Seminar quantum physics and geometry
Topological conformal field theory
Coordination: Christoph Schweigert and
Jörg Teschner
21.10.2010: 1. Open/closed TFT
Speaker: Christoph Schweigert, Contact: Christoph Schweigert
References: [L,LP,MS].
Notes
Information: Colloquium talk by
Jacopo Stoppa
(Trinity College, Cambridge)
Place: Geomatikum
4.11.2010: 2. Examples of open/closed TFT
models
Speaker: Jörg Teschner, Contact: Jörg Teschner
References: [HLL]
Notes
Summary:
- Notion of (chain-level) TCFT:
I was following [C1], Section 1.1.
The key condition on F is somewhat hidden on the lower half
of page 4, there written as F(d\alpha)=df(\alpha). This is what
is referred to as condition (B) in my notes.
The precursors of this definition by Segal and Getzler are
spelled out in Section 3 of Getzler's paper [G] (which can be
read independently from the rest). They differ from
Costello's definition essentially by replacing the homology
of the moduli spaces by its cohomology.
A useful-looking survey can also be found in arXiv:0906.5198
by Blumberg, Cohen, Teleman.
- Relation to string theory:
I found Dijkgraaf's Les Houches lectures (hep-th/9703136)
useful. The functorial definition of Segal/Getzler is recalled
in Section 8.7., and Section 8.1. lists basic axioms for an
abstract formulation of string theory (page 5 of my notes).
- Relation to A_{\infty}-algebras:
The paper [HLL] of Herbst, Lazaroiu, Lerche contains many
results and discussions relevant for the open surface
generalization (considering elements of Q-cohomology,
these authors find what is called minimal A_{\infty}
structures, corresponding to m_1=0). A look at
section 1. of arXiv:hep-th/0606283 may also be helpful
to see the relation between the appearance of
A_{\infty}-structures in my lecture and the compactification
of moduli spaces of punctured discs. This reference also
contains some discussion and further references to the
relation with string field theory.
Information: Colloquium talk by
Roberto Longo
(Rom)
Place: DESY
18.11.2010: 3. A-infinity algebras
Speakers: Sebastian Novak and Christoph Wockel,
Contact: Christoph Schweigert
References: [PS]
Information: Colloquium talk by NN
Place: Geomatikum
For information:
29.11-3.12.2010:
From Sigma Models to Four-dimensional QFT
Workshop at DESY
16.12.2010: ZMP seminar and only the seminar
cancelled because of dies academicus
Information: Colloquium talk by
Karl-Hermann Neeb
(Erlangen)
Place: Geomatikum
13.1.2011: 4. Costello's construction of TCTs
Speaker: Vito Iacovino
References: [C2]
Information: Colloquium talk by
Fabian
Essler (Oxford):
``Finite Temperature and Quantum Quench Dynamics in Massive
Integrable Quantum Field Theories''
Place: DESY
27.1.2011: 5. On the relation between open and closed
topological strings
Speaker: Tom Brown
References: [HLL, C1].
Notes of the speaker.
Information: Colloquium talk by Andreas
Ludwig (UCSB)
Place: Geomatikum H2
Literatur