18.952 - Theory of Differential Forms (Spring 2014)


SYLLABUS

Each pair of weeks corresponds roughly to a chapter of notes.

Semester Timeline
Weeks Topic
1-2Multilinear algebra, Tensors, Exterior forms
3-4Vector fields and differential forms on open subsets of n-dimensional euclidean space
5-6Integral calculus via forms, Sard's Theorem, Degree theory
7-8Vector fields and forms on manifolds, Stokes's Theorem, Divergence Theorem, Degree theory for manifolds, Gauss-Bonnet Theorem
9-10De Rham theory (cohomology groups of differential manifolds)
11-12More de Rham theory, intersection theory