SearcharxivSearch

arXiv subjects

Nima Moshayedi

Publications and source records attributed to Nima Moshayedi.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

From BV-BFV Quantization to Reshetikhin-Turaev Invariants

We propose a program for bridging the gap between the perturbative BV-BFV quantization of Chern-Simons theory and the non-perturbative Reshetikhin-Turaev (RT) invariants of 3-manifolds, passing through factorization homology of $\mathbb{E}_n$-algebras and the derived algebraic geometry of character stacks. We conjecture that the modular tensor category underlying the RT construction arises as the $\mathbb{E}_2$-category from BV-BFV quantization of Chern-Simons theory on the disk, with the derived character stack $\mathrm{Loc}_G(\Sigma)$ and its shifted symplectic structure mediating the proposed identification. We formulate seven conjectures, including a main conjecture asserting natural equivalence of the BV-BFV and RT constructions as (3-2-1)-extended topological quantum field theories, develop a proof strategy via deformation quantization of shifted symplectic stacks, and clarify the role of $\mathbb{E}_n$-Koszul duality in translating between perturbative and non-perturbative data. Supporting evidence is examined in the abelian, low-genus, and Seifert fibered cases. Connections to resurgence, categorification, and the geometric Langlands program are discussed as further motivation, though significant technical gaps remain open.

math-ph

Equivariant BV-BFV Formalism

The recently introduced equivariant BV formalism is extended to the case of manifolds with boundary under appropriate conditions. AKSZ theories are presented as a practical example.

math-ph

Formal Global Perturbative Quantization of the Rozansky-Witten Model in the BV-BFV Formalism

We describe a globalization construction for the Rozansky-Witten model in the BV-BFV formalism for a source manifold with and without boundary in the classical and quantum case. After having introduced the necessary background, we define an AKSZ sigma model, which, upon globalization through notions of formal geometry extended appropriately to our case, is shown to reduce to the Rozansky-Witten model. The relations with other relevant constructions in the literature are discussed. Moreover, we split the model as a $BF$-like theory and we construct a perturbative quantization of the model in the quantum BV-BFV framework. In this context, we are able to prove the modified differential Quantum Master Equation and the flatness of the quantum Grothendieck BFV operator. Additionally, we provide a construction of the BFV boundary operator in some cases.

math-ph

4-Manifold Topology, Donaldson-Witten Theory, Floer Homology and Higher Gauge Theory Methods in the BV-BFV Formalism

We study the behavior of Donaldson's invariants of 4-manifolds based on the moduli space of anti self-dual connections (instantons) in the perturbative field theory setting where the underlying source manifold has boundary. It is well-known that these invariants take values in the instanton Floer homology groups of the boundary 3-manifold. Gluing formulae for these constructions lead to a functorial topological field theory description according to a system of axioms developed by Atiyah, which can be also regarded in the setting of perturbative quantum field theory, as it was shown by Witten, using a version of supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory, known today as Donaldson-Witten theory. One can actually formulate an AKSZ model which recovers this theory for a certain gauge-fixing. We consider these constructions in a perturbative quantum gauge formalism for manifolds with boundary that is compatible with cutting and gluing, called the BV-BFV formalism, which was recently developed by Cattaneo, Mnev and Reshetikhin. We prove that this theory satisfies a modified Quantum Master Equation and extend the result to a global picture when perturbing around constant background fields. Additionally, we relate these constructions to Nekrasov's partition function by treating an equivariant version of Donaldson-Witten theory in the BV formalism. Moreover, we discuss the extension, as well as the relation, to higher gauge theory and enumerative geometry methods, such as Gromov-Witten and Donaldson-Thomas theory and recall their correspondence conjecture for general Calabi-Yau 3-folds. In particular, we discuss the corresponding (relative) partition functions, defined as the generating function for the given invariants, and gluing phenomena.

hep-th

Convolution algebras for Relational Groupoids and Reduction

We introduce the notions of relational groupoids and relational convolution algebras. We provide various examples arising from the group algebra of a group $G$ and a given normal subgroup $H$. We also give conditions for the existence of a Haar system of measures on a relational groupoid compatible with the convolution, and we prove a reduction theorem that recovers the usual convolution of a Lie groupoid.

math-ph

Computation of Kontsevich Weights of Connection and Curvature Graphs for Symplectic Poisson Structures

We give a detailed explicit computation of weights of Kontsevich graphs which arise from connection and curvature terms within the globalization picture for the special case of symplectic manifolds. We will show how the weights for the curvature graphs can be explicitly expressed in terms of the hypergeometric function as well as by a much simpler formula combining it with the explicit expression for the weights of its underlined connection graphs. Moreover, we consider the case of a cotangent bundle, which will simplify the curvature expression significantly.

math-ph

On Quantum Obstruction Spaces and Higher Codimension Gauge Theories

Using the quantum construction of the BV-BFV method for perturbative gauge theories, we show that the obstruction for quantizing a codimension 1 theory is given by the second cohomology group with respect to the boundary BRST charge. Moreover, we give an idea for the algebraic construction of codimension $k$ quantizations in terms of $\mathbb{E}_k$-algebras and higher shifted Poisson structures by formulating a higher version of the quantum master equation.

math-ph

Lectures on Symplectic Geometry, Poisson Geometry, Deformation Quantization and Quantum Field Theory

These are lecture notes for the course "Poisson geometry and deformation quantization" given by the author during the fall semester 2020 at the University of Zurich. The first chapter is an introduction to differential geometry, where we cover manifolds, tensor fields, integration on manifolds, Stokes' theorem, de Rham's theorem and Frobenius' theorem. The second chapter covers the most important notions of symplectic geometry such as Lagrangian submanifolds, Weinstein's tubular neighborhood theorem, Hamiltonian mechanics, moment maps and symplectic reduction. The third chapter gives an introduction to Poisson geometry where we also cover Courant structures, Dirac structures, the local splitting theorem, symplectic foliations and Poisson maps. The fourth chapter is about deformation quantization where we cover the Moyal product, $L_\infty$-algebras, Kontsevich's formality theorem, Kontsevich's star product construction through graphs, the globalization approach to Kontsevich's star product and the operadic approach to formality. The fifth chapter is about the quantum field theoretic approach to Kontsevich's deformation quantization where we cover functional integral methods, the Moyal product as a path integral quantization, the Faddeev-Popov and BRST method for gauge theories, infinite-dimensional extensions, the Poisson sigma model, the construction of Kontsevich's star product through a perturbative expansion of the functional integral quantization for the Poisson sigma model for affine Poisson structures and the general construction.

math-ph

Notes on Geometric Quantization

These notes give an introduction to the quantization procedure called geometric quantization. It gives a definition of the mathematical background for its understanding and introductions to classical and quantum mechanics, to differentiable manifolds, symplectic manifolds and the geometry of line bundles and connections. Moreover, these notes are endowed with several exercises and examples.

math-ph

Lectures on Probability Theory

These are lecture notes written at the University of Zurich during spring 2014 and spring 2015. The first part of the notes gives an introduction to probability theory. It explains the notion of random events and random variables, probability measures, expectation, distributions, characteristic function, independence of random variables, types of convergence and limit theorems. The first part is separated into two different chapters. The first chapter is about combinatorial aspects of probability theory and the second chapter is the actual introduction to probability theory, which contains the modern probability language. The second part covers conditional expectations, martingales and Markov chains, which are easily accessible after reading the first part. The chapters are exactly covered in this order and go into some more details of the respective topic.

math.PR

Formal Global AKSZ Gauge Observables and Generalized Wilson Surfaces

We consider a construction of observables by using methods of supersymmetric field theories. In particular, we give an extension of AKSZ-type observables using the Batalin-Vilkovisky structure of AKSZ theories to a formal global version with methods of formal geometry. We will consider the case where the AKSZ theory is "split" which will give an explicit construction for formal vector fields on base and fiber within the formal global action. Moreover, we consider the example of formal global generalized Wilson surface observables whose expectation values are invariants of higher-dimensional knots by using $BF$ field theory. These constructions give rise to interesting global gauge conditions such as the differential Quantum Master Equation and further extensions.

math-ph

On Globalized Traces for the Poisson Sigma Model

A globalized version of a trace formula for the Poisson Sigma Model on the disk is presented by using its formal global picture in the setting of the Batalin-Vilkovisky formalism. This global construction includes the concept of zero modes. Moreover, for the symplectic case of the Poisson Sigma Model with cotangent target, the globalized trace reduces to a symplectic construction which was presented by Grady, Li and Li for 1-dimensional Chern-Simons theory (topological quantum mechanics). In addition, the connection between this formula and the Nest-Tsygan theorem and the Tamarkin-Tsygan theorem is explained.

math-ph

Globalization for Perturbative Quantization of Nonlinear Split AKSZ Sigma Models on Manifolds with Boundary

We describe a covariant framework to construct a globalized version for the perturbative quantization of nonlinear split AKSZ Sigma Models on manifolds with and without boundary, and show that it captures the change of the quantum state as one changes the constant map around which one perturbs. This is done by using concepts of formal geometry. Moreover, we show that the globalized quantum state can be interpreted as a closed section with respect to an operator that squares to zero. This condition is a generalization of the modified Quantum Master Equation as in the BV-BFV formalism, which we call the modified "differential" Quantum Master Equation.

math-ph

On the Globalization of the Poisson Sigma Model in the BV-BFV Formalism

We construct a formal global quantization of the Poisson Sigma Model in the BV-BFV formalism using the perturbative quantization of AKSZ theories on manifolds with boundary and analyze the properties of the boundary BFV operator. Moreover, we consider mixed boundary conditions and show that they lead to quantum anomalies, i.e. to a failure of the (modified differential) Quantum Master Equation. We show that it can be restored by adding boundary terms to the action, at the price of introducing corner terms in the boundary operator. We also show that the quantum GBFV operator on the total space of states is a differential, i.e. squares to zero, which is necessary for a well-defined BV cohomology.

math-ph

Introduction to the BV-BFV formalism

These notes give an introduction to the mathematical framework of the Batalin-Vilkovisky and Batalin-Fradkin-Vilkovisky formalisms. Some of the presented content was given as a mini course by the first author at the 2018 QSPACE conference in Benasque.

math-ph

Quantum Field Theory and Functional Integrals

These notes were inspired by the course ''Quantum Field Theory from a Functional Integral Point of View'' given at the University of Zurich in Spring 2017 by Santosh Kandel. We describe Feynman's path integral approach to quantum mechanics and quantum field theory from a functional integral point of view, where the main focus lies in Euclidean field theory. The notion of Gaussian measure and the construction of the Wiener measure are covered. Moreover, we recall the notion of classical mechanics and the Schrödinger picture of quantum mechanics, where it shows the equivalence to the path integral formalism, by deriving the quantum mechanical propagator out of it. Additionally, we give an introduction to elements of constructive quantum field theory.

math-ph

Relational Symplectic Groupoid Quantization for Constant Poisson Structures

As a detailed application of the BV-BFV formalism for the quantization of field theories on manifolds with boundary, this note describes a quantization of the relational symplectic groupoid for a constant Poisson structure. The presence of mixed boundary conditions and the globalization of results is also addressed. In particular, the paper includes an extension to space-times with boundary of some formal geometry considerations in the BV-BFV formalism, and specifically introduces into the BV-BFV framework a "differential" version of the classical and quantum master equations. The quantization constructed in this paper induces Kontsevich's deformation quantization on the underlying Poisson manifold, i.e., the Moyal product, which is known in full details. This allows focussing on the BV-BFV technology and testing it. For the unexperienced reader, this is also a practical and reasonably simple way to learn it.

math-ph