arXiv research

Develops axiomatic framework for differential cohomology and constructs generalized Cheeger-Simons characters.

In the paper [1] (arXiv:math/0408333) the authors discuss two possible definitions of the relative Cheeger-Simons characters, the second one fitting into a long exact sequence. Here we relate that picture to the one of the relative Deligne cohomology groups, defined via the mapping cone: we show that there are three me…

There are two natural candidates for the group of relative Cheeger-Simons differential characters. The first directly extends the work of Cheeger and Simons and the second extends the description given by Hopkins and Singer of the Cheeger-Simons group as the homology of a certain cochain complex. We discuss both approa…

In this paper we introduce the Cheeger-Simons cohomology of a global quotient orbifold. We prove that the Cheeger-Simons cohomology of the orbifold is isomorphic to its Beilinson-Deligne cohomology. Furthermore we construct a string connection (à la Segal) from a global gerbe with connection over the loop orbifold, ref…

New compact support differential cohomology theory with Pontryagin duality proof.

Let h^{*} be a multiplicative cohomology theory, h_{*} its dual homology theory and \hat{h}^{*} a differential refinement. We first construct the natural pairing between h_{*} and the flat part of \hat{h}^{*}, generalizing the holonomy of a flat Deligne cohomology class. Then, in order to generalize the holonomy of any…

We introduce certain relative differential characters which we call Cheeger-Chern-Simons characters. These combine the well-known Cheeger-Simons characters with Chern-Simons forms. In the same way as the Cheeger-Simons characters generalize Chern-Simons invariants of oriented closed manifolds, the Cheeger-Chern-Simons …

We generalize duality in Abelian gauge theory on globally hyperbolic spacetimes.

This paper is a gentle introduction to some recent results involving the theory of gerbes over orbifolds for topologists, geometers and physicists. We introduce gerbes on manifolds, orbifolds, the Dixmier-Douady class, Beilinson-Deligne orbifold cohomology, Cheeger-Simons orbifold cohomology and string connections.

We study geometry on real gerbes in the spirit of Cheeger-Simons theory. The concepts of adaptations and holonomy forms are introduced for flat connections on real gerbes. Their relations to complex gerbes with connections are presented, as well as results in loop and map spaces.

The paper studies integrability and geometric invariants on manifolds.

A version of smooth K-theory is constructed, which is adapted to the total Chern class instead of the Chern character (contrarily to previous theories). Some total Chern class morphism from this K-theory to Cheeger-Simons differential characters is constructed. This answers a question raised by U. Bunke.

We review and elaborate on some aspects of the quantization of certain classes of higher abelian gauge theories using techniques of generalized differential cohomology. Particular emphasis is placed on the examples of generalized Maxwell theory and Cheeger-Simons cohomology, and of Ramond-Ramond fields in Type II super…

In this note, we extend the theory of Chern-Cheeger-Simons to construct canonical invariants for a one-parameter family of flat connections on a smooth manifold. These invariants lie in degrees $(2p-2)$-cohomology with $\C/\Z$-cohomology, for $p\geq 2$. Furthermore, they are shown to be rigid in a variation of paths (p…

Develops differential KO-character to determine real vector bundles in multiples of 8.

We study Cheeger-Simons differential characters and provide geometric descriptions of the ring structure and of the fiber integration map. The uniqueness of differential cohomology (up to unique natural transformation) is proved by deriving an explicit formula for any natural transformation between a differential cohom…

New invariants for families of flat connections constructed using fiber integration.

In this paper, we apply the theory of Chern-Cheeger-Simons to construct canonical invariants associated to a $r$-simplex whose points parametrize flat connections on a smooth manifold $X$. These invariants lie in degrees $(2p-r-1)$-cohomology with $C/Z$-coefficients, for $p> r\geq 1$. In turn, this corresponds to a hom…

We define an extended Bloch group and show it is isomorphic to $H_3(PSL(2,C)^δ;Z)$. Using the Rogers dilogarithm function this leads to an exact simplicial formula for the universal Cheeger-Simons class on this homology group. It also leads to an independent proof of the analytic relationship between volume and Chern-S…

In this paper we give explicit formulas of differential characteristic classes of principal $G$-bundles with connections and prove their expected properties. In particular, we obtain explicit formulas for differential Chern classes, differential Pontryagin classes and differential Euler class. Furthermore, we show that…

Proposes a new Hodge conjecture in Bott-Chern cohomology.

The configuration space $F_2 (M)$ of ordered pairs of distinct points in a manifold $M$, also known as the deleted square of $M$, is not a homotopy invariant of $M$: Longoni and Salvatore produced examples of homotopy equivalent lens spaces $M$ and $N$ of dimension three for which $F_2 (M)$ and $F_2 (N)$ are not homoto…

The Chern classes of a K-theory class which is represented by a vector bundle with connection admit refinements to Cheeger-Simons classes in Deligne cohomology. In the present paper we consider similar refinements in the case where the classes in K-theory are represented by geometric families of Dirac operators. In low…

We develop the theory of Chern-Simons bundle 2-gerbes and multiplicative bundle gerbes associated to any principal $G$-bundle with connection and a class in $H^4(BG, \ZZ)$ for a compact semi-simple Lie group $G$. The Chern-Simons bundle 2-gerbe realises differential geometrically the Cheeger-Simons invariant. We apply …

The paper introduces new CR invariants for pseudo-Einstein manifolds.

A theory of differential characters is developed for manifolds with boundary. This is done from both the Cheeger-Simons and the deRham-Federer viewpoints. The central result of the paper is the formulation and proof of a Lefschetz-Pontrjagin Duality Theorem, which asserts that the pairing: Ch^k(X,dX) x Ch^{n-k-1}(X) --…

The theory of differential characters is developed completely from a de Rham - Federer viewpoint. Characters are defined as equivalence classes of special currents, called sparks, which appear naturally in the theory of singular connections. There are many different spaces of currents which yield the character groups. …

New method recovers differential cohomology from diffeological spaces.

Extends Chern character to non-abelian cohomology, linking to physics.

Analyzes D-branes in string theory backgrounds using advanced cohomology.

Study symplectic spinors and Frobenius structures on manifolds.