Questions tagged [spin-geometry]
For questions about spin manifolds, the groups $\operatorname{Spin}(n)$, as well as generalisations such as $\operatorname{Pin}^{\pm}(n)$ and $\operatorname{Spin}^c(n)$. This tag should also be used for any questions about the geometry of spin manifolds, including questions involving Dirac operators and the Lichnerowicz formula.
224
questions
4
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Atiyah-Bott-Shapiro generalization to $U(n) \to ({Spin(2n) \times U(1)})/{\mathbf{Z}/4}$ for $n=2k+1$
Atiyah, Bott, and Shapiro paper on Clifford Modules around page 10 shows two facts.
1 - There is a lift $U(n) \to Spin^c(2n)$ from $U(n) \to SO(2n)\times U(1)$. Also an embedding (injective group ...
8
votes
0
answers
277
views
Infinitely many nonempty Seiberg-Witten moduli spaces
The classic "finiteness" statement in Seiberg-Witten (SW) theory is that, for any smooth closed connected 4-manifold, there are only finitely many spin-c structures with nontrivial SW ...
8
votes
1
answer
349
views
Euclidean and Minkowski Majorana spinors - inconsistency with Wikipedia Table
In this wonderful lecture note on Clifford Algebra and
Spin(N) Representations, http://hitoshi.berkeley.edu/230A/clifford.pdf
Somehow I find some inconsistency with his Tables of Euclidean and ...
1
vote
0
answers
38
views
Extending the Dirac operator on an open subset of a manifold and preserving positivity
Let $M$ be a spin manifold and $U\subseteq M$ an open ball. Let $D$ be the Dirac operator on $M$ with respect to some Riemannian metric $g$, acting on sections of the spinor bundle $S\to M$. Suppose ...
1
vote
0
answers
75
views
Equivalence of $Spin^C$-Structures
I'm trying to understand the equivalence of $Spin^C(n)$-structures in the book "Dirac Operators in Riemannian Geometry" by Thomas Friedrich, p. 47 ff, but I got somehow stuck because I'm not ...
5
votes
1
answer
530
views
A corollary of the non-existence of positive scalar curvature
I've been done some work with scalar curvature and managed to give a simple proof for the following result:
Let $M$ be a closed manifold which do not admit a metric of positive scalar curvature. Then ...
3
votes
0
answers
242
views
Research in spin geometry
I am currently learning differential geometry, but I have heard about the field of spin geometry and have skimmed through the book Dirac Operators in Riemannian Geometry by Thomas Friedrich. I have ...
0
votes
0
answers
112
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Dirac operator on a 5 dimensional tangent manifold with a $Spin(3)$-bundle
In p.3 of Witten paper from this Physics Letters B, Volume 117, Issue 5, 18 November 1982, Pages 324-328 Physics Letters B, 117(5), 324–328, he says that about the Dirac equation on a 5-dimensional
...
7
votes
1
answer
263
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Visualizing the wave operator in two dimensions
For $n\geq 1$, let $D_n$ be the Dirac operator on the spinor bundle on the $n$-dimensional sphere $S^n$. For example, $D_1$ acts on the trivial bundle $S^1\times\mathbb{C}\to S^1$, and can be ...
0
votes
0
answers
132
views
Clifford multiplication formula for $d\beta$ where $\beta$ is a $3$-form
Say $X$ be a $6$-dimensional compact Riemannian manifold which admits a $Spin^{\mathbb{C}}$ structure. Now I want to have a Clifford multiplication formula by $d\beta$ in terms of $\beta$ where $\beta$...
2
votes
0
answers
108
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The centralizer and normalizer of products of (Spin(n) $\times \dots$) in U(m)
$\DeclareMathOperator\SU{SU}\DeclareMathOperator\U{U}\DeclareMathOperator\Spin{Spin}$
Consider the spin group $\Spin(n)$ and the unitary group $\U(16)$.
Below I specify a specfic way to embed $(\Spin(...
3
votes
1
answer
342
views
The normalizer of SU(n) in U(m)?
$\DeclareMathOperator\SU{SU}\DeclareMathOperator\U{U}\DeclareMathOperator\Spin{Spin}$Consider the special unitary group $\SU(5)$ and the unitary group $\U(16)$.
Below I specify a specfic way to embed $...
3
votes
0
answers
102
views
Spin structures induced on embedded circles and choices of trivialisations
I have a presumably basic question concerning spin structures that has me a bit confused.
Let $C$ be a circle embedded in a spun manifold $X^n$. Given a choice of trivialisation of the normal bundle ...
1
vote
1
answer
264
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The normalizer of $\operatorname{Spin}(2N)$ in $\operatorname{U}(2^{N-1})$?
$\DeclareMathOperator\U{U}\DeclareMathOperator\Spin{Spin}$ I can show that
$$
\U(2^{N-1})\supset \Spin(2N)
$$
when $2N > 4$ or a positive integer $N > 2$, so $\Spin(2N)$ can be embedded in $\U(2^...
2
votes
1
answer
206
views
Clarification of different notions of spin structures
$\DeclareMathOperator\SO{SO}\DeclareMathOperator\Spin{Spin}$I am confused about the equivalence of some various definitions of spin structures and I was hoping for some help clearing out the fog. Let ...
2
votes
1
answer
342
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Clifford multiplication formula on an almost complex manifold
$\DeclareMathOperator\End{End}$Following the deduction by John W. Morgan in his book The Seiberg–Witten equations and applications to the topology of smooth four manifolds, an almost complex manifold $...
1
vote
0
answers
169
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Central extensions of orthogonal group by $C_2$
Suppose $(V,Q)$ is a quadratic space for definite quadratic form $Q$. It is stated in Pin groups that there are two central extensions of the orthogonal group $O(V)$ by the cyclic group $C_2$, ...
2
votes
0
answers
222
views
Bryant-Salamon $G_2$ manifold on the spinor bundle over $S^3$
I am trying to understand the spaces constructed in R. L. Bryant and S. M. Salamon, On the construction of some complete metrics with exceptional holonomy.
My first problem is, essentially, about ...
2
votes
2
answers
229
views
Induced action by an involution on spinor bundle and Dirac operator
Let $M$ be a $4n$-dimensional spin manifold with a fixed Riemannian metric $g$. Let $S$ be a spinor bundle over $M$ and fix the Riemannian connection on it. There is a decomposition $S=S^+\oplus S^-$, ...
13
votes
2
answers
795
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What is the relationship between spinors and supermanifolds and fermions?
I have the following two impressions about fermions in physics. I'm confused about their accuracy, and their compatibility:
To consider the behavior of a fermion, whose intrinsic spin is described by ...
22
votes
2
answers
1k
views
If the universal cover of a manifold is spin, must it admit a finite cover which is spin?
If $M$ is non-orientable, then it has a finite cover which is orientable (in particular, the orientable double cover).
If $M$ is non-spin, then it does not necessarily have a finite cover which is ...
8
votes
1
answer
212
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Isomorphisms of Pin groups
My goal is to identify the $Pin$ group
$$
1 \to Spin(n) \to Pin^{\pm}(n) \to \mathbb{Z}_2 \to 1
$$
such that $Pin^{\pm}(n)$ are isomorphisms to other more familiar groups.
My trick is that to look at ...
4
votes
0
answers
373
views
Comparison between spinor representations in $\operatorname{SL}(2,\mathbb C)=\operatorname{Spin}(1,3)$ and $\operatorname{Spin}(4)$
$\DeclareMathOperator\Spin{Spin}\DeclareMathOperator\SL{SL}\DeclareMathOperator\SU{SU}$We know that
$$
\Spin(1,3)=\SL(2,\mathbb C)
$$
and
$$
\Spin(4)=\SU(2) \times \SU(2).
$$
The $\Spin(1,3)$ is the ...
7
votes
1
answer
194
views
Manifolds with $w_1(TM)\cup w_1(TM)=0$ and $w_2(TM)=0$ but $w_1(TM)\neq 0$
For a generic dimension $d$, is there an nonorientable manifold $M$ (i.e. $w_1(TM)\neq 0$) with vanishing $w_1(TM)\cup w_1(TM)$ and $w_2(TM)$, i.e.,
$$w_1(TM)\cup w_1(TM)=0, ~~~~~ w_2(TM)=0, ~~~~~w_1(...
3
votes
0
answers
457
views
Why in $S^2$ is there no spin structure? [closed]
For a Dirac fermion (spin half) on $S^2$, we have both the general covariant derivatives and the relativistic Hamitonian. What does the claim "in $S^2$ there is no spin structure" means? A reference ...
6
votes
0
answers
198
views
Spin structure using flag manifolds instead of a Riemannian metric
Let $(M,g)$ be an oriented Riemannian manifold of dimension $n$, and denote by $P_{\mathrm{SO}}\to M$ its oriented frame bundle. The usual definition of a spin structure is the data of a principal $\...
9
votes
1
answer
293
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Topological Spin manifolds in dimension 4
In his ICM Adress at Nice (Proceedings of the International Congress of Mathematicians Nice, September, 1970, Gauthier-Villars, editeur, Paris 6 e ,1971, Volume 2, pp. 133-163.),
Robion Kirby ...
4
votes
0
answers
169
views
Understanding $w_2$ as an obstruction to trivializing the tangent bundle over 2-cells
I am reading through "A Geometric Proof of Rochlin's Theorem", and it is occurring to me, again, that I don't understand spin structures / $w_2$. My confusion arrises in, naturally, the proof of ...
7
votes
1
answer
353
views
Spectral gaps for spin manifold Laplace spectrum
For a (compact) spin manifold, we know that the eigenvalues $\lambda_n$ of the Dirac operator are countable, with finite multiplicity, and satisfy
$$
|\lambda_n| \to \infty, ~~~ \text{ as } n \to \...
6
votes
0
answers
325
views
Can spin structures and Arf invariants be defined in terms of local quantities, like Chern classes and Chern numbers?
I'm interested in if it's possible to represent a spin structure and the Arf invariant associated to it in terms of some sort of local fields.
For example, the first Chern class of a complex line ...
3
votes
0
answers
45
views
Embedding of Riemannian symmetric spaces $E_I$ and $E_{IV}$ into Lie group $E_6$
In answer and comments to this mathoverflow question we have discussed possiblity of embedding Riemmanian symmetric spaces $E_I, E_{II}, E_{III},E_{IV}$ of dimension $42,40,32,26$ respectively into $...
2
votes
0
answers
308
views
First Chern Class of Contact Structure which is not Torsion
Let $(M,\xi)$ be a closed connected $3-$dimensional contact manifold with contact structure $\xi$. It is known that the first Chern class $c_{1}(\xi)$ defines an element in $H^{2}(M;\mathbb{Z})$ and ...
9
votes
0
answers
196
views
An equivalent definition for $\text{Spin}^c$-structures
I'm interested in proving the following proposition ([G], Remark page 48):
Prop: A $\text{Spin}^c$-structure over an oriented vector bundle is equivalent (after stabilizing if the fiber dimension ...
2
votes
0
answers
194
views
Existence of a certain kind of compact spin manifold with boundary
For a compact spin Riemannian manifold $(M^n,g)$ without boundary, $n \not\equiv 3\mod 4$, it is well-known that the Dirac operator associated with a fixed spin structure $S\rightarrow M$ has real, ...
6
votes
0
answers
216
views
Arf-Brown-Kervaire invariant and a surjective map $G \to Pin^-$
We know that the Arf-Brown-Kervaire (abk) invariant is a bordism invariant of
$$
\Omega_2^{Pin^-}(pt)=\mathbb{Z}/(8\mathbb{Z}),
$$
where the $\mathbb{Z}/(8\mathbb{Z})$ is generated by a 2-manifold $M^...
10
votes
1
answer
356
views
Discrete Pin structures
It is clear that an oriented manifold $M^n$ (with dimension $n$) admits spin structures if and only if its second Stiefel-Whitney class $[w^2]\in H^2(M,\mathbb Z_2)$ vanishes. In the construction of ...
4
votes
1
answer
996
views
Spin groups in terms of matrices and/or linear operators
Thus far, the books and articles I have read dealing with spin groups $\mathbf{Spin}(n)$ and $\mathbf{Spin}(p,q)$ consider them only in terms of either Clifford algebras or topologically as the double ...
5
votes
0
answers
156
views
Spinor representation for $\operatorname{Spin}(V \oplus V^*)$
I'm studding Hitchin's Generalized Calabi-Yau Manifolds https://arxiv.org/abs/math/0209099 and I've stuck here:
Suppose that $V$ is a vector space and denote its dual by $V^*$. Now we know that the $\...
8
votes
2
answers
704
views
Lifting a diffeomorphism into a spinor bundle automorphism
I know several papers that treat this, but it seems that most of these papers do things very differently with quite different conclusions, so I am confused.
Basically, when one tries to do classical ...
2
votes
0
answers
92
views
Inflation of $w_j(V_{SO(N)})$ and $w_j(M)$ from $SO(N)$ to $Spin(N)$ or Spin geometry
We know well this short exact sequence
$$
1 \to \mathbb{Z}_2 \to Spin(N) \to SO(N) \to 1.
$$
The $j$-th Stiefel-Whitney class of the associated vector bundle of $SO(N)$, as $w_j(V_{SO(N)})$, can be ...
2
votes
0
answers
122
views
The complex Clifford algebra
If $(E,g,w)$ is a vector space $E$ with a metric $g$ and a symplectic form $w$; then we can define the complex parts $(1,0)$ and $(0,1)$, so that the complex Clifford algebra is: $$e_1 . f_1 + f_1 . ...
3
votes
0
answers
169
views
Pairing the Arf with Stiefel-Whitney class
The Arf invariant is a nonsingular quadratic form over a field of characteristic 2.
The form that I looked at was:
$$
S(q)=|H^1(M^2,\mathbb{Z}_2)|^{-1/2} \sum_{x\in H^1(M^2,\mathbb{Z}_2)} \exp[\pi \;...
1
vote
0
answers
103
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A generalization of the Clifford algebra
Let $(E,g)$ be a vector space with a symmetric bilinear form, and $a,b$ be two endomorphisms of $E$. The generalized Clifford algebra is defined by the free algebra of $E$ with quotient by the ...
3
votes
0
answers
151
views
The Dirac-Ricci operator
If we consider a spin manifold $M$, we can define the Ricci curvature $Ricc (X,Y)$ which is a symmetric tensor, moreover the spinors are defined, so that we can define a Dirac-Ricci operator:
$$DR(\...
5
votes
0
answers
201
views
About mod 2 Index of Dirac Operators in 3D on Non-Orientable Manifold
I was reading Witten's paper "Fermion Path Integrals and Topological Phases" (https://arxiv.org/abs/1508.04715). He claimed that
Indeed, on
an orientable 3-manifold, the eigenvalues of the Dirac ...
2
votes
0
answers
73
views
Is there an analog of a Chern-Simons formula for the pfaffian $Pf(F)$ of a $SO(2n)$ curvature $F$?
..something similar to $tr(A \wedge dA + 2/3 * A \wedge A \wedge A)$ for $n = 2$ ?
14
votes
1
answer
565
views
Obstruction of spin-c structure and the generalized Wu manifods
Bockstein homomorphim and obstruction of spin-c structure: Let $w_2$ be the Stiefel Whintney class of manifold $M$. Let the Bockstein homomorphim $\beta$ be the
$$
H^2(\mathbb{Z}_2,M) \to H^3(\mathbb{...
10
votes
3
answers
708
views
Spin-H structures
Let us define a Spin-H structure as a reduction of a SO(n)-bundle by the group: $$Spin^H (n)=Spin(n) \times SU(2)/\{ 1,-1\}$$ The Spin-H structures are analogous to the well-known Spin-C structures ...
8
votes
0
answers
212
views
Are spin Hurwitz numbers $r$-spin Hurwitz numbers?
(I think the answer is no, but I'm not sure.)
In Hurwitz theory, one counts $n$-fold branched covers $\Sigma'\to\Sigma$ of a Riemann surface $\Sigma$ with fixed
ramification data around each branch ...
1
vote
1
answer
68
views
Example of a certain partitioned manifold
I'm looking for an example of a non-compact spin manifold $M$ and a compact subset $K\subseteq M$ such that $\partial K$ is a compact hypersurface in $M$ with $\hat{A}(\partial K)\neq 0$.
(At first I ...