Differential Cohomology and Gerbes: An Introduction to Higher Differential Geometry II

Abstract: Differential cohomology is a topic that has been attracting considerable interest. Many interesting applications in mathematics and physics have been known; description of WZW terms, string structures, study of conformal immersions, classifications of Ramond- Ramond fields to list a few, and it is also an interesting application of the theory of infinity categories. I will try to give an audience-friendly overview of differential cohomology and a classification of higher line bundles (a. k. a. U(1)-banded gerbes) with connection. I will start from scratch and assume only some basic differential geometry and algebraic topology so that it would be accessible to most graduate students.

Mathematics

Audience: researchers in the topic

IUT Mathematics Research Seminars (IMRS)

Series comments: All researchers are welcomed!