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Varghese Mathai

Publications and source records attributed to Varghese Mathai.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Geometric quantization for proper actions

We first introduce an invariant index for G-equivariant elliptic differential operators on a locally compact manifold M admitting a proper cocompact action of a locally compact group G. It generalizes the Kawasaki index for orbifolds to the case of proper cocompact actions. Our invariant index is used to show that an analog of the Guillemin-Sternberg geometric quantization conjecture holds if M is symplectic with a Hamiltonian action of G that is proper and cocompact. This essentially solves a conjecture of Hochs and Landsman.

math.DG↗

Twisted Analytic Torsion

We review the Reidemeister torsion, Ray-Singer's analytic torsion and the Cheeger-M"uller theorem. We describe the analytic torsion of the de Rham complex twisted by a flux form introduced by the current authors and recall its properties. We define a new twisted analytic torsion for the complex of invariant differential forms on the total space of a principal circle bundle twisted by an invariant flux form. We show that when the dimension is even, such a torsion is invariant under certain deformation of the metric and the flux form. Under T-duality which exchanges the topology of the bundle and the flux form and the radius of the circular fiber with its inverse, the twisted torsions of invariant forms are inverse to each other for any dimension.

math.DG↗

A noncommutative sigma-model

We begin to study a sigma-model in which both the space-time manifold and the two-dimensional string world-sheet are made noncommutative. The most precise results apply to the case where both the space-time manifold and the two-dimensional string world-sheet are replaced by noncommutative tori. In this situation, we are able to determine when maps between such noncommutative tori exist, to derive the Euler-Lagrange equations, to classify many of the critical points of the Lagrangian, and to study the associated partition function.

hep-th↗

T-Duality as a Duality of Loop Group Bundles

Representing the data of a string compactified on a circle in the background of H-flux in terms of the geometric data of a principal loop group bundle, we show that T-duality in type II string theory can be understood as the interchange of the momentum and winding homomorphisms of the principal loop group bundle, thus giving rise to a new interpretation of T-duality.

hep-th↗

The geometry of determinant line bundles in noncommutative geometry

This paper is concerned with the study of the geometry of determinant line bundles associated to families of spectral triples parametrized by the moduli space of gauge equivalent classes of Hermitian connections on a Hermitian finite projective module. We illustrate our results with some examples that arise in noncommutative geometry.

hep-th↗

Noncommutative correspondences, duality and D-branes in bivariant K-theory

We describe a categorical framework for the classification of D-branes on noncommutative spaces using techniques from bivariant K-theory of C*-algebras. We present a new description of bivariant K-theory in terms of noncommutative correspondences which is nicely adapted to the study of T-duality in open string theory. We systematically use the diagram calculus for bivariant K-theory as detailed in our previous paper. We explicitly work out our theory for a number of examples of noncommutative manifolds.

hep-th↗

D-Branes, RR-Fields and Duality on Noncommutative Manifolds

We develop some of the ingredients needed for string theory on noncommutative spacetimes, proposing an axiomatic formulation of T-duality as well as establishing a very general formula for D-brane charges. This formula is closely related to a noncommutative Grothendieck-Riemann-Roch theorem that is proved here. Our approach relies on a very general form of Poincare duality, which is studied here in detail. Among the technical tools employed are calculations with iterated products in bivariant K-theory and cyclic theory, which are simplified using a novel diagram calculus reminiscent of Feynman diagrams.

hep-th↗

Heat kernels and the range of the trace on completions of twisted group algebras

Heat kernels are used in this paper to express the analytic index of projectively invariant Dirac type operators on G-covering spaces of compact manifolds, as elements in the K-theory of certain unconditional completions of the twisted group algebra of G. This is combined with V. Lafforgue's results in the untwisted case, to compute the range of the trace on the K-theory of these algebras, under the hypothesis that G is in the class C' (defined by V. Lafforgue).

math.KT↗

T-duality for torus bundles with H-fluxes via noncommutative topology, II: the high-dimensional case and the T-duality group

We use noncommutative topology to study T-duality for principal torus bundles with H-flux. We characterize precisely when there is a "classical" T-dual, i.e., a dual bundle with dual H-flux, and when the T-dual must be "non-classical," that is, a continuous field of noncommutative tori. The duality comes with an isomorphism of twisted $K$-theories, required for matching of D-brane charges, just as in the classical case. The isomorphism of twisted cohomology which one gets in the classical case is replaced in the non-classical case by an isomorphism of twisted cyclic homology. An important part of the paper contains a detailed analysis of the classifying space for topological T-duality, as well as the T-duality group and its action. The issue of possible non-uniqueness of T-duals can be studied via the action of the T-duality group.

hep-th↗

On mysteriously missing T-duals, H-flux and the T-duality group

A general formula for the topology and H-flux of the T-duals of type II string theories with H-flux on toroidal compactifications is presented here. It is known that toroidal compactifications with H-flux do not necessarily have T-duals which are themselves toroidal compactifications. A big puzzle has been to explain these mysterious ``missing T-duals'', and our paper presents a solution to this problem using noncommutative topology. We also analyze the T-duality group and its action, and illustrate these concepts with examples.

hep-th↗

Some Relations between Twisted K-theory and E8 Gauge Theory

Recently, Diaconescu, Moore and Witten provided a nontrivial link between K-theory and M-theory, by deriving the partition function of the Ramond-Ramond fields of Type IIA string theory from an E8 gauge theory in eleven dimensions. We give some relations between twisted K-theory and M-theory by adapting the method of Diaconescu-Moore-Witten and Moore-Saulina. In particular, we construct the twisted K-theory torus which defines the partition function, and also discuss the problem from the E8 loop group picture, in which the Dixmier-Douady class is the Neveu-Schwarz field. In the process of doing this, we encounter some mathematics that is new to the physics literature. In particular, the eta differential form, which is the generalization of the eta invariant, arises naturally in this context. We conclude with several open problems in mathematics and string theory.

hep-th↗

Towards the fractional quantum Hall effect: a noncommutative geometry perspective

In this paper we give a survey of some models of the integer and fractional quantum Hall effect based on noncommutative geometry. We begin by recalling some classical geometry of electrons in solids and the passage to noncommutative geometry produced by the presence of a magnetic field. We recall how one can obtain this way a single electron model of the integer quantum Hall effect. While in the case of the integer quantum Hall effect the underlying geometry is Euclidean, we then discuss a model of the fractional quantum Hall effect, which is based on hyperbolic geometry simulating the multi-electron interactions. We derive the fractional values of the Hall conductance as integer multiples of orbifold Euler characteristics. We compare the results with experimental data.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

Nonassociative tori and applications to T-duality

In this paper, we initiate the study of C*-algebras endowed with a twisted action of a locally compact Abelian Lie group, and we construct a twisted crossed product, which is in general a nonassociative, noncommutative, algebra. The properties of this twisted crossed product algebra are studied in detail, and are applied to T-duality in Type II string theory to obtain the T-dual of a general principal torus bundle with general H-flux, which we will argue to be a bundle of noncommutative, nonassociative tori. We also show that this construction of the T-dual includes all of the special cases that were previously analysed.

hep-th↗

Kato's inequality and asymptotic spectral properties for discrete magnetic Laplacians

In this paper, a discrete form of the Kato inequality for discrete magnetic Laplacians on graphs is used to study asymptotic properties of the spectrum of discrete magnetic Schrodinger operators. We use the existence of a ground state with suitable properties for the ordinary combinatorial Laplacian and semigroup domination to relate the combinatorial Laplacian with the discrete magnetic Laplacian.

math.SP↗

The index of projective families of elliptic operators

An index theory for projective families of elliptic pseudodifferential operators is developed. The topological and the analytic index of such a family both take values in twisted K-theory of the parametrizing space, X. The main result is the equality of these two notions of index when the twisting class is in the torsion subgroup of H^3(X;Z). The Chern character of the index class is then computed.

math.DG↗

Entire cyclic homology of continuous trace algebras

A central result here is the computation of the entire cyclic homology of canonical smooth subalgebras of stable continuous trace C*-algebras having smooth manifolds M as their spectrum. More precisely, the entire cyclic homology is shown to be canonically isomorphic to the continuous periodic cyclic homology for these algebras. By an earlier result of the authors, one concludes that the entire cyclic homology of the algebra is canonically isomorphic to the twisted de Rham cohomology of M.

math.KT↗

T-duality for principal torus bundles and dimensionally reduced Gysin sequences

We reexamine the results on the global properties of T-duality for principal circle bundles in the context of a dimensionally reduced Gysin sequence. We will then construct a Gysin sequence for principal torus bundles and examine the consequences. In particular, we will argue that the T-dual of a principal torus bundle with nontrivial H-flux is, in general, a continuous field of noncommutative, nonassociative tori.

hep-th↗