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Chern–Weil Homomorphism
In mathematics, the Chern–Weil homomorphism is a basic construction in Chern–Weil theory that computes topological invariants of vector bundles and principal bundles on a smooth manifold ''M'' in terms of connections and curvature representing classes in the de Rham cohomology rings of ''M''. That is, the theory forms a bridge between the areas of algebraic topology and differential geometry. It was developed in the late 1940s by Shiing-Shen Chern and André Weil, in the wake of proofs of the generalized Gauss–Bonnet theorem. This theory was an important step in the theory of characteristic classes. Let ''G'' be a real or complex Lie group with Lie algebra and let \Complexmathfrak g/math> denote the algebra of \Complex-valued polynomials on \mathfrak g (exactly the same argument works if we used \R instead of Let \Complexmathfrak gG be the subalgebra of fixed points in \Complexmathfrak g/math> under the adjoint action of ''G''; that is, the subalgebra consisting of all poly ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mathematics
Mathematics is an area of knowledge that includes the topics of numbers, formulas and related structures, shapes and the spaces in which they are contained, and quantities and their changes. These topics are represented in modern mathematics with the major subdisciplines of number theory, algebra, geometry, and analysis, respectively. There is no general consensus among mathematicians about a common definition for their academic discipline. Most mathematical activity involves the discovery of properties of abstract objects and the use of pure reason to prove them. These objects consist of either abstractions from nature orin modern mathematicsentities that are stipulated to have certain properties, called axioms. A ''proof'' consists of a succession of applications of deductive rules to already established results. These results include previously proved theorems, axioms, andin case of abstraction from naturesome basic properties that are considered true starting points of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fixed-point Subring
In algebra, the fixed-point subring R^f of an automorphism ''f'' of a ring ''R'' is the subring of the fixed points of ''f'', that is, :R^f = \. More generally, if ''G'' is a group acting on ''R'', then the subring of ''R'' :R^G = \ is called the fixed subring or, more traditionally, the ring of invariants under . If ''S'' is a set of automorphisms of ''R'', the elements of ''R'' that are fixed by the elements of ''S'' form the ring of invariants under the group generated by ''S''. In particular, the fixed-point subring of an automorphism ''f'' is the ring of invariants of the cyclic group generated by ''f''. In Galois theory, when ''R'' is a field and ''G'' is a group of field automorphisms, the fixed ring is a subfield called the fixed field of the automorphism group; see Fundamental theorem of Galois theory. Along with a module of covariants, the ring of invariants is a central object of study in invariant theory. Geometrically, the rings of invariants are the coordinate rin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Characteristic Polynomial
In linear algebra, the characteristic polynomial of a square matrix is a polynomial which is invariant under matrix similarity and has the eigenvalues as roots. It has the determinant and the trace of the matrix among its coefficients. The characteristic polynomial of an endomorphism of a finite-dimensional vector space is the characteristic polynomial of the matrix of that endomorphism over any base (that is, the characteristic polynomial does not depend on the choice of a basis). The characteristic equation, also known as the determinantal equation, is the equation obtained by equating the characteristic polynomial to zero. In spectral graph theory, the characteristic polynomial of a graph is the characteristic polynomial of its adjacency matrix. Motivation In linear algebra, eigenvalues and eigenvectors play a fundamental role, since, given a linear transformation, an eigenvector is a vector whose direction is not changed by the transformation, and the corresponding eigenva ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Algebra Homomorphism
In mathematics, an algebra homomorphism is a homomorphism between two associative algebras. More precisely, if and are algebras over a field (or commutative ring) , it is a function F\colon A\to B such that for all in and in , * F(kx) = kF(x) * F(x + y) = F(x) + F(y) * F(xy) = F(x) F(y) The first two conditions say that is a ''K''-linear map (or ''K''-module homomorphism if ''K'' is a commutative ring), and the last condition says that is a (non-unital) ring homomorphism. If admits an inverse homomorphism, or equivalently if it is bijective, is said to be an isomorphism between and . Unital algebra homomorphisms If ''A'' and ''B'' are two unital algebras, then an algebra homomorphism F:A\rightarrow B is said to be ''unital'' if it maps the unity of ''A'' to the unity of ''B''. Often the words "algebra homomorphism" are actually used to mean "unital algebra homomorphism", in which case non-unital algebra homomorphisms are excluded. A unital algebra homomorphism is ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Homotopy Invariance Of De Rham Cohomology
In mathematics, de Rham cohomology (named after Georges de Rham) is a tool belonging both to algebraic topology and to differential topology, capable of expressing basic topological information about smooth manifolds in a form particularly adapted to computation and the concrete representation of cohomology classes. It is a cohomology theory based on the existence of differential forms with prescribed properties. On any smooth manifold, every exact form is closed, but the converse may fail to hold. Roughly speaking, this failure is related to the possible existence of "holes" in the manifold, and the de Rham cohomology groups comprise a set of topological invariants of smooth manifolds that precisely quantify this relationship. Definition The de Rham complex is the cochain complex of differential forms on some smooth manifold , with the exterior derivative as the differential: :0 \to \Omega^0(M)\ \stackrel\ \Omega^1(M)\ \stackrel\ \Omega^2(M)\ \stackrel\ \Omega^3(M) \t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bianchi's Second Identity
In differential geometry, the curvature form describes curvature of a connection on a principal bundle. The Riemann curvature tensor in Riemannian geometry can be considered as a special case. Definition Let ''G'' be a Lie group with Lie algebra \mathfrak g, and ''P'' → ''B'' be a principal ''G''-bundle. Let ω be an Ehresmann connection on ''P'' (which is a \mathfrak g-valued one-form on ''P''). Then the curvature form is the \mathfrak g-valued 2-form on ''P'' defined by :\Omega=d\omega + omega \wedge \omega= D \omega. (In another convention, 1/2 does not appear.) Here d stands for exterior derivative, cdot \wedge \cdot/math> is defined in the article " Lie algebra-valued form" and ''D'' denotes the exterior covariant derivative. In other terms, :\,\Omega(X, Y)= d\omega(X,Y) + omega(X),\omega(Y)/math> where ''X'', ''Y'' are tangent vectors to ''P''. There is also another expression for Ω: if ''X'', ''Y'' are horizontal vector fields on ''P'', thenProof: \sigma\ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Closed And Exact Differential Forms
In mathematics, especially vector calculus and differential topology, a closed form is a differential form ''α'' whose exterior derivative is zero (), and an exact form is a differential form, ''α'', that is the exterior derivative of another differential form ''β''. Thus, an ''exact'' form is in the '' image'' of ''d'', and a ''closed'' form is in the ''kernel'' of ''d''. For an exact form ''α'', for some differential form ''β'' of degree one less than that of ''α''. The form ''β'' is called a "potential form" or "primitive" for ''α''. Since the exterior derivative of a closed form is zero, ''β'' is not unique, but can be modified by the addition of any closed form of degree one less than that of ''α''. Because , every exact form is necessarily closed. The question of whether ''every'' closed form is exact depends on the topology of the domain of interest. On a contractible domain, every closed form is exact by the Poincaré lemma. More general questions of this ki ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pfaffian
In mathematics, the determinant of a skew-symmetric matrix can always be written as the square of a polynomial in the matrix entries, a polynomial with integer coefficients that only depend on the size of the matrix. The value of this polynomial, when applied to the coefficients of a skew-symmetric matrix, is called the Pfaffian of that matrix. The term Pfaffian was introduced by who indirectly named them after Johann Friedrich Pfaff. The Pfaffian (considered as a polynomial) is nonvanishing only for 2''n'' × 2''n'' skew-symmetric matrices, in which case it is a polynomial of degree ''n''. Explicitly, for a skew-symmetric matrix A, : \operatorname(A)^2=\det(A), which was first proved by , who cites Carl Gustav Jacob Jacobi, Jacobi for introducing these polynomials in work on Pfaffian system, Pfaffian systems of differential equations. Caley obtains this relation by specialising a more general result on matrices which deviate from skew symmetry only in the first row and the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lie Algebra-valued Forms
A lie is an assertion that is believed to be false, typically used with the purpose of deceiving or misleading someone. The practice of communicating lies is called lying. A person who communicates a lie may be termed a liar. Lies can be interpreted as deliberately false statements or misleading statements. Lies may also serve a variety of instrumental, interpersonal, or psychological functions for the individuals who use them. Generally, the term "lie" carries a negative connotation, and depending on the context a person who communicates a lie may be subject to social, legal, religious, or criminal sanctions; for instance, perjury, or the act of lying under oath, can result in criminal and civil charges being pressed against the perjurer. Although people in many cultures believe that deception can be detected by observing nonverbal behaviors (e.g. not making eye contact, fidgeting, stuttering) research indicates that people overestimate both the significance of such cues and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ring Of Polynomial Functions
In mathematics, the ring of polynomial functions on a vector space ''V'' over a field ''k'' gives a coordinate-free analog of a polynomial ring. It is denoted by ''k'' 'V'' If ''V'' is finite dimensional and is viewed as an algebraic variety, then ''k'' 'V''is precisely the coordinate ring of ''V''. The explicit definition of the ring can be given as follows. If k _1, \dots, t_n/math> is a polynomial ring, then we can view t_i as coordinate functions on k^n; i.e., t_i(x) = x_i when x = (x_1, \dots, x_n). This suggests the following: given a vector space ''V'', let ''k'' 'V''be the commutative ''k''-algebra generated by the dual space V^*, which is a subring of the ring of all functions V \to k. If we fix a basis for ''V'' and write t_i for its dual basis, then ''k'' 'V''consists of polynomials in t_i. If ''k'' is infinite, then ''k'' 'V''is the symmetric algebra of the dual space V^*. In applications, one also defines ''k'' 'V''when ''V'' is defined over some subfield of ''k'' ( ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Exterior Covariant Derivative
In the mathematical field of differential geometry, the exterior covariant derivative is an extension of the notion of exterior derivative to the setting of a differentiable principal bundle or vector bundle with a connection. Definition Let ''G'' be a Lie group and be a principal ''G''-bundle on a smooth manifold ''M''. Suppose there is a connection on ''P''; this yields a natural direct sum decomposition T_u P = H_u \oplus V_u of each tangent space into the horizontal and vertical subspaces. Let h: T_u P \to H_u be the projection to the horizontal subspace. If ''ϕ'' is a ''k''-form on ''P'' with values in a vector space ''V'', then its exterior covariant derivative ''Dϕ'' is a form defined by :D\phi(v_0, v_1,\dots, v_k)= d \phi(h v_0 ,h v_1,\dots, h v_k) where ''v''''i'' are tangent vectors to ''P'' at ''u''. Suppose that is a representation of ''G'' on a vector space ''V''. If ''ϕ'' is equivariant in the sense that :R_g^* \phi = \rho(g)^\phi where R_g(u) = ug, then ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Curvature Form
In differential geometry, the curvature form describes curvature of a connection on a principal bundle. The Riemann curvature tensor in Riemannian geometry can be considered as a special case. Definition Let ''G'' be a Lie group with Lie algebra \mathfrak g, and ''P'' → ''B'' be a principal ''G''-bundle. Let ω be an Ehresmann connection on ''P'' (which is a \mathfrak g-valued one-form on ''P''). Then the curvature form is the \mathfrak g-valued 2-form on ''P'' defined by :\Omega=d\omega + omega \wedge \omega= D \omega. (In another convention, 1/2 does not appear.) Here d stands for exterior derivative, cdot \wedge \cdot/math> is defined in the article "Lie algebra-valued form" and ''D'' denotes the exterior covariant derivative. In other terms, :\,\Omega(X, Y)= d\omega(X,Y) + omega(X),\omega(Y)/math> where ''X'', ''Y'' are tangent vectors to ''P''. There is also another expression for Ω: if ''X'', ''Y'' are horizontal vector fields on ''P'', thenProof: \sigma\Omega(X ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
