Patrick Jefferson (UMass Physics): Introduction to Chern Simons Theory 2

Chern–Simons theory is a three-dimensional topological quantum field theory with deep connections to various structures in mathematics and physics. Apart from giving an introduction to this rich and fascinating subject, a goal of the seminars this semester is to establish a useful setting for exploring aspects of symmetries that were introduced last semester. 

Last time, I defined U(1)_k Chern-Simons theory on a closed 3-manifold for even k. In this  seminar, I will discuss one-form symmetries, the framing anomaly, and the generalization of k to odd integers. Time permitting, I will also comment on applications to fractional quantum Hall states.