Video Description

Workshop on Quantum Field Theory and Topological Phases via Homotopy Theory and Operator Algebras 7/10/2025 Speaker: Greg Moore, Rutgers Title: p-form puzzles Abstract: It is commonly stated that level k BF theory for a p-form (and a form of complementary dimension) is equivalent to a homotopy sigma model with target space K(A,p) where A is a cyclic group of order k. Some aspects of this standard statement are puzzling me. I’ll explain what they are. (Perhaps someone in the audience can resolve my puzzles.) Then I’ll revisit the (again standard) electromagnetic duality of p-form electrodynamics. The conclusion will be that a slightly modified version of Ray-Singer torsion is the partition function of an invertible topological field theory.