\ast\\D_{A}\ast&0 \end{matrix} \bigg).$$

To be specific, one is interested in $$L_{-}$$, the restriction of $$L$$ on odd forms, i.e.

$$L_{-}=L|_{\Omega^{1}(Y)\oplus\Omega^{3}(Y)}.$$

One defines its eta-invariant

$$\eta_{L_{-}}(A)=\lim_{s\rightarrow 0}\sum_{j}\frac{\mathrm{sign}(v_{j})}{|v_{j}|^{s}}$$

where $$v_{j}$$ are non-zero eigenvalues of the operator $$L_{-}$$.

Similarly, one defines the eta-invariant for the trivial gauge $$A=0$$, denoted by $$\eta_{L_{-}}(0)$$. With this trivial gauge, one is interested in the operator

$$L=\bigg( \begin{matrix} \ast d&-d\ast\\d\ast&0 \end{matrix} \bigg),$$

restricted on odd forms.

Equation 2.16 in Quantum Field Theory and Jones Polynomial:

$$\frac{1}{4}\left(\eta_{L_{-}}(A)-\eta_{L_{-}}(0)\right)=\frac{c_{2}(G)}{2\pi}I[A]$$

Witten claimed that this is a result from Atiyah-Patodi-Singer index theorem.

The original statement of APS index theorem is from Spectral Asymmetry and Riemannian Geometry I, which is very hard to read for physics students. In the following, I copy the statement of APS index theorem from Aspects of Boundary Problems in Analysis and Geometry, which is easier to read.

Let the closed three dimensional manifold $$Y$$ be the boundary of a compact, oriented, four dimensional Riemannian manifold $$M$$, i,e, $$\partial M=Y$$. Let $$S(M)$$ be a spin bundle over $$M$$, then one has the splitting $$S(M)=S^{+}(M)\oplus S^{-}(M)$$ into chiral halves. Let $$E$$ be a Hermitian vector bundles over $$M$$. The twisted Dirac operator on $$M$$ is defined as

$$\mathcal{D}=\bigg( \begin{matrix} 0&D^{+}\\D^{-}&0 \end{matrix} \bigg),$$

with

$$D^{+}:\Gamma(M,S^{+}(M)\otimes E)\rightarrow\Gamma(M,S^{-}(M)\otimes E)$$

$$D^{-}:\Gamma(M,S^{-}(M)\otimes E)\rightarrow\Gamma(M,S^{+}(M)\otimes E)$$

where $$\Gamma(M,S^{\pm}(M)\otimes E)$$ is the set of sections of the bundle $$S^{\pm}(M)\otimes E$$.

In addition, one assumes the following conditions:

1. $$M$$ has a collar neighborhood $$N=[0,1)_{s}\times Y$$ near $$Y$$, where the metric is a product

$$g=ds^{2}+h$$

with $$h$$ a metric on $$Y$$.

$$\hspace{3cm}$$

2. Denote the space of square-integrable spinors on $$Y$$ by $$L^{2}(Y,S(Y))$$. Near the boundary $$Y$$, the Dirac operator $$\mathcal{D}$$ is of product type on the collar of the following form:

$$\mathcal{D}=\Gamma^{s}(\partial_{s}+D_{Y})$$

where $$\Gamma^{s}:S^{\pm}(N)\otimes E|_{N}\rightarrow S^{\mp}(N)\otimes E|_{N}$$ is unitary mapping

$$L^{2}(Y,S(Y)\otimes E|_{Y})\rightarrow L^{2}(Y,S(Y)\otimes E|_{Y})$$

of spinors on $$Y$$, and

$$D_{Y}:\Gamma(Y,S(Y)\otimes E|_{Y})\rightarrow\Gamma(Y,S(Y)\otimes E|_{Y})$$

is the self-adjoint Dirac operator on $$Y$$.

Denote the APS eta-invariant for $$D_{Y}$$ by

$$\eta_{D_{Y}}(s)=\sum_{\lambda\in\mathrm{spec}(D_{Y})\backslash\left\{0\right\}}m_{\lambda}\frac{\mathrm{sign}(\lambda)}{|\lambda|^{s}}$$

where $$m_{\lambda}$$ is the multiplicity of the eigenvalue $$\lambda$$.

Let $$\widehat{M}$$ be the non-compact elongation of $$M$$ defined as follows:

$$\widehat{M}=(-\infty,0]_{s}\times Y\cup_{\partial M}M$$

$$\hspace{4cm}$$

One denotes the extension of $$D_{M}$$ on $$\widehat{M}$$ by $$\widehat{D}$$.

$$\mathrm{ind}(\widehat{D})=\int_{M}\hat{A}(TM)\mathrm{ch}(E)-\frac{1}{2}\left(\eta(D_{Y})+\dim\ker D_{Y}\right)$$

$$=\frac{-1}{8\pi^{2}}\int_{M}\mathrm{Tr}\left(F\wedge F\right)+\frac{\dim E}{192\pi^{2}}\int_{M}\mathrm{Tr}\left(R\wedge R\right)-\frac{1}{2}\left(\eta(D_{Y})+\dim\ker D_{Y}\right)$$

Please tell me how I can derive Witten's formula (2.16) from the above APS index formula. The quadratic Casimir $$c_{2}(G)$$ is suppposed to come from replacing the trace in the adjoint representation by trace in the fundamental representation in the Chern-Simons action. However, from the APS index formula, I cannot see anything in the adjoint representation.

I've seen some "physical" derivations of the formula (2,16) from Gauge Dependence of the Eta-Function in Chern-Simons Field Theory and the Vilkovisky-DeWitt Correction, and Perturbative Expansion of Chern-Simons Theory with Noncompact Gauge Group, but they made me even more confused.

What is even worse, I found a more genetic formula generalizing Witten's formula (2.16) from Lectures on Quantization of Gauge Systems (equation 60 iin page 53) and Computer Calculation of Witten's 3-Manifold Invariant (equation 1.31 in page 86).

Also, in this physics paper Global Symmetries, Counterterms, and Duality in Chern-Simons Matter Theories with Orthogonal Gauge Groups (equation 4.2 in page 33), the APS index theorem looks very different from the original one, with a factor of the quadratic Casimir.

Please tell me where this second order Casimir is coming from.

• Could you please specify what space $L$ acts on? Is $E$ supposed to be a vector bundle over $M$ with structure group $G$, and $L$ acts on $\Omega^{\mathrm{odd}}(M;E)$? In that case, maybe there is a rk$(E)$ missing eqn 2.16? Otherwise, I have no idea yet how the $G$-connection $A$ acts. – Sebastian Goette Nov 30 '18 at 9:37
• @SebastianGoette $L$ is acting on $\Omega^{\mathrm{odd}}(M,\mathfrak{g})$, where $\mathfrak{g}$ is the Lie algebra of $G$. I already gave the definition of $E$ in my post. No there is no $\mathrm{rank}(E)$ in $2.16$ in Witten's paper. I had already proven it myself last week but I haven't posted my proof. – Libertarian Monarchist Bot Nov 30 '18 at 17:50
• If both operators act on $\Omega^{\mathrm{odd}}(M;\mathfrak g)$, then we can consider the signature operator (not the spin Dirac operator, as you suggested) on $W=M\times[0,1]$, twisted by $W\times\mathfrak g$. On the twist bundle, we choose a connection that interpolates between $\nabla^0=d$ over $M\times\{0\}$ and $\nabla^1=d+A$ over $M\times\{1\}$. Then eqn 2.16 should follow from the APS theorem. From the integrand on $W$, only the part containing $c_2(\nabla)$ contributes. The number $c_2(G)$ is probably needed to get the precise second Chern form, but I have not checked the details yet. – Sebastian Goette Dec 1 '18 at 19:15
• @SebastianGoette Thank you for your comment. What you said is the version of APS theorem I first learned from physics books, but I couldn't get the $c_{2}(G)$. On the other hand, I obtained the factor $c_{2}(G)$ from a purely physical method, which is not mathematically rigorous. – Libertarian Monarchist Bot Dec 1 '18 at 20:19