Related papers: Notes on the octonions
In this paper we complete the classification of spin manifolds admitting parallel spinors, in terms of the Riemannian holonomy groups. More precisely, we show that on a given n-dimensional Riemannian manifold, spin structures with parallel…
The objective of this work is twofold. On one hand, it is intended as a short introduction to spin networks and invariants of 3-manifolds. It covers the main areas needed to have a first understanding of the topics involved in the…
In earlier papers we introduced a representation of isotopy classes of compact surfaces embedded in the three-sphere by so called rectangular diagrams. The formalism proved useful for comparing Legendrian knots. The aim of this paper is to…
The results of the paper concern the topological structure of complete riemannian manifolds with cyclic holonomy groups and low-dimensional orientable complete flat manifolds. We also discuss related results such as the affine…
We use classical obstruction theory \`{a} la Eilenberg-Steenrod to obtain a homotopy classification of $\mathrm{Spin}(7)$-structures on compact $8$-manifolds with abelian fundamental group. As an application, we show that a compact,…
Quaternionic and octonionic realizations of Clifford algebras and spinors are classified and explicitly constructed in terms of recursive formulas. The most general free dynamics in arbitrary signature space-times for both quaternionic and…
Using D2-brane probes, we study various properties of M-theory on singular, non-compact manifolds of G_2 and Spin(7) holonomy. We derive mirror pairs of N=1 supersymmetric three-dimensional gauge theories, and apply this technique to…
An explicit expression of the canonical 8-form on a Riemannian manifold with a Spin(9)-structure, in terms of the nine local symmetric involutions involved, is given. The list of explicit expressions of all the canonical forms related to…
The objective of the current paper is essentially twofold. Firstly, to make clear the difference between two notions of rolling a Riemannian manifold over another, using a language accessible to a wider audience, in particular to readers…
This is a collection of my lecture notes on the higher-spin theory course given for students at the Institute for Theoretical and Mathematical Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University. The goal of these lectures is to give an introduction…
General topologically invariant microscopical expressions for quantum numbers of particle-like solitons ("skyrmions") are derived for a class of (2+1)D models. Skyrmions are either half-integer spin fermions with odd electric charge or…
In this expository paper we give an elementary, hands-on computation of the homology of the little disks operad, showing that the homology of a $d-fold loop space is a Poisson algebra. One aim is to familiarize a greater audience with…
We discuss the higher dimensional generalization of gravitational instantons by using volume-preserving vector fields. We give special attention to the case of 8-dimensions and present a new construction of the Ricci flat metric with…
These course notes are about computing modular forms and some of their arithmetic properties. Their aim is to explain and prove the modular symbols algorithm in as elementary and as explicit terms as possible, and to enable the devoted…
Witten's approach to Khovanov homology of knots is based on the five-dimensional system of partial differential equations, which we call Haydys-Witten equations. We argue for a one-to-one correspondence between its solutions and solutions…
This is an expository introduction to simplicial sets and simplicial homotopy theory with particular focus on relating the combinatorial aspects of the theory to their geometric/topological origins. It is intended to be accessible to…
This review gives an introduction to cohomological Donaldson-Thomas theory: the study of a cohomology theory on moduli spaces of sheaves on Calabi-Yau threefolds, and of complexes in 3-Calabi-Yau categories, categorifying their numerical DT…
We construct examples of asymptotically cylindrical Riemannian 8-manifolds with holonomy group Spin(7). To our knowledge, these are the first such examples. The construction uses an extension to asymptotically cylindrical setting of Joyce's…
This is a pedagogical exposition of holonomy groups intended for physicists. After some pertinent definitions, we focus on special holonomy manifolds, two per division algebras, and comment upon several cases of interest in physics,…
M-theory on compact eight-manifolds with $\mathrm{Spin}(7)$-holonomy is a framework for geometric engineering of 3d $\mathcal{N}=1$ gauge theories coupled to gravity. We propose a new construction of such $\mathrm{Spin}(7)$-manifolds, based…