Isomonodromic Deformations And Frobenius Manifolds

Based on a series of graduate lectures, this book provides an introduction to algebraic geometric methods in the theory of complex linear differential equations. Starting from basic notions in complex algebraic geometry, it develops some of the classical problems of linear differential equations. It ends with applications to recent research questions related to mirror symmetry. The fundamental tool used is that of a vector bundle with connection. The book includes complete proofs, and applications to recent research questions. Aimed at graduate students and researchers, the book assumes some familiarity with basic complex algebraic geometry.

This is the first monograph dedicated to the systematic exposition of the whole variety of topics related to quantum cohomology. The subject first originated in theoretical physics (quantum string theory) and has continued to develop extensively over the last decade. The author's approach to quantum cohomology is based on the notion of the Frobenius manifold. The first part of the book is devoted to this notion and its extensive interconnections with algebraic formalism of operads, differential equations, perturbations, and geometry. In the second part of the book, the author describes the construction of quantum cohomology and reviews the algebraic geometry mechanisms involved in this construction (intersection and deformation theory of Deligne-Artin and Mumford stacks). Yuri Manin is currently the director of the Max-Planck-Institut für Mathematik in Bonn, Germany. He has authored and coauthored 10 monographs and almost 200 research articles in algebraic geometry, number theory, mathematical physics, history of culture, and psycholinguistics. Manin's books, such as Cubic Forms: Algebra, Geometry, and Arithmetic (1974), A Course in Mathematical Logic (1977), Gauge Field Theory and Complex Geometry (1988), Elementary Particles: Mathematics, Physics and Philosophy (1989, with I. Yu. Kobzarev), Topics in Non-commutative Geometry (1991), and Methods of Homological Algebra (1996, with S. I. Gelfand), secured for him solid recognition as an excellent expositor. Undoubtedly the present book will serve mathematicians for many years to come.

This book presents the theory of Frobenius manifolds, as well as all the necessary tools and several applications.

The series is aimed specifically at publishing peer reviewed reviews and contributions presented at workshops and conferences. Each volume is associated with a particular conference, symposium or workshop. These events cover various topics within pure and applied mathematics and provide up-to-date coverage of new developments, methods and applications.

Quantum cohomology, the theory of Frobenius manifolds and the relations to integrable systems are flourishing areas since the early 90's. An activity was organized at the Max-Planck-Institute for Mathematics in Bonn, with the purpose of bringing together the main experts in these areas. This volume originates from this activity and presents the state of the art in the subject.

Gauge theory, symplectic geometry and symplectic topology are important areas at the crossroads of several mathematical disciplines. The present book, with expertly written surveys of recent developments in these areas, includes some of the first expository material of Seiberg-Witten theory, which has revolutionised the subjects since its introduction in late 1994. Topics covered include: introductions to Seiberg-Witten theory, to applications of the S-W theory to four-dimensional manifold topology, and to the classification of symplectic manifolds; an introduction to the theory of pseudo-holomorphic curves and to quantum cohomology; algebraically integrable Hamiltonian systems and moduli spaces; the stable topology of gauge theory, Morse-Floer theory; pseudo-convexity and its relations to symplectic geometry; generating functions; Frobenius manifolds and topological quantum field theory.

Singularities arise naturally in a huge number of different areas of mathematics and science. As a consequence, singularity theory lies at the crossroads of paths that connect many of the most important areas of applications of mathematics with some of its most abstract regions. The main goal in most problems of singularity theory is to understand the dependence of some objects of analysis, geometry, physics, or other science (functions, varieties, mappings, vector or tensor fields, differential equations, models, etc.) on parameters. The articles collected here can be grouped under three headings. (A) Singularities of real maps; (B) Singular complex variables; and (C) Singularities of homomorphic maps.