English

Lectures in Topological Quantum Field Theory

High Energy Physics - Theory 2008-02-03 v1 alg-geom dg-ga Algebraic Geometry Differential Geometry

Abstract

In these lectures we present a general introduction to topological quantum field theories. These theories are discussed in the framework of the Mathai-Quillen formalism and in the context of twisted N=2 supersymmetric theories. We discuss in detail the recent developments in Donaldson-Witten theory obtained from the application of results based on duality for N=2 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories. This involves a description of the computation of Donaldson invariants in terms of Seiberg-Witten invariants. Generalizations of Donaldson-Witten theory are reviewed, and the structure of the vacuum expectation values of their observables is analyzed in the context of duality for the simplest case.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.hep-th/9709192,
  title  = {Lectures in Topological Quantum Field Theory},
  author = {J. M. F. Labastida and Carlos Lozano},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:hep-th/9709192},
  year   = {2008}
}

Comments

62 pages, latex, epsf, 5 figures, Lectures given by J.M.F.L. at the CERN-La Plata-Santiago de Compostela Workshop on Trends in Theoretical Physics held at La Plata in May 1997

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