A Hochschild-Kostant-Rosenberg theorem for cyclic homology

Let $A$ be a commutative algebra over the field ${\mathbb F}_2 = {\mathbb Z}/2$. We show that there is a natural algebra homomorphism $\ell (A) \to HC^-_*(A)$ which is an isomorphism when $A$ is a smooth algebra. Thus, the functor $\ell$ can be viewed as an approximation of negative cyclic homology and ordinary cyclic homology $HC_*(A)$ is a natural $\ell (A)$-module. In general, there is a spectral sequence $E^2 = L_*(\ell )(A) \Rightarrow HC_*^- (A)$. We find associated approximation functors $\ell^+$ and $\ell^{per}$ for ordinary cyclic homology and periodic cyclic homology, and set up their spectral sequences. Finally, we discuss universality of the approximations.Comment: To appear in J. Pure Appl. Algebr

Cobordism obstructions to independent vector fields

We define an invariant for the existence of r pointwise linearly independent sections in the tangent bundle of a closed manifold. For low values of r, explicit computations of the homotopy groups of certain Thom spectra combined with classical obstruction theory identifies this invariant as the top obstruction to the existence of the desired sections. In particular, this shows that the top obstruction is an invariant of the underlying manifold in these cases, which is not true in general. The invariant is related to cobordism theory and this gives rise to an identification of the invariant in terms of well-known invariants. As a corollary to the computations, we can also compute low-dimensional homotopy groups of the Thom spectra studied by Galatius, Tillmann, Madsen, and Weiss.Comment: 46 page

A geometric interpretation of the homotopy groups of the cobordism category

The classifying space of the embedded cobordism category has been identified in by Galatius, Tillmann, Madsen, and Weiss as the infinite loop space of a certain Thom spectrum. This identifies the set of path components with the classical cobordism group. In this paper, we give a geometric interpretation of the higher homotopy groups as certain cobordism groups where all manifolds are now equipped with a set of orthonormal sections in the tangent bundle. We also give a description of the fundamental group as a free group with a set of geometrically intuitive relations.Comment: 23 page

On cyclic fixed points of spectra

For a finite p-group G and a bounded below G-spectrum X of finite type mod p, the G-equivariant Segal conjecture for X asserts that the canonical map X^G --> X^{hG} is a p-adic equivalence. Let C_{p^n} be the cyclic group of order p^n. We show that if the C_p Segal conjecture holds for a C_{p^n} spectrum X, as well as for each of its C_{p^e} geometric fixed points for 0 < e < n, then then C_{p^n} Segal conjecture holds for X. Similar results hold for weaker forms of the Segal conjecture, asking only that the canonical map induces an equivalence in sufficiently high degrees, on homotopy groups with suitable finite coefficients

On the curvature of vortex moduli spaces

We use algebraic topology to investigate local curvature properties of the moduli spaces of gauged vortices on a closed Riemann surface. After computing the homotopy type of the universal cover of the moduli spaces (which are symmetric powers of the surface), we prove that, for genus g>1, the holomorphic bisectional curvature of the vortex metrics cannot always be nonnegative in the multivortex case, and this property extends to all Kaehler metrics on certain symmetric powers. Our result rules out an established and natural conjecture on the geometry of the moduli spaces.Comment: 25 pages; final version, to appear in Math.