A Chern-Simons appetiser

Speaker: Jorge Zanelli,Centro de Estudios Científicos, CECs-Valdivia, Chile

Date: Wednesday, 9th September 2015

Time: 3pm-4pm

Location: Room E1.19, Science East


Abstract:
   
 
Chern Simons (CS) invariants were discovered as some irritating mathematical obstruction but today they  have become important physical    
objects. In fact, their presence in physics is more common than one may think.They are found as anomalies in quantum field theories    
and as Lagrangians for gauge fields,including gravity and supergravity. They seem to play an important role in high Tc super conductivity    
and in recently discovered topological insulators. CS forms are also the natural generalization of the minimal coupling between the electromagenetic field and a point charge and even when the source is not point like but an extended fundamental object, a membrane.    
A cursory review of these ideas is presented at an introductory level.

 

ACM: Series