Chiral equivariant cohomology I

We construct a new equivariant cohomology theory for a certain class of differential vertex algebras, which we call the chiral equivariant cohomology. A principal example of a differential vertex algebra in this class is the chiral de Rham complex of Malikov-Schechtman-Vaintrob of a manifold with a group action. The main idea in this paper is to synthesize the algebraic approach to classical equivariant cohomology due to H. Cartan,² with the theory of differential vertex algebras, by using an appropriate notion of invariant theory. We also construct the vertex algebra analogues of the Mathai-Quillen isomorphism, the Weil and the Cartan models for equivariant cohomology, and the Chern-Weil map. We give interesting cohomology classes in the new theory that have no classical analogues.     

Torsion in equivariant cohomology

Partially supported by an NSF grant.     

Multiplicative structure in equivariant cohomology

We introduce the notion of a strongly homotopy-comultiplicative resolution of a module coalgebra over a chain Hopf algebra, which we apply to proving a comultiplicative enrichment of a well-known theorem of Moore concerning the homology of quotient spaces of group actions. The importance of our enriched version of Moore’s theorem lies in its application to the construction of useful cochain algebra models for computing multiplicative structure in equivariant cohomology.In the special cases of homotopy orbits of circle actions on spaces and of group actions on simplicial sets, we obtain small, explicit cochain algebra models that we describe in detail.     

Singular del Pezzo surfaces that are equivariant compactifications

We determine which singular del Pezzo surfaces are equivariant compactifications of \mathbbG_\texta² \mathbb{G}_{\text{a}}^2 , to assist with proofs of Manin’s conjecture for such surfaces. Additionally, we give an example of a singular quartic del Pezzo surface that is an equivariant compactification of \mathbbG_\texta {\mathbb{G}_{\text{a}}} ⋊ \mathbbG_\textm {\mathbb{G}_{\text{m}}} . Bibliography: 32 titles.     

On the localization formula in equivariant cohomology

We give a generalization of the Atiyah-Bott-Berline-Vergne localization theorem for the equivariant cohomology of a torus action. We replace the manifold having a torus action by an equivariant map of manifolds having a compact connected Lie group action. This provides a systematic method for calculating the Gysin homomorphism in ordinary cohomology of an equivariant map. As an example, we recover a formula of Akyildiz-Carrell for the Gysin homomorphism of flag manifolds.     

On localization in holomorphic equivariant cohomology

We study a holomorphic equivariant cohomology built out of the Atiyah algebroid of an equivariant holomorphic vector bundle and prove a related localization formula. This encompasses various residue formulas in complex geometry, in particular we shall show that it contains as special cases Carrell-Liebermann’s and Feng-Ma’s residue formulas, and Baum-Bott’s formula for the zeroes of a meromorphic vector field.     

Intrinsic characterization of Alexander-Spanier cohomology groups of compactifications

In this paper we construct a uniform Alexander-Spanier cohomology functor from the category of pairs of uniform spaces to the category of abelian groups. We show that this functor satisfies all Eilenberg-Steenrod axioms on the category of pairs of precompact uniform spaces, is precompact uniform shape invariant and intrinsically, in terms of uniform structures, describes the Alexander-Spanier cohomology groups of compactifications of completely regular spaces.     

Torsion in equivariant cohomology and Cohen-Macaulay G-actions

We show that the well-known fact that the equivariant cohomology (with real coefficients) of a torus action is a torsion-free module if and only if the map induced by the inclusion of the fixed point set is injective generalises to actions of arbitrary compact connected Lie groups if one replaces the fixed point set by the set of points with isotropy rank equal to the rank of the acting group. This is true essentially because the action on this set is always equivariantly formal. In case this set is empty we show that the induced action on the set of points with highest occuring isotropy rank is Cohen-Macaulay. It turns out that just as equivariant formality of an action is equivalent to equivariant formality of the action of a maximal torus, the same holds true for equivariant injectivity and the Cohen-Macaulay property. In addition, we find a topological criterion for equivariant injectivity in terms of orbit spaces.     

The Witten genus and equivariant elliptic cohomology

We construct a Thom class in complex equivariant elliptic cohomology extending the equivariant Witten genus. This gives a new proof of the rigidity of the Witten genus, which exhibits a close relationship to recent work on non-equivariant orientations of elliptic spectra. Received: 24 May 2001; in final form: 4 October 2001 / Published online: 28 February 2002