Cheeger–Simons differential characters

E921617

Cheeger–Simons differential characters are geometric invariants that refine ordinary cohomology by incorporating both integral cohomology classes and differential form data, providing a model for differential cohomology theories.

All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
Cheeger–Simons differential characters canonical 2

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf cohomological refinement
differential cohomology theory
geometric invariant
alternativeModelTo smooth Deligne cohomology
linked to: Deligne cohomology
captures secondary characteristic classes
topological and geometric data simultaneously
characterizedBy homomorphisms from smooth cycles to R/Z
compatibleWith de Rham isomorphism
linked to: de Rham theorem

integral period conditions
definedOn smooth manifolds
degree integer-graded
encodes curvature forms
differential form data
holonomy information
integral cohomology classes
field algebraic topology
differential geometry
global analysis
fitsInto exact sequence relating forms and integral cohomology
generalizes line bundles with connection
principal bundles with connection
hasApplicationIn anomaly theory
topological phases of gauge fields
hasCurvatureMapTo closed differential forms with integral periods
hasStructure abelian group
graded group
introducedIn 1970s
namedAfter James Simons
linked to: James Harris Simons

Jeff Cheeger
providesModelFor differential cohomology
refines de Rham cohomology
integral cohomology
singular cohomology
relatedTo Chern–Simons invariants
Chern–Weil theory
Deligne cohomology
characteristic classes
targetGroup R/Z
usedIn gauge theory
index theory
quantum field theory
string theory
usedToDefine differential refinements of characteristic classes
usedToDescribe flux quantization conditions
holonomy of connections
uses smooth differential forms
smooth singular chains

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Deligne cohomology relatedTo Cheeger–Simons differential characters
Chern–Simons form context Cheeger–Simons differential characters
subject linked to: Chern–Simons forms