Topological quantum field theory
Abstract
A twisted version of four dimensional supersymmetric gauge theory is formulated. The model, which refines a nonrelativistic treatment by Atiyah, appears to underlie many recent developments in topology of low dimensional manifolds; the Donaldson polynomial invariants of four manifolds and the Floer groups of three manifolds appear naturally. The model may also be interesting from a physical viewpoint; it is in a sense a generally covariant quantum field theory, albeit one in which general covariance is unbroken, there are no gravitons, and the only excitations are topological.
- Publication:
-
Communications in Mathematical Physics
- Pub Date:
- September 1988
- DOI:
- 10.1007/BF01223371
- Bibcode:
- 1988CMaPh.117..353W