Math 276, Topics in Topology
Fall 2005, Tu/Th 12:30-2:00 in 65 Evans

Elliptic Cohomology via Quantum Field Theory.

In this topics course we'll study one particular extra-ordinary cohomology theory, elliptic cohomology, from a geometrical point of view, namely via Quantum field theory. During the previous semester we looked at elliptic cohomology from a purely homotopy theoretical point of view using formal group laws. Most material from that course is not required and those parts that are will be reviewed carefully.

---

References include:

Graeme Segal, The definition of conformal field theory, Proceedings of the 2002 Oxford Symposium in Honour of the 60th Birthday of Graeme Segal, edited by U. Tillmann, Cambridge University Press 2004, p. 421-577.
S. Stolz and P. Teichner, What is an elliptic object ? Proceedings of the 2002 Oxford Symposium in Honour of the 60th Birthday of Graeme Segal, edited by U. Tillmann, Cambridge University Press 2004, p. 247-343.

---

Class notes as of December 4.
For personal use only, do not distribute!

---

For your iPod: Lectures on elliptic cohomology at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics

Topological Modular Forms, Mike Hopkins

Generalized Cohomology and Supersymmetric Field Theories, Part 1, Peter Teichner

Generalized Cohomology and Supersymmetric Field Theories, Part 2, Stephan Stolz

For the whole program, see Mathematical Structures in String Theory (Aug 1 - Dec 16, 2005)