arXiv subjects

Daniel Grady

Publications and source records attributed to Daniel Grady.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Higher categories of bordisms with geometric structures

We introduce a system of axioms that uniquely defines an (infinity,d)-category of bordisms equipped with geometric data. The underlying manifolds of these bordisms may be smooth, complex, super, or formal smooth manifolds, as well as any class of manifolds satisfying conditions specified in this paper. We develop a general notion of a field on a manifold, encompassing structures such as Riemannian metrics, principal bundles with connection, conformal structures, and traditional tangential structures. Using this framework, we construct a symmetric monoidal (infinity,d)-category of bordisms with prescribed underlying manifolds and fields, and prove that it satisfies our axioms.

math.AT↗

arXiv2025

Cohomotopy and flux quantization in $M$-theory

We identify some of the $k$-invariants for the Postnikov tower of the stable and unstable 4-sphere. Assuming the stable Hypothesis H of Fiorenza--Sati--Schreiber, we use the resulting obstruction theory to prove that the Chern--Simons term in the effective action of M-theory is well defined. In particular, we do not assume the presence of an $E_8$-gauge field.

math.AT↗

arXiv2025

On the differential $K$-theory of moduli stacks

We compute the connective differential $K$-theory and the differential cohomology of the moduli stack of principal $G$-bundles with connection. The results are formulated in terms of invariant polynomials and the representation ring of $G$. We use the homotopy theory of presheaves of spaces and presheaves of spectra to establish the results.

math.AT↗

arXiv2023

Deformation classes of invertible field theories and the Freed--Hopkins conjecture

We prove a conjecture of Freed and Hopkins, which relates deformation classes of reflection positive, invertible, $d$-dimensional extended field theories with fixed symmetry type to a certain generalized cohomology of a Thom spectrum. Along the way, we establish several results, including the construction of a smooth variant of the Brown--Comenetz dual of the sphere spectrum and a calculation of the "deformation type" of the extended geometric bordism category.

math.AT↗

arXiv2021

The geometric cobordism hypothesis

We prove a generalization of the cobordism hypothesis of Baez--Dolan and Hopkins--Lurie for bordisms with arbitrary geometric structures, such as Riemannian metrics, complex and symplectic structures, principal bundles with connections, or geometric string structures. Our methods rely on the locality property for fully extended functorial field theories established in arXiv:2011.01208, reducing the problem to the special case of geometrically framed bordism categories. As an application, we upgrade the classification of invertible fully extended topological field theories by B\"okstedt--Madsen and Schommer-Pries to nontopological field theories, generalizing the work of Galatius--Madsen--Tillmann--Weiss to arbitrary geometric structures.

math.AT↗

arXiv2020

Extended field theories are local and have classifying spaces

We show that all extended functorial field theories, both topological and nontopological, are local. We define the smooth (infinity,d)-category of bordisms with geometric data, such as Riemannian metrics or geometric string structures, and prove that it satisfies codescent with respect to the target S, which implies the locality property. We apply this result to construct a classifying space for concordance classes of functorial field theories with geometric data, solving a conjecture of Stolz and Teichner about the existence of such a space. We use our classifying space construction to develop a geometric theory of power operations, following the recent work of Barthel, Berwick-Evans, and Stapleton.

math.AT↗

arXiv2020

Differential cohomotopy versus differential cohomology for M-theory and differential lifts of Postnikov towers

We compare the description of the M-theory form fields via cohomotopy versus that via integral cohomology. The conditions for lifting the latter to the former are identified using obstruction theory in the form of Postnikov towers, where torsion plays a central role. A subset of these conditions is shown to correspond compatibly to existing consistency conditions, while the rest are new and point to further consistency requirements for M-theory. Bringing in the geometry leads to a differential refinement of the Postnikov tower, which should be of independent interest. This provides another confirmation that cohomotopy is the proper generalized cohomology theory to describe these fields.

hep-th↗

arXiv2019

Twisted differential KO-theory

We provide a systematic approach to twisting differential KO-theory leading to a construction of the corresponding twisted differential Atiyah-Hirzebruch spectral sequence (AHSS). We relate and contrast the degree two and the degree one twists, whose description involves appropriate local systems. Along the way, we provide a complete and explicit identification of the differentials at the $E_2$ and $E_3$ pages in the topological case, which has been missing in the literature and which is needed for the general case. The corresponding differentials in the refined theory reveal an intricate interplay between topological and geometric data, the former involving the flat part and the latter requiring the construction of the twisted differential Pontrjagin character. We illustrate with examples and applications from geometry, topology and physics. For instance, quantization conditions show how to lift differential $4k$-forms to twisted differential KO-theory leading to integrality results, while considerations of anomalies in type I string theory allow for characterization of twisted differential Spin structures.

math.AT↗

arXiv2019

Ramond-Ramond fields and twisted differential K-theory

We provide a systematic approach to describing the Ramond-Ramond (RR) fields as elements in twisted differential K-theory. This builds on a series of constructions by the authors on geometric and computational aspects of twisted differential K-theory, which to a large extent were originally motivated by this problem. In addition to providing a new conceptual framework and a mathematically solid setting, this allows us to uncover interesting and novel effects. Explicitly, we use our recently constructed Atiyah-Hirzebruch spectral sequence (AHSS) for twisted differential K-theory to characterize the RR fields and their quantization, which involves interesting interplay between geometric and topological data. We illustrate this with the examples of spheres, tori, and Calabi-Yau threefolds.

hep-th↗

arXiv2018

Cobordisms of global quotient orbifolds and an equivariant Pontrjagin-Thom construction

We introduce an equivariant Pontrjagin-Thom construction which identifies equivariant cohomotopy classes with certain fixed point bordism classes. This provides a concrete geometric model for equivariant cohomotopy which works for any compact Lie group G. In the special case when G is finite or a torus, we show that our construction recovers the construction of Wasserman, providing a new perspective on equivariant bordism. We connect the results with bordisms of global quotient orbifolds, utilizing the machinery of Gepner-Henriques to describe bordisms of framed orbifolds in terms of equivariant cohomotopy. We also illustrate the utility of the theory by applying our results to M-theory, thus connecting with recent work of Huerta, Sati and Schreiber.

math.AT↗

arXiv2018

Differential KO-theory: constructions, computations, and applications

We provide several constructions in differential KO-theory. First, we construct a differential refinement of the $\hat{A}$-genus and a pushforward leading to a Riemann-Roch theorem. We set up a differential refinement of the Atiyah-Hirzebruch spectral sequence (AHSS) for differential KO-theory and explicitly identify the differentials, including ones which mix geometric and topological data. We highlight the power of these explicit identifications by providing a characterization of forms in the image of the Pontrjagin character. Along the way, we fill gaps in the literature where K-theory is usually worked out leaving KO-theory essentially untouched. We also illustrate with examples and applications, including higher tangential structures, Adams operations, and a differential Wu formula.

math.AT↗

arXiv2017

Higher-twisted periodic smooth Deligne cohomology

Degree one twisting of Deligne cohomology, as a differential refinement of integral cohomology, was established in previous work. Here we consider higher degree twists. The Rham complex, hence de Rham cohomology, admits twists of any odd degree. However, in order to consider twists of integral cohomology we need a periodic version. Combining the periodic versions of both ingredients leads us to introduce a periodic form of Deligne cohomology. We demonstrate that this theory indeed admits a twist by a gerbe of any odd degree. We present the main properties of the new theory and illustrate its use with examples and computations, mainly via a corresponding twisted differential Atiyah-Hirzebruch spectral sequence.

math.DG↗

arXiv2017

Twisted differential generalized cohomology theories and their Atiyah-Hirzebruch spectral sequence

We construct the Atiyah-Hirzebruch spectral sequence (AHSS) for twisted differential generalized cohomology theories. This generalizes to the twisted setting the authors' corresponding earlier construction for differential cohomology theories, as well as to the differential setting the AHSS for twisted generalized cohomology theories, including that of twisted K-theory by Rosenberg and Atiyah-Segal. In describing twisted differential spectra we build on the work of Bunke-Nikolaus, but we find it useful for our purposes to take an approach that highlights direct analogies with classical bundles and that is at the same time amenable for calculations. We will, in particular, establish that twisted differential spectra are bundles of spectra equipped with a flat connection. Our prominent case will be twisted differential K-theory, for which we work out the differentials in detail. This involves differential refinements of primary and secondary cohomology operations the authors developed in earlier papers. We illustrate our constructions and computational tools with examples.

math.AT↗

arXiv2017

Parametrized geometric cobordism and smooth Thom stacks

We develop a theory of parametrized geometric cobordism by introducing smooth Thom stacks. This requires identifying and constructing a smooth representative of the Thom functor acting on vector bundles equipped with extra geometric data, leading to a geometric refinement of the the Pontrjagin-Thom construction in stacks. We demonstrate that the resulting theory generalizes the parametrized cobordism of Galatius-Madsen-Tillman-Weiss. The theory has the feature of being both versatile and general, allowing for the inclusion of families of various geometric data, such as metrics on manifolds and connections on vector bundles, as in recent work of Cohen-Galatius-Kitchloo and Ayala.

math.AT↗

arXiv2017

Twisted smooth Deligne cohomology

Deligne cohomology can be viewed as a differential refinement of integral cohomology, hence captures both topological and geometric information. On the other hand, it can be viewed as the simplest nontrivial version of a differential cohomology theory. While more involved differential cohomology theories have been explicitly twisted, the same has not been done to Deligne cohomology, although existence is known at a general abstract level. We work out what it means to twist Deligne cohomology, by taking degree one twists of both integral cohomology and de Rham cohomology. We present the main properties of the new theory and illustrate its use with examples and applications. Given how versatile Deligne cohomology has proven to be, we believe that this explicit and utilizable treatment of its twisted version will be useful.

math.DG↗

arXiv2016

Biologically Inspired Radio Signal Feature Extraction with Sparse Denoising Autoencoders

Automatic modulation classification (AMC) is an important task for modern communication systems; however, it is a challenging problem when signal features and precise models for generating each modulation may be unknown. We present a new biologically-inspired AMC method without the need for models or manually specified features --- thus removing the requirement for expert prior knowledge. We accomplish this task using regularized stacked sparse denoising autoencoders (SSDAs). Our method selects efficient classification features directly from raw in-phase/quadrature (I/Q) radio signals in an unsupervised manner. These features are then used to construct higher-complexity abstract features which can be used for automatic modulation classification. We demonstrate this process using a dataset generated with a software defined radio, consisting of random input bits encoded in 100-sample segments of various common digital radio modulations. Our results show correct classification rates of > 99% at 7.5 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and > 92% at 0 dB SNR in a 6-way classification test. Our experiments demonstrate a dramatically new and broadly applicable mechanism for performing AMC and related tasks without the need for expert-defined or modulation-specific signal information.

stat.ML↗

arXiv2016

Spectral sequences in smooth generalized cohomology

We consider spectral sequences in smooth generalized cohomology theories, including differential generalized cohomology theories. The main differential spectral sequences will be of the Atiyah-Hirzebruch (AHSS) type, where we provide a filtration by the Cech resolution of smooth manifolds. This allows for systematic study of torsion in differential cohomology. We apply this in detail to smooth Deligne cohomology, differential topological complex K-theory, and to a smooth extension of integral Morava K-theory that we introduce. In each case we explicitly identify the differentials in the corresponding spectral sequences, which exhibit an interesting and systematic interplay between (refinement of) classical cohomology operations, operations involving differential forms, and operations on cohomology with U(1) coefficients.

math.AT↗

arXiv2016

Primary operations in differential cohomology

We characterize primary operations in differential cohomology via stacks, and illustrate by differentially refining Steenrod squares and Steenrod powers explicitly. This requires a delicate interplay between integral, rational, and mod p cohomology, as well as cohomology with U(1) coefficients and differential forms. Along the way we develop computational techniques in differential cohomology, including a K\"unneth decomposition, that should also be useful in their own right, and point to applications to higher geometry and mathematical physics.

math.AT↗