Connections on central bimodules

We define and study the theory of derivation-based connections on a recently introduced class of bimodules over an algebra which reduces to the category of modules whenever the algebra is commutative. This theory contains, in particular, a noncommutative generalization of linear connections. We also discuss the different noncommutative versions of differential forms based on derivations. Then we investigate reality conditions and a noncommutative generalization of pseudo-riemannian structures.Comment: 27 pages, AMS-LaTe

Exceptional quantum geometry and particle physics

Based on an interpretation of the quark-lepton symmetry in terms of the unimodularity of the color group $SU(3)$ and on the existence of 3 generations, we develop an argumentation suggesting that the "finite quantum space" corresponding to the exceptional real Jordan algebra of dimension 27 (the Euclidean Albert algebra) is relevant for the description of internal spaces in the theory of particles. In particular, the triality which corresponds to the 3 off-diagonal octonionic elements of the exceptional algebra is associated to the 3 generations of the Standard Model while the representation of the octonions as a complex 4-dimensional space $\mathbb C\oplus\mathbb C^3$ is associated to the quark-lepton symmetry, (one complex for the lepton and 3 for the corresponding quark). More generally it is is suggested that the replacement of the algebra of real functions on spacetime by the algebra of functions on spacetime with values in a finite-dimensional Euclidean Jordan algebra which plays the role of "the algebra of real functions" on the corresponding almost classical quantum spacetime is relevant in particle physics. This leads us to study the theory of Jordan modules and to develop the differential calculus over Jordan algebras, (i.e. to introduce the appropriate notion of differential forms). We formulate the corresponding definition of connections on Jordan modules.Comment: 37 pages ; some minor typo corrections. To appear in Nucl. Pays. B (2016), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nuclphysb.2016.04.01

Some aspects of noncommutative differential geometry

We discuss in some generality aspects of noncommutative differential geometry associated with reality conditions and with differential calculi. We then describe the differential calculus based on derivations as generalization of vector fields, and we show its relations with quantum mechanics. Finally we formulate a general theory of connections in this framework.Comment: 27 pages, AMS-LaTeX, LPTHE-ORSAY 95/7

A bigraded version of the Weil algebra and of the Weil homomorphism for Donaldson invariants

We describe a bigraded generalization of the Weil algebra, of its basis and of the characteristic homomorphism which besides ordinary characteristic classes also maps on Donaldson invariants.Comment: 19 page

Exceptional quantum geometry and particle physics II

We continue the study undertaken in [13] of the relevance of the exceptional Jordan algebra $J^8_3$ of hermitian $3\times 3$ octonionic matrices for the description of the internal space of the fundamental fermions of the Standard Model with 3 generations. By using the suggestion of [30] (properly justified here) that the Jordan algebra $J^8_2$ of hermitian $2\times 2$ octonionic matrices is relevant for the description of the internal space of the fundamental fermions of one generation, we show that, based on the same principles and the same framework as in [13], there is a way to describe the internal space of the 3 generations which avoids the introduction of new fundamental fermions and where there is no problem with respect to the electroweak symmetry.Comment: 18 page