Related papers: Lectures in Topological Quantum Field Theory

Topological quantum field theories can be used as a powerful tool to probe geometry and topology in low dimensions. Chern-Simons theories, which are examples of such field theories, provide a field theoretic framework for the study of knots…

{}~~~We show that the recently constructed $~N=4$~ supersymmetric self-dual Yang-Mills theory as the consistent background of \hbox{$~N=2$} open superstring will generate Witten's topological field theory in two-dimensions as a descendant…

We consider Donaldson-Witten theory on four-manifolds of the form $X=Y \times {\bf S}^1$ where $Y$ is a compact three-manifold. We show that there are interesting relations between the four-dimensional Donaldson invariants of $X$ and…

Cohomological Yang-Mills theory is formulated on a noncommutative differentiable four manifold through the $\theta$-deformation of its corresponding BRST algebra. The resulting noncommutative field theory is a natural setting to define the…

Topological quantum field theories can be used to probe topological properties of low dimensional manifolds. A class of these theories known as Schwarz type theories, comprise of Chern-Simons theories and BF theories. In three dimensions…

The Jones-Witten invariants can be generalized for non-singular smooth vector fields with invariant probability measure on 3-manifolds, giving rise to new invariants of dynamical systems [22]. After a short survey of cohomological field…

We construct a framework which unifyies in dual pairs the fields and anti-fields of the Batalin and Vilkovisky quantization method. We consider gauge theories of p-forms coupled to Yang-Mills fields. Our algorithm generates many topological…

We study the Donaldson-Witten function in four-dimensional topological gauge theory which is constructed from N=2 supersymmetric SU(2) gauge theory with $N_f < 4$ massless fundamental hypermultiplets. When $N_f = 2,3$, the strong-coupling…

We study correlation functions in topologically twisted $\mathcal{N}=2, d=4$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory for gauge groups of rank larger than one on compact four-manifolds $X$. We find that the topological invariance of the generator…

Motivated by the idea that consistent quantum field theories should admit a finite description, we investigate the complexity of effective field theories using the framework of effective o-minimality. Our focus is on quantifying the…

These are the lecture notes of a set of lectures delivered at the 1995 Trieste summer school in June. I review some recent work on duality in four dimensional Maxwell theory on arbitrary four manifolds, as well as a new set of topological…

We construct a new off-shell twisted hypermultiplet with a scalar and an anti-self-dual tensor superfields. Using the N=2 twisted superspace formalism, we construct a Donaldson-Witten theory coupled to the hypermultiplet. We show that this…

We analyze the u-plane contribution to Donaldson invariants of a four-manifold X. For $b_2^+(X)>1$, this contribution vanishes, but for $b_2^+=1$, the Donaldson invariants must be written as the sum of a u-plane integral and an SW…

It is a long-standing question to extend the definition of 3-dimensional Chern-Simons theory to one which associates values to 1-manifolds with boundary and to 0-manifolds. We provide a solution in case the gauge group is a torus. We also…

The solution of quantum Yang-Mills theory on arbitrary compact two-manifolds is well known. We bring this solution into a TQFT-like form and extend it to include corners. Our formulation is based on an axiomatic system that we hope is…

A pedagogical and self-contained introduction to noncommutative quantum field theory is presented, with emphasis on those properties that are intimately tied to string theory and gravity. Topics covered include the Weyl-Wigner…

Using topological Yang-Mills theory as example, we discuss the definition and determination of observables in topological field theories (of Witten-type) within the superspace formulation proposed by Horne. This approach to the equivariant…

These third-year lecture notes are designed for a 1-semester course in topological quantum field theory (TQFT). Assumed background in mathematics and physics are only standard second-year subjects: multivariable calculus, introduction to…

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…

We build nearly topological quantum field theories in various dimensions. We give special attention to the case of 8 dimensions for which we first consider theories depending only on Yang-Mills fields. Two classes of gauge functions exist…