Babytop

Student seminar in topology

Spring 2005






John Francis
Stable Homotopy and Index Theory

Abstract:

I will explain how questions regarding the values of integrals on manifolds can be translated into homotopy. For instance, the Adams spectral sequence computating $bo_* K(\Z,4)$ gives information about certain integrals in a four dimensional cohomology class arising in M-theory. After sketching this computation, I'll outline applications in topology and in index theory.