Sylvie Paycha

Alexander Cardona

Hernán Ocampo

Pedro Morales

Andrés F. Reyes Lega

This monograph presents various ongoing approaches to the vast topic of quantization, which is the process of forming a quantum mechanical system starting from a classical one, and discusses their numerous fruitful interactions with mathematics.The opening chapter introduces the various forms of quantization and their interactions with each other and with mathematics.A first approach to quantization, called deformation quantization, consists of viewing the Planck constant as a small parameter. This approach provides a deformation of the structure of the algebra of classical observables rather than a radical change in the nature of the observables. When symmetries come into play, deformation quantization needs to be merged with group actions, which is presented in chapter 2, by Simone Gutt.The noncommutativity arising from quantization is the main concern of noncommutative geometry. Allowing for the presence of symmetries requires working with principal fiber bundles in a non-commutative setup, where Hopf algebras appear naturally. This is the topic of chapter 3, by Christian Kassel. Nichols algebras, a special type of Hopf algebras, are the subject of chapter 4, by Nicolás Andruskiewitsch. The purely algebraic approaches given in the previous chapters do not take the geometry of space-time into account. For this purpose a special treatment using a more geometric point of view is required. An approach to field quantization on curved space-time, with applications to cosmology, is presented in chapter 5 in an account of the lectures of Abhay Ashtekar that brings a complementary point of view to non-commutativity.An alternative quantization procedure is known under the name of string theory. In chapter 6 its supersymmetric version is presented. Superstrings have drawn the attention of many mathematicians, due to its various fruitful interactions with algebraic geometry, some of which are described here. The remaining chapters discuss further topics, as the Batalin-Vilkovisky formalism and direct products of spectral triples.This volume addresses both physicists and mathematicians and serves as an introduction to ongoing research in very active areas of mathematics and physics at the border line between geometry, topology, algebra and quantum field theory.

Quantization, Geometry and Noncommutative Structures in Mathematics and Physics

Hernan Ocampo

This volume offers an introduction to recent developments in several active topics of research at the interface between geometry, topology and quantum field theory. These include Hopf algebras underlying renormalization schemes in quantum field theory, noncommutative geometry with applications to index theory on one hand and the study of aperiodic solids on the other, geometry and topology of low dimensional manifolds with applications to topological field theory, Chern-Simons supergravity and the anti de Sitter/conformal field theory correspondence. It comprises seven lectures organized around three main topics, noncommutative geometry, topological field theory, followed by supergravity and string theory, complemented by some short communications by young participants of the school.

Villa de Leyva, Colombia, 9-27 July 2001

Proceedings of the Summer School Geometric and Topological Methods for Quantum Field Theory

Carolina Neira-Jiménez

Andrés F Reyes-Lega

Based on lectures held at the 7th Villa de Leyva summer school, this book presents an introduction to topics of current interest in the interface of geometry, topology and physics. It is aimed at graduate students in physics or mathematics with interests in geometric, algebraic as well as topological methods and their applications to quantum field theory. This volume contains the written notes corresponding to lectures given by experts in the field. They cover current topics of research in a way that is suitable for graduate students of mathematics or physics interested in the recent developments and interactions between geometry, topology and physics. The book also contains contributions by younger participants, displaying the ample range of topics treated in the school. A key feature of the present volume is the provision of a pedagogical presentation of rather advanced topics, in a way which is suitable for both mathematicians and physicists. Contents:Lectures:Spectral Geometry (B Iochum)Index Theory for Non-compact G-manifolds (M Braverman and L Cano)Generalized Euler Characteristics, Graph Hypersurfaces, and Feynman Periods (P Aluffi)Gravitation Theory and Chern-Simons Forms (J Zanelli)Noncommutative Geometry Models for Particle Physics (M Marcolli)Noncommutative Spacetimes and Quantum Physics (A P Balachandran)Integrability and the AdS/CFT Correspondence (M Staudacher)Compactifications of String Theory and Generalized Geometry (M Graña and H Triendl)Short Communications:Groupoids and Poisson Sigma Models with Boundary (A Cattaneo and I Contreras)A Survey on Orbifold String Topology (A Angel)Grothendieck Ring Class of Banana and Flower Graphs (P Morales-Almazán)On the Geometry Underlying a Real Lie Algebra Representation (R Vargas Le-Bert) Readership: Researchers in geometry and topology, mathematical physics. Keywords:Geometry;Topology;Geometric Methods;Quantum Field Theory;Renormalization;Index Theory;Noncommutative Geometry;Quantization;String Theory;Key Features:Unique style aimed at a mixed readership of mathematicians and physicistsIdeal for self-study or use in advanced courses or seminars

Geometric, Algebraic and Topological Methods for Quantum Field Theory

Alexander Cardona

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