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.
225
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Equivalent definition of Spin group in terms of automorphisms
Let $\mathrm{Cl}(\mathbb{R}^n)$ denote the (real) Clifford algebra on $\mathbb{R}^n$ with respect to the Euclidean inner product. Let $\mathrm{Cl}^0({\mathbb{R}^n})$ denote the even part of $\mathrm{...
2
votes
1
answer
239
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Proof of the Hirzebruch-Riemann-Roch theorem using the Atiyah-Singer index theorem
I am trying to read the proof of the Riemann-Roch-Hirzebruch theorem using the index theorem (Heat Kernel and Dirac operators, [BGV]), but I do not understand the few last steps (theorem 4.11, page ...
4
votes
1
answer
219
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Spin$^c$ structures induced by an almost complex structure
Let $M$ be a closed spin$^c$ $4$-manifold with determinant line bundle $L$.
If $c_1^2(L)=2\chi(M)+3\tau(M)$, where $\chi$ and $\tau$ denote the Euler characteristic and signature of $M$ respectively, ...
8
votes
2
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Is there a purely topological definition of $\text{Spin}(p,q)$?
I'm cross-posting this question from Math.SE, as it didn't get much attention there (even after a bounty).
A common way to define the group $\text{Spin}(p,q)$ is via Clifford algebras. However, $\text{...
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Does every Spin$(7)$-manifold has a unit-length spinor?
Say $M$ be a manifold with a Spin$(7)$-structure. $M$ is spin and hence spin$^c$. Say $S=S_+\oplus S_-$ be a spin$^c$-bundle on $M$. Does $S_+$ has a nowhere vanishing section? The result is true if ...
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0
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63
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Spin(7)-instanton
Let $M$ be a Spin$(7)$-manifold with a spin-bundle $S=S_+\oplus S_-$. There's an obvious connection on $S$ which comes from lifting the Levi-Civita connection. And it induces a connection on the ...
5
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A question about the existence of spin maps
Let $M, N$ be two smooth manifolds, not necessarily spin. My question is the following:
How can we construct a non-constant spin map $f:M\to N$ of degree zero?
Here spin map means that $f$ preserves ...
4
votes
1
answer
296
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Induced fiber sequence and Eilenberg–MacLane space in Whitehead tower of $BO$
In Whitehead tower of $BO$, there is a induced fiber sequence:
1.
$$
Z_2 \to B SO \to BO \overset{w_1}{\rightarrow} B Z_2
$$
How does this map $\overset{w_1}{\rightarrow}$ from $BO$ to $B Z_2$?
...
4
votes
0
answers
66
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Pfaffian elements and anomalies
If $X$ is a compact even dimensional spin manifold, then we have a family of chiral Dirac operators parametrized by $Met(X)$, the (infinite dimensional) manifold of Riemannian metrics on $X$. This is ...
2
votes
2
answers
163
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$String/CP^{\infty}=Spin$ or a correction to this quotient group relation
We know that there is a fiber sequence:
$$
... \to B^3 Z \to B String \to B Spin \to B^2 Z \to ...
$$
Is this fiber sequence induced from a short exact sequence?
If so, is that
$$
1 \to B^2 Z = B S^...
3
votes
2
answers
489
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Calculation of the top Chern class of spinor bundle over $S^{2n}$
It's well known that for a complex vector bundle $E$, we have
$$c_n(E)=e_n(E_\mathbb{R}) $$
But I'm very curious about the relationship between the top Chern class of spinor bundle and the Euler class ...
8
votes
1
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466
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Definition of a spin group
$\DeclareMathOperator\Pin{Pin}\DeclareMathOperator\Spin{Spin}$This follows on from Definition of Pin groups?, which notes there are three different definitions of the Pin group; thankfully, all of ...
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Why Representation of Clifford algebra are constant for an orthonormal frame?
Let $e_\alpha$ be a basis of the tangent bundle $TM$ and $ \rho: T_x M \rightarrow \operatorname{End}\left( W\right)$ a representation of a Clifford algebra.
In this text Field theory from a bundle ...
8
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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 ...
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1
answer
268
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Uniqueness of spinor representation
$\DeclareMathOperator\SU{SU}\DeclareMathOperator\SO{SO}\DeclareMathOperator\GL{GL}$I asked a similar question on math stack exchange here, but I wonder if it may be better received here.
Let $n$ be ...
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1
answer
226
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Spin connection vs. Cartan connection
I am studying the tetradic Palatini formalism of general relativity. In this formalism, one usually considers a manifold $M$, which is either non-compact or compact with Euler-characteristic $\chi(M)=...
2
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0
answers
64
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Group of invertible elements in a degree 4 central simple algebra with symplectic involution with norm in a center
Let $A$ be a central simple algebra of degree 4 (i.e. dimension 16) over a field $F$ with $\mathrm{char}(F) \neq 2$. It is known that any such algebra is a tensor product $D_1 \otimes D_2$ of two ...
4
votes
1
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327
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When the Pontryagin square is an even class?
Let $n$ be an even integer and $X$ a manifold. Given a cohomology class $B \in H^k(X,\mathbb{Z}_n)$, the Pontryagin square is a class $\mathfrak{P}(B)\in H^{2k}(X,\mathbb{Z}_{2n})$. Is it true that if ...
2
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0
answers
94
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Chern number of positive spinor bundle
What is the second chern number $c_2(V_+)$ of the positive spinor bundle on a 4-manifold, in particular $S^4$? Why is it that $V_+$ is the same as the quaternion line-bundle?
Thanks,
3
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320
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Existence (or non existence) of principal bundle charts compatible with an $f$-reduction
I asked this question on math stack exchange here, but I wonder if it would be better received here.
Let $\pi:P\rightarrow M$ and $\pi':P'\rightarrow M$ be principal $G$ and $H$ bundles respectively, ...
2
votes
1
answer
218
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Necessary and sufficient conditions for pseudo Riemannian manifold to be time orientable
It is well known that a smooth manifold $M$ is orientable if the first Stiefel-Whitney class of the tangent bundle vanishes. In particular, this implies that if $M$ is equipped with a pseudo-...
1
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0
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62
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Action of volume form on spinors in odd dimension
We know that for a smooth orientable manifold of dimension $2n, i^n$ times the volume form acts as identity on the positive spinors and acts as minus identity on the negative spinors via Clifford ...
13
votes
4
answers
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Representations of Pin vs. Representations of Clifford
This may be total nonsense. But I need to know the answer quickly and I am too tired to think about it thoroughly. Let $k$ be a positive integer. Roe's "Elliptic Operators" claims that there ...
3
votes
0
answers
129
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Spin structures on surfaces in terms of homology classes
It is well known that the spin structures on an oriented surface (with boundary) $M$ are in bijection with the set of cohomology classes $H^1(M,\mathbb{Z}/2)$. By Lefschetz duality, these correspond ...
8
votes
2
answers
366
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Two different spin structures of the real projective space $\Bbb RP^3$
It is known that every orientable 3-manifold has a spin structure, because its tangent bundle is trivial. Also it is known that if a manifold $X$ has a spin structure, then the number of distinct spin ...
1
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0
answers
87
views
Norm of Killing spinor
A Killing spinor on a Riemannian spin manifold is a section of the spinor bundle satisfying the equation:
\begin{align*}
\nabla_X\phi=\lambda X\cdot\phi
\end{align*}
Here $X$ is a vector field and $\...
-4
votes
1
answer
206
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What are the applications of spin geometry? [closed]
What are applications of spin geometry to physics? Does it have something to do with gravity?
6
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254
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Different definitions of "charged spinors": "bundle splicing" vs. "twisted spinor bundles"
Currently I study the mathematical formulation of the (classical) standard model of particle physics using the language of gauge theory and spin geometry. One of the central objects in the standard ...
2
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79
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Weitzenbock- Anti-selfdual
In "The Theory of Gauge Fields in Four Manifolds", B.Lawson proves the Bochner-Weitzenbock, for an anti-self-dual field $\Psi \in \Omega^2_-(\mathfrak{G}_E)$,where $\mathfrak{G}_E$ is the ...
4
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1
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Conformal Killing spinors
In general I would like to know about the significance of conformal Killing spinors (especially keeping in mind supersymmetric theories on curved space-time).
If $\epsilon$ and the $\bar{\epsilon}$ ...
44
votes
2
answers
5k
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Meaning/origin of Seiberg-Witten equations/invariants
Having now seen and "understood" (quotes necessary) the Seiberg-Witten equations on a closed oriented Riemannian 4-manifold $X$, I have no real understanding of where they came from.
We take ...
6
votes
1
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Is there a representation of $\mathrm{SU}_8/\{\pm 1\}$ that doesn't lift to a spin group?
$\newcommand{\GL}{\mathrm{GL}}\newcommand{\SO}{\mathrm{SO}}\newcommand{\SU}{\mathrm{SU}}\newcommand{\Spin}{\mathrm{Spin}}\renewcommand{\O}{\mathrm
O}\newcommand{\R}{\mathbb
R}\newcommand\Z{\mathbb Z}$...
2
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0
answers
51
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Orthonormal eigenspinors of the gauge-covariant dirac operator on $\mathbb{R}^4$, with extra conditions are possible?
Let $G$ be a simple Lie group, and $V$ a representation.
Consider $\mathbb{R}^4$ with its flat Euclidean metric. Let $P$ be the trivial $G$-bundle on $\mathbb R^4$ equipped with some (non-trivial) ...
1
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0
answers
75
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Spinors in dimension 6
From the representation of $\operatorname{Spin}(6)\cong \operatorname{SU}(4)$, one can deduce that on a $6$-dimensional manifold we get the postive spinor bundle from the usual $4$-dimensional ...
11
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6
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Explicit Spin Structures on the Torus
Basically, I am trying to build explicit examples of Dirac operators. To this end, I'm looking at the surface E = C/(Z + λZ) - for some λ in H \ SL(2,Z) - with the Euclidean metric and ...
2
votes
0
answers
61
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Manifold with totally geodesic boundary is spin if and only if its double is spin
Let $(M,g)$ be a Riemannian manifold with totally geodesic boundary $\partial M$. Let $(DM,Dg)$ be the double of $(M,g)$ obtained by reflection of across $\partial M$. I'm looking for a reference for ...
6
votes
1
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272
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Weitzenböck formula and comparison of norms
Let $M$ be a closed Riemannian manifold with a spin$^\mathbb{C}$ bundle $S$. Now for a spin connection $A,$ and a spinor $\phi,$ it can be shown that $C\lvert\nabla_A\phi\rvert^2\geq \lvert D_A\phi\...
2
votes
0
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108
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Question about Clifford volume element
I'm a little confused with the following:
Let $M$ be a $m$ dimensional Riemannian manifold and $e_1,\cdots,e_m$ be a local orthonormal base of $TM$. Let
$$
\omega_\mathbb{R}=c(e_1)\cdots c(e_m)
$$
...
0
votes
0
answers
125
views
Dirac operator on 4-dimensional rectangle with the periodic boundary conditions is self-adjoint? What is its spectrum?
Let us think of the Euclidean Dirac operator $iD^k \gamma_k$ on the rectangle $[-1,1]^4$ with the periodic boundary conditions.
The covariant derivative $iD^k$ carries a gauge potential term and we ...
1
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0
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Existence of a local spinor bundle
I am confused about the existence of a local spinor bundle.
My question is that if a Riemannian manifold $M$ is not spin, why does there exist a local spinor bundle over all sufficiently small open ...
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0
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Is Hodge decomposition detected in Clifford multiplication
This is a bit of a vague question, sorry for that. I am wondering if there's any detection of Hodge decomposition in terms of Clifford multiplication. For example if $\phi$ is a spinor and $\theta,\...
7
votes
2
answers
424
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Quadratic forms on $\mathbb{R}^{16}$ coming from octonions
$\DeclareMathOperator\RRe{Re}\DeclareMathOperator\Spin{Spin}\DeclareMathOperator\Sym{Sym}$Let $\mathcal{H}_2(\mathbb{O})$ denote the (10-dimensional) real vector space of octonionic Hermitian matrices ...
20
votes
3
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3k
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Noncommutative smooth manifolds
Connes defined a noncommutative analog of a closed oriented Riemannian spin^c manifold using spectral triples.
Using his definition it is unclear how to separate the smooth structure from the metric.
...
2
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0
answers
132
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Non-associative Clifford algebra
Let $V$ be a finite-dimensional $\mathbb{R}$ vector space equipped with a symmetric, bilinear form $b : V \times V \to \mathbb{R}$.
My question is if there exists an analog of a Clifford algebra in ...
8
votes
1
answer
214
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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 ...
1
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0
answers
70
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Relationship with between Clifford multiplication and pullback
Let $X$ be a smooth vector field on the even-dimensional sphere $S^n$. Let $S(TS^n)=S^+(TS^n)\oplus S^-(TS^n)$ be the spinor bundle over $S^n$ equipped with a bundle metric that is compatible with the ...
5
votes
1
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151
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Is spin cobordism an invariant for surgery of codimension $q\ge3$?
Recall that a surgery of codimension $q$ on an $n$-manifold $X$ is a modification of $X$ of the following type. Let $\Sigma^{n-q}\subset X$ be a smoothly embedded $(n-q)$-sphere with a trivialized ...
0
votes
1
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183
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Question about Clifford multiplication
Let $X$ be a smooth vector field on the even dimensional sphere $S^n$. Let $S(TS^n)=S^+(TS^n)\oplus S^-(TS^n)$ be the spinor bundle over $S^n$ equipped with a bundle metric that is compatible with the ...
3
votes
0
answers
169
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Bound of the spinor element in Seiberg-Witten equation for a Kähler surface
Let's say we want to solve a perturbed version of SW equations on a closed Kähler manifold $(X,\omega):$
\begin{align*}
&D_A\phi=0\\
&F_A+it\omega=q(\phi)=\phi\otimes\phi^*-\frac{|\phi|^2}{2}\...
4
votes
0
answers
84
views
Homomorphism from a product of spin groups to a bigger spin group
In the paper "Essential dimension of spinor and clifford groups" by Chernousov and Merkurjev, it says that there is a natural homomorphism
$\operatorname{Spin}(n)\times \operatorname{Spin}(m)...