Twisted equivariant Thom classes in topology and physics

Abstract: In their seminal work, Mathai and Quillen explained how free fermion theories can be used to construct cocycle representatives of Thom classes in de Rham cohomology. After reviewing this idea, I will describe several avenues of generalization that lead to cocycle representatives of Thom classes in twisted equivariant KR-theory and (conjecturally) in equivariant elliptic cohomology. I will further describe nice properties enjoyed by these cocycle representatives, e.g., compatibility with (twisted) power operations. This is joint work with combinations of Tobi Barthel, Millie Deaton, Meng Guo, Yigal Kamel, Hui Langwen, Kiran Luecke, Alex Pacun, and Nat Stapleton.

mathematical physicsalgebraic topologycategory theory

Audience: researchers in the topic

Topology and Geometry Seminar (Texas, Kansas)