A classical approach to TQFT's

We present a general framework for TQFT and related constructions using the language of monoidal categories. We construct a topological category C and an algebraic category D, both monoidal, and a TQFT functor is then defined as a certain type of monoidal functor from C to D. In contrast with the cobordism approach, this formulation of TQFT is closer in spirit to the classical functors of algebraic topology, like homology. The fundamental operation of gluing is incorporated at the level of the morphisms in the topological category through the notion of a gluing morphism, which we define. It allows not only the gluing together of two separate objects, but also the self-gluing of a single object to be treated in the same fashion. As an example of our framework we describe TQFT's for oriented 2D-manifolds, and classify a family of them in terms of a pair of tensors satisfying some relations.Comment: 72 pages, 7 figure

Quantum Holonomies in (2+1)-Dimensional Gravity

We describe an approach to the quantization of (2+1)--dimensional gravity with topology R x T^2 and negative cosmological constant, which uses two quantum holonomy matrices satisfying a q--commutation relation. Solutions of diagonal and upper--triangular form are constructed, which in the latter case exhibit additional, non--trivial internal relations for each holonomy matrix. This leads to the notion of quantum matrix pairs. These are pairs of matrices with non-commuting entries, which have the same pattern of internal relations, q-commute with each other under matrix multiplication, and are such that products of powers of the matrices obey the same pattern of internal relations as the original pair. This has implications for the classical moduli space, described by ordered pairs of commuting SL(2,R) matrices modulo simultaneous conjugation by SL(2,R) matrices.Comment: 5 pages, to appear in the proceedings of 10th Marcel Grossmann Meeting on Recent Developments in Theoretical and Experimental General Relativity, Gravitation and Relativistic Field Theories (MG X MMIII), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 20-26 Jul 200

On a family of topological invariants similar to homotopy groups

The intimacy relation between smooth loops, which is a strong homotopy relation, is generalized to smooth maps defined on the n-cube, leading to a family of groups similar to the classical homotopy groups. The formal resemblance between the two families of groups is explored. Special attention is devoted to the role of these groups as topological invariants for manifolds and as tools for describing geometrical structures defined on manifolds such as bundles and connections

QUANTUM HOLONOMIES AND THE HEISENBERG GROUP

Quantum holonomies of closed paths on the torus $T^2$ are interpreted as elements of the Heisenberg group $H_1$. Group composition in $H_1$ corresponds to path concatenation and the group commutator is a deformation of the relator of the fundamental group $\pi_1$ of $T^2$, making explicit the signed area phases between quantum holonomies of homotopic paths. Inner automorphisms of $H_1$ adjust these signed areas, and the discrete symplectic transformations of $H_1$ generate the modular group of $T^2$.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure

On invariants of almost symplectic connections

We study the irreducible decomposition under Sp(2n, R) of the space of torsion tensors of almost symplectic connections. Then a description of all symplectic quadratic invariants of torsion-like tensors is given. When applied to a manifold M with an almost symplectic structure, these instruments give preliminary insight for finding a preferred linear almost symplectic connection on M . We rediscover Ph. Tondeur's Theorem on almost symplectic connections. Properties of torsion of the vectorial kind are deduced

Topological excitations in 2D spin system with high spin s>=1s>= 1

We construct a class of topological excitations of a mean field in a two-dimensional spin system represented by a quantum Heisenberg model with high powers of exchange interaction. The quantum model is associated with a classical one (the continuous classical analogue) that is based on a Landau-Lifshitz like equation, and describes large-scale fluctuations of the mean field. On the other hand, the classical model is a Hamiltonian system on a coadjoint orbit of the unitary group SU($2s {+} 1$) in the case of spin $s$. We have found a class of mean field configurations that can be interpreted as topological excitations, because they have fixed topological charges. Such excitations change their shapes and grow preserving an energy.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figur