Contents Online
Mathematical Research Letters
Volume 1 (1994)
Number 6
Monopoles and four-manifolds
Pages: 769 – 796
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4310/MRL.1994.v1.n6.a13
Author
Abstract
Recent developments in the understanding of $N=2$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory in four dimensions suggest a new point of view about Donaldson theory of four manifolds: instead of defining four-manifold invariants by counting $SU(2)$ instantons, one can define equivalent four-manifold invariants by counting solutions of a non-linear equation with an abelian gauge group. This is a “dual” equation in which the gauge group is the dual of the maximal torus of $SU(2)$. The new viewpoint suggests many new results about the Donaldson invariants.
Published 1 January 1994