arXiv subjects

Varghese Mathai

Publications and source records attributed to Varghese Mathai.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2015

Higher abelian gauge theory associated to gerbes on noncommutative deformed M5-branes and S-duality

We enhance the action of higher abelian gauge theory associated to a gerbe on an M5-brane with an action of a torus ${\mathbb T}^n (n\ge 2)$, by a noncommutative ${\mathbb T}^n$-deformation of the M5-brane. The ingredients of the noncommutative action and equations of motion include the deformed Hodge duality, deformed wedge product, and the noncommutative integral over the noncommutative space obtained by strict deformation quantization. As an application we then introduce a variant model with an enhanced action in which we show that the corresponding partition function is a modular form, which is a purely noncommutative geometry phenomenon since the usual theory only has a $\mathbb Z_2$-symmetry. In particular, S-duality in this 6-dimensional higher abelian gauge theory model is shown to be, in this sense, on par with the usual 4-dimensional case.

hep-th↗

arXiv2014

Spherical T-duality II: An infinity of spherical T-duals for non-principal SU(2)-bundles

Recently we initiated the study of spherical T-duality for spacetimes that are principal SU(2)-bundles. In this paper, we extend spherical T-duality to spacetimes that are oriented non-principal SU(2)-bundles. There are several interesting new examples in this case and a new phenomenon appearing in the non-principal case is the existence of infinitely many spherical T-duals.

hep-th↗

arXiv2014

Formal geometric quantisation for proper actions

We define formal geometric quantisation for proper Hamiltonian actions by possibly noncompact groups on possibly noncompact, prequantised symplectic manifolds, generalising work of Weitsman and Paradan. We study the functorial properties of this version of formal geometric quantisation, and relate it to a recent result by the authors via a version of the shifting trick. For (pre)symplectic manifolds of a certain form, quantisation commutes with reduction, in the sense that formal quantisation equals a more direct version of quantisation.

math.SG↗

arXiv2014

Spectral sections, twisted rho invariants and positive scalar curvature

We had previously defined the rho invariant $ρ_{spin}(Y,E,H, g)$ for the twisted Dirac operator $\not\partial^E_H$ on a closed odd dimensional Riemannian spin manifold $(Y, g)$, acting on sections of a flat hermitian vector bundle $E$ over $Y$, where $H = \sum i^{j+1} H_{2j+1} $ is an odd-degree differential form on $Y$ and $H_{2j+1}$ is a real-valued differential form of degree ${2j+1}$. Here we show that it is a conformal invariant of the pair $(H, g)$. In this paper we express the defect integer $ρ_{spin}(Y,E,H, g) - ρ_{spin}(Y,E, g)$ in terms of spectral flows and prove that $ρ_{spin}(Y,E,H, g)\in \mathbb Q$, whenever $g$ is a Riemannian metric of positive scalar curvature. In addition, if the maximal Baum-Connes conjecture holds for $π_1(Y)$ (which is assumed to be torsion-free), then we show that $ρ_{spin}(Y,E,H, rg) =0$ for all $r\gg 0$, significantly generalizing our earlier results. These results are proved using the Bismut-Weitzenböck formula, a scaling trick, the technique of noncommutative spectral sections, and the Higson-Roe approach.

math.DG↗

arXiv2014

T-duality for circle bundles via noncommutative geometry

Recently Baraglia showed how topological T-duality can be extended to apply not only to principal circle bundles, but also to non-principal circle bundles. We show that his results can also be recovered via two other methods: the homotopy-theoretic approach of Bunke and Schick, and the noncommutative geometry approach which we previously used for principal torus bundles. This work has several interesting byproducts, including a study of the K-theory of crossed products by Isom(R), the universal cover of O(2), and some interesting facts about equivariant K-theory for Z/2. In the final section of this paper, these results are extended to the case of bundles with singular fibers, or in other words, non-free O(2)-actions.

hep-th↗

arXiv2013

Index type invariants for twisted signature complexes and homotopy invariance

For a closed, oriented, odd dimensional manifold $X$, we define the rho invariant $ρ(X,E,H)$ for the twisted odd signature operator valued in a flat hermitian vector bundle $E$, where $H = \sum i^{j+1} H_{2j+1}$ is an odd-degree closed differential form on $X$ and $H_{2j+1}$ is a real-valued differential form of degree ${2j+1}$. We show that the twisted rho invariant $ρ(X,E,H)$ is independent of the choice of metrics on $X$ and $E$ and of the representative $H$ in the cohomology class $[H]$. We establish some basic functorial properties of the twisted rho invariant. We express the twisted eta invariant in terms of spectral flow and the usual eta invariant. In particular, we get a simple expression for it on closed oriented 3-dimensional manifolds with a degree three flux form. A core technique used is our analogue of the Atiyah-Patodi-Singer theorem, which we establish for the twisted signature operator on a compact, oriented manifold with boundary. The homotopy invariance of the rho invariant $ρ(X,E,H)$ is more delicate to establish, and is settled under further hypotheses on the fundamental group of $X$.

math.DG↗

arXiv2013

Conformal invariants of twisted Dirac operators and positive scalar curvature

For a closed, spin, odd dimensional Riemannian manifold $(Y,g)$, we define the rho invariant $ρ_{spin}(Y,E,H, g)$ for the twisted Dirac operator $D^E_H$ on $Y$, acting on sections of a flat hermitian vector bundle $E$ over $Y$, where $H = \sum i^{j+1} H_{2j+1}$ is an odd-degree closed differential form on $Y$ and $H_{2j+1}$ is a real-valued differential form of degree ${2j+1}$. We prove that it only depends on the conformal class of the pair $[H,g]$. In the special case when $H$ is a closed 3-form, we use a Lichnerowicz-Weitzenbock formula for the square of the twisted Dirac operator, to show that whenever $Y$ is a closed spin manifold, then $ρ_{spin}(Y,E,H, g)= ρ_{spin}(Y,E, g)$ for all $|H|$ small enough, whenever g is a Riemannian metric of positive scalar curvature. When $H$ is a top-degree form on an oriented three dimensional manifold, we also compute $ρ_{spin}(Y,E,H, g)$.

math.DG↗

arXiv2012

Holomorphic Quillen determinant line bundles on integral compact Kahler manifolds

We show that any compact Kahler manifold with integral Kahler form, parametrizes a natural holomorphic family of Cauchy-Riemann operators on the Riemann sphere such that the Quillen determinant line bundle of this family is isomorphic to a sufficiently high tensor power of the holomorphic line bundle determined by the integral Kahler form. We also establish a symplectic version of the result. We conjecture that an equivariant version of our result is true.

math-ph↗

arXiv2012

T-duality of current algebras and their quantization

In this paper we show that the T-duality transform of Bouwknegt, Evslin and Mathai applies to determine isomorphisms of certain current algebras and their associated vertex algebras on topologically distinct T-dual spacetimes compactified to circle bundles with $H$-flux.

math-ph↗

arXiv2012

Topology and Flux of T-Dual Manifolds with Circle Actions

We present an explicit formula for the topology and H-flux of the T-dual of a general type II compactification, significantly generalizing earlier results. Our results apply to T-dualities with respect to any circle action on spacetime. As before, T-duality exchanges type IIA and type IIB string theories. A new consequence is that the T-dual spacetime is a singular space when the fixed point set is non-empty; the singularities correspond to Kaluza-Klein monopoles. We propose that the Ramond-Ramond charges of type II string theories on the singular dual are classified by twisted equivariant cohomology groups. We also include the K-theory approach.

hep-th↗

arXiv2011

Approximating L2-invariants, and the Atiyah conjecture

Let G be a torsion free discrete group and let \bar{Q} denote the field of algebraic numbers in C. We prove that \bar{Q}[G] fulfills the Atiyah conjecture if G lies in a certain class of groups D, which contains in particular all groups which are residually torsion free elementary amenable or which are residually free. This result implies that there are no non-trivial zero-divisors in C[G]. The statement relies on new approximation results for L2-Betti numbers over \bar{Q}[G], which are the core of the work done in this paper. Another set of results in the paper is concerned with certain number theoretic properties of eigenvalues for the combinatorial Laplacian on L2-cochains on any normal covering space of a finite CW complex. We establish the absence of eigenvalues that are transcendental numbers, whenever the covering transformation group is either amenable or in the Linnell class \mathcal{C}. We also establish the absence of eigenvalues that are Liouville transcendental numbers whenever the covering transformation group is either residually finite or more generally in a certain large bootstrap class \mathcal{G}. Please take the errata to Schick: "L2-determinant class and approximation of L2-Betti numbers" into account, which are added at the end of the file, rectifying some unproved statements about "amenable extension". As a consequence, throughout, amenable extensions should be extensions with normal subgroups.

math.GT↗

arXiv2011

Bundle gerbes and moduli spaces

In this paper, we construct the index bundle gerbe of a family of self-adjoint Dirac-type operators, refining a construction of Segal. In a special case, we construct a geometric bundle gerbe called the caloron bundle gerbe, which comes with a natural connection and curving, and show that it is isomorphic to the analytically constructed index bundle gerbe. We apply these constructions to certain moduli spaces associated to compact Riemann surfaces, constructing on these moduli spaces, natural bundle gerbes with connection and curving, whose 3-curvature represent Dixmier-Douady classes that are generators of the third de Rham cohomology groups of these moduli spaces.

math.DG↗

arXiv2011

Verlinde modules and quantization

Given a compact simple Lie group G and a primitive degree 3 twist h, we define a monoidal category C(G, h) with a May structure. An object in the category C(G, h) is a pair (X, f), where X is a compact G-manifold and f a smooth G-map from X to G with respect to the conjugation action of G on itself. Such an object determines a module, the equivariant twisted K-homology K^G(X, f^*(h)), for the Verlinde algebra, termed a Verlinde module, where the module action is induced by the G-action on X. In order to understand which objects in C(G, h) can be quantized, we define the closely related monoidal category D(G, h) consisting of equivariant twisted geometric K-cycles, which also has a May structure. There is a forgetful functor from D(G, h) to C(G, h), showing that an object in D(G, h) determines a Verlinde module. Every object in the category D(G, h) also has a quantization, valued in the Verlinde algebra. Finally, an equivalence relation ~ is defined on objects in D(G, h) such that the quantization functor determines an algebra isomorphism between the geometric equivariant twisted K-homology groups K^G_{geo}(G, h) = D(G, h))/~, and the Verlinde algebra.

hep-th↗

arXiv2011

Analytic torsion for twisted de Rham complexes

We define analytic torsion for the twisted de Rham complex, consisting of the spaces of differential forms on a compact oriented Riemannian manifold X valued in a flat vector bundle E, with a differential given by a flat connection on E plus an odd-degree closed differential form H on X. The difficulty lies in the fact that the twisted de Rham complex is only Z_2-graded, and so the definition of analytic torsion in this case uses pseudo-differential operators and residue traces. We show that when dim X is odd, then the twisted analytic torsion is independent of the choice of metrics on X and E and of the representative H in the cohomology class of H. We define twisted analytic torsion in the context of generalized geometry and show that when H is a 3-form, the deformation H -> H - dB, where B is a 2-form on X, is equivalent to deforming a usual metric g to a generalized metric (g,B). We establish some basic functorial properties. When H is a top-degree form, we compute the torsion, define its simplicial counterpart and prove an analogue of the Cheeger-Muller Theorem. We also study the relationship of the analytic torsion for T-dual circle bundles with integral 3-form fluxes.

math.DG↗

arXiv2011

Operator algebra quantum groups of universal gauge groups

In this paper, we quantize universal gauge groups such as SU(\infty), in the sigma-C*-algebra setting. More precisely, we propose a concise definition of sigma-C*-quantum groups and explain the concept here. At the same time, we put this definition in the mathematical context of countably compactly generated groups as well as C*-compact quantum groups.

math.QA↗

arXiv2011

Operator algebra quantum homogeneous spaces of universal gauge groups

In this paper, we quantize universal gauge groups such as SU(\infty), as well as their homogeneous spaces, in the sigma-C*-algebra setting. More precisely, we propose concise definitions of sigma-C*-quantum groups and sigma-C*-quantum homogeneous spaces and explain these concepts here. At the same time, we put these definitions in the mathematical context of countably compactly generated spaces as well as C*-compact quantum groups and homogeneous spaces. We also study the representable K-theory of these spaces and compute it for the quantum homogeneous spaces associated to the universal gauge group SU(\infty).

math.QA↗

arXiv2010

Noncommutative principal torus bundles via parametrised strict deformation quantization

In this paper, we initiate the study of a parametrised version of Rieffel's strict deformation quantization. We apply it to give a classification of noncommutative principal torus bundles, in terms of parametrised strict deformation quantization of ordinary principal torus bundles. The paper also contains a putative definition of noncommutative non-principal torus bundles.

math-ph↗

arXiv2010

Analytic Torsion of Z_2-graded Elliptic Complexes

We define analytic torsion of Z_2-graded elliptic complexes as an element in the graded determinant line of the cohomology of the complex, generalizing most of the variants of Ray-Singer analytic torsion in the literature. It applies to a myriad of new examples, including flat superconnection complexes, twisted analytic and twisted holomorphic torsions, etc. The definition uses pseudo-differential operators and residue traces. We also study properties of analytic torsion for Z_2-graded elliptic complexes, including the behavior under variation of the metric. For compact odd dimensional manifolds, the analytic torsion is independent of the metric, whereas for even dimensional manifolds, a relative version of the analytic torsion is independent of the metric. Finally, the relation to topological field theories is studied.

math.DG↗