Questions tagged [supergeometry]

Supergeometry is differential geometry of modules over graded commutative algebras, supermanifolds and graded manifolds. Supergeometry is part and parcel of many classical and quantum field theories involving odd fields, e.g., SUSY field theory, BRST theory, or supergravity.

Supergeometry is differential geometry of modules over graded commutative algebras, supermanifolds and graded manifolds. Supergeometry is part and parcel of many classical and quantum field theories involving odd fields, e.g., SUSY field theory, BRST theory, or supergravity.

Supergeometry is formulated in terms of $ \mathbb Z _ 2 $-graded modules and sheaves over $ \mathbb Z _ 2 $-graded commutative algebras (supercommutative algebras). In particular, superconnections are defined as Koszul connections on these modules and sheaves. However, supergeometry is not particular noncommutative geometry because of a different definition of a graded derivation.

Graded manifolds and supermanifolds also are phrased in terms of sheaves of graded commutative algebras. Graded manifolds are characterized by sheaves on smooth manifolds, while supermanifolds are constructed by gluing of sheaves of supervector spaces. There are different types of supermanifolds. These are smooth supermanifolds ($ H ^ \infty $-, $ G ^ \infty $-, $GH ^ \infty $-supermanifolds), $ G $-supermanifolds, and DeWitt supermanifolds. In particular, supervector bundles and principal superbundles are considered in the category of $ G $-supermanifolds. Definitions of principal superbundles and principal superconnections straightforwardly follow that of smooth principal bundles and principal connections. Principal graded bundles also are considered in the category of graded manifolds.

There is a different class of Quillen–Ne'eman superbundles and superconnections. These superconnections have been applied to computing the Chern character in K-theory, noncommutative geometry, and BRST formalism.

Source: Wikipedia

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Geometric meaning of Berezin integration

Berezin integration in a Grassmann algebra is defined such that its algebraic properties are analogous to definite integration of ordinary functions: linearity (taking anticommutativity into account), scale invariance and independence from the…
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Questions about $\mathbb{Z}$-graded manifolds (references, concrete approach analogous to supermanifold)

I am trying to learn about $\mathbb{Z}$-graded manifolds. It seems that the theory of $\mathbb{Z}$-graded manifolds has some complications that supermanifolds do not have, and there is fewer literature about $\mathbb{Z}$-graded manifolds than those…
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Parity operator and tensor products

When we consider usual vector spaces like $\mathbb{C}^n$, it is simple to consider tensor product operations, like $\mathbb{C}^n\otimes \mathbb{C}^m \cong \mathbb{C}^{n\cdot m}$, or $\mathbb{C}^n\wedge\mathbb{C}^n \cong \mathbb{C}^{{n \choose 2}}$.…
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Alternative expression for Riemann curvature tensor

There is the usual expression for the Riemann tensor $$R_{abcd}=\partial_c\Gamma_{adb}-\partial_d\Gamma_{acb}+\Gamma_{ace}{\Gamma^e}_{db}-\Gamma_{ade}{\Gamma^e}_{cb}.$$ However, in the last page of…
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Intuition for the need of generalizing from mappings to morphisms to functors in supermathematics?

I am currently reading this paper about the categorical formulation of superalgebras and supergeometry, where in definition 2.3 it says that to change the parity of a right supermodule a morphism will not do the job as morphisms have to preserve…
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What exactly is the role of the mysterious space underlying the definition of a superspace?

In the intro to chapter 12.3 of this book about the applications of coherent states, it says that classical spaces for bosons are real or complex vector spaces or manifolds, whereas classical spaces for fermions are Grassmann algebras…
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$n$th symmetric power of a superspace

Given a vector space $V$, we consider the (trivial) associated even superspace $V\oplus 0$ and odd superspace $0\oplus V$. For any (super) vector space $W$ we define the $n$th symmetric power as $$ \operatorname{Sym}^n(W) = W^{\otimes n}/\langle…
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orthosymplectic super group and super algebra

Let $V=V_0 \oplus V_1$ be a $\mathbb Z_2$-graded vector space over $\mathbb C$. Suppose $V$ has an even non-degenerate bilinear form $(-, -)$ which is symmetric on $V_0$, skew symmetric on $V_1$, and satisfies $(V_0, V_1) = (V_1, V_0) = 0$. The…
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Request for expository articles on supersymmetric geometry.

Various kinds of supersymmetric QFTs are studied in the physics literature. A typical physics talk describes a Lie "superalgebra" by a huge list of operators (with many supercharges, internal rotations among supercharges and other Poincare group…
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Understanding Moonshine and Heterotic E8xE8

Recently I have become familiar with the conjectured relationship of monstrous moonshine and pure $(2+1)$-dimensional quantum gravity in AdS with maximally negative cosmological constant and, it’s being dual to $c=24$ (if I recall) homomorphic…
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Exterior algebra on a given number of generators?

I just started studying supermanifolds and I need to understand how to construct the exterior algebra on $q$ generators. Can anyone recommend me a a book which deals with it? I know this is an algebraic concept which can be dealt out of…
PtF
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Manifolds as ringed spaces and values of functions

I am currently reading a book on supergeometry which also introduces sheaves and ringed spaces, and in particular it proposes a definition of a differential manifold as a locally ringed space $(M,\mathcal{O}_M)$ which is locally isomorphic to the…
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What kind of mathematical objects are, in their tangent, supermodules over superrings?

I am interested in generalizing the notion of Lie groups and Lie algebras to higher categories. One way to do this is to replace the category of vector spaces with a more general category of modules over rings, and then consider the tangent spaces…
Esmond
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Definition of Supermanifold

defining a super-domain as a pair $(U\subset\mathbb{R}^n, C^\infty(U)\otimes\bigwedge[\theta^1\cdots\theta^m])$, a supermanifold is usually defined as a topological space $M$ endowed with a sheaf of super-algebras (call it $C^\infty(\mathcal{M})$)…
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Erlangen-Style approach to Homogneoues Fiber Bundles

In connection with a philosophy of physics project I have recently been looking at fiber bundles from an Erlangen-inspired perspective. My inspiration is the following well-known result: Every smooth homogeneous manifold, $M$, is diffeomorphic to…
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