The Atiyah-Singer Index Theorem I

Paul Loya

The Atiyah-Singer Index Theorem I p. 1/4

Main idea
Denition index n. pl. indexes or indices 1. Something that serves to guide, point out, or otherwise facilitate reference. 2. Something that reveals or indicates; a sign. 3. An indicator or pointer, as on a scientic instrument. 4. Mathematics: A number derived from a formula, used to characterize a set of data. Today well study two indexes.

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Outline of talk: Five main points

I. The index of a space (Euler characteristic)

The Atiyah-Singer Index Theorem I p. 3/4

Outline of talk: Five main points

I. The index of a space (Euler characteristic) II. The index of a linear map

The Atiyah-Singer Index Theorem I p. 3/4

Outline of talk: Five main points

I. The index of a space (Euler characteristic) II. The index of a linear map III. The Gauss-Bonnet theorem traditional version

The Atiyah-Singer Index Theorem I p. 3/4

Outline of talk: Five main points

I. The index of a space (Euler characteristic) II. The index of a linear map III. The Gauss-Bonnet theorem traditional version IV. The Gauss-Bonnet theorem index version

The Atiyah-Singer Index Theorem I p. 3/4

Outline of talk: Five main points

I. The index of a space (Euler characteristic) II. The index of a linear map III. The Gauss-Bonnet theorem traditional version IV. The Gauss-Bonnet theorem index version V. The Atiyah-Singer index theorem

The Atiyah-Singer Index Theorem I p. 3/4

I. The Euler characteristic

Preview of Part I The Euler Characteristic is an integer obtained by taking the difference of two numbers. The Euler Characteristic is a topological invariant.

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I. The Euler characteristic

The Euler Characteristic of a compact space S (really, a CW complex of dimension 2) is obtained by 1. putting dots all over your object. 2. connecting the dots (no crossings and every dot must be linked to any other one through lines). 3. Counting the number of even (0 or 2) dimensional shapes formed (E). 4. Counting the number of odd (1) dimensional shapes formed (O). (S) = E O.

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I. The Euler characteristic

The sphere:

(S2 ) = E O = (1 + 1) 0 = 2.

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I. The Euler characteristic

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I. The Euler characteristic

(S2 ) = E O = (3 + 2) 3 = 2. (S2 ) = E O = (4 + 4) 6 = 2. No matter how many dots you mark and how you connect them, you get 2.

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I. The Euler characteristic

(torus) = 0, (double torus) = 2, (triple torus) = 4.

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I. The Euler characteristic

In what sense is the Euler Characteristic an index? It indicates, reveals, characterizes the topology.

The Atiyah-Singer Index Theorem I p. 9/4

I. The Euler characteristic

In what sense is the Euler Characteristic an index? It indicates, reveals, characterizes the topology.

Theorem 1: Two compact surfaces in R3 are homeomorphic if and only if their Euler characteristics are equal. In other words, the EC is stable if you deform a shape the EC remains the same.

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I. The Euler characteristic

In what sense is the Euler Characteristic an index? It indicates, reveals, characterizes the topology.

Theorem 1: Two compact surfaces in R3 are homeomorphic if and only if their Euler characteristics are equal. In other words, the EC is stable if you deform a shape the EC remains the same. Theorem 2: For a compact surface S in R3 , (S) = 2 2 (the number of holes of S). How about 1-dimensional examples?

The Atiyah-Singer Index Theorem I p. 9/4

I. The Euler characteristic

(S1 ) = 4 4 = 0.

The Atiyah-Singer Index Theorem I p. 10/4

I. The Euler characteristic

(S1 ) = 4 4 = 0.

(R) = 4 3 = 1. (For unbounded spaces we have to throw away unbounded parts.)

The Atiyah-Singer Index Theorem I p. 10/4

I. The Euler characteristic

Summary of Part I The Euler characteristic of a space S is (S) = E O, a difference of two integers. The Euler characteristic is stable its a topological invariant. Examples: 2-dim: (S2 ) = 2 1-dim: (S1 ) = 0 and and (T) = 0. (R) = 1.

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II. The index of a linear map

Preview of Part II The index of a linear map is an integer obtained by taking the difference of two numbers. The index is an analytic invariant.

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II. The index of a linear map

Let V and W be nite-dimensional vector spaces and let L:V W be a linear map. What is a good notion of index?

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II. The index of a linear map

Let V and W be nite-dimensional vector spaces and let L:V W be a linear map. What is a good notion of index? What are some important objects associated to L? Kernel: ker L = {v V | Lv = 0}. Cokernel: W/ImL (quotient vector space) where ImL = {w W | w = Lv some v V } W . coker L represents all vectors in W not in the image of L. How do you get an index?

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II. The index of a linear map

Denition: ind L = dim(ker L) dim W/ImL . Remark: We copy the Euler Characteristic, which is also a difference of two integers.

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II. The index of a linear map

Denition: ind L = dim(ker L) dim W/ImL . Remark: We copy the Euler Characteristic, which is also a difference of two integers. Theorem: For any linear map L : V W , between nite-dimensional vector spaces, we have ind L = dim V dim W.

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II. The index of a linear map

Proof: By the rank-nullity theorem, dim ker L + dim Im L = dim V.

The Atiyah-Singer Index Theorem I p. 15/4

II. The index of a linear map

Proof: By the rank-nullity theorem, dim ker L + dim Im L = dim V. Therefore, dim ker L + dim Im L dim W = dim V dim W, or dim ker L dim W dim Im L = dim V dim W.

The Atiyah-Singer Index Theorem I p. 15/4

II. The index of a linear map

Proof: By the rank-nullity theorem, dim ker L + dim Im L = dim V. Therefore, dim ker L + dim Im L dim W = dim V dim W, or dim ker L dim W dim Im L = dim V dim W. Therefore, dim ker L dim W/Im L = dim V dim W.

The Atiyah-Singer Index Theorem I p. 15/4

II. The index of a linear map

Some thought reveals a deep connection: ind L linear algebraic This is a deep result. Therefore, the index is stable if you change the linear map, the index remains the same. What about innite-dimensional vector spaces? dim V dim W topological

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II. The index of a linear map

Let L : V W be a linear map between two possibly innite-dimensional vector spaces. (Same) Denition: ind L = dim(ker L) dim W/ImL . ind L is only dened when the dimensions on the RHS are nite . . . otherwise ind L is undened. Linear maps for which ind L is dened are called Fredholm. The index, it turns out, is still stable when V and W are innite-dimensional. What does Fredholm mean intuitively?

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II. The index of a linear map

Fredholm means: 1) dim(ker L) < and 2) dim W/ImL <

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II. The index of a linear map

Fredholm means: 1) dim(ker L) < and 2) dim W/ImL <

Recall: L is injective ker L = 0. L is surjective Im L = W ; that is, W/Im L = 0.

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II. The index of a linear map

Fredholm means: 1) dim(ker L) < and 2) dim W/ImL <

Recall: L is injective ker L = 0. L is surjective Im L = W ; that is, W/Im L = 0. Conclusion: Fredholm conveys that L is 1) almost injective and 2) almost surjective.

That is, L is almost an isomorphism. What does ind L indicate, reveal, characterize?

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II. The index of a linear map

Write V = ker L V , W = W Im L.

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II. The index of a linear map

Write V = ker L V , W = W Im L. ker L W L: NB: W W/Im L = V Im L Can we make make L invertible by changing L on its kernel?

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II. The index of a linear map

Write V = ker L V , W = W Im L. ker L W L: NB: W W/Im L = V Im L Can we make make L invertible by changing L on its kernel? Cases: ind L = 0 ind L > 0 ind L < 0 = = = can make L invertible excess of null vectors deciency of null vectors

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II. The index of a linear map

Conclusion: ind L indicates, reveals, characterizes how far L is from being made invertible. I.e., we can modify L on ker L to get an invertible operator iff ind L = 0. The further ind L is from zero, the more non-invertible L is. Examples of Fredholm operators?

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II. The index of a linear map

d Ex 1: Let V = W = C (R) and let L = : V W. dx (That is, L(f ) = f .)

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II. The index of a linear map

d Ex 1: Let V = W = C (R) and let L = : V W. dx (That is, L(f ) = f .) ker L:

ker L = {f C (R) | f = 0} = const. functions R. = Thus, dim(ker L) = 1.

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II. The index of a linear map

d Ex 1: Let V = W = C (R) and let L = : V W. dx (That is, L(f ) = f .) ker L:

ker L = {f C (R) | f = 0} = const. functions R. = Thus, dim(ker L) = 1. W/Im L: Claim: Im L = W . Let g W = C (R). Dene x f (x) = g(t) dt.
0

Then f V and L(f ) = g. Thus, dim(W/Im L) = dim(W/W ) = dim(0) = 0.

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II. The index of a linear map

Ex 1 cont: Thus, ind L = dim(ker L) dim W/ImL = 1 0 = 1.

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II. The index of a linear map

Ex 1 cont: Thus, ind L = dim(ker L) dim W/ImL = 1 0 = 1. Hence, ind L analytical This is a deep result. How about one more example? (R) topological

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II. The index of a linear map

Ex 2: Let V = W = C (S1 ) and let d L= : V W. d

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II. The index of a linear map

Ex 2: Let V = W = C (S1 ) and let d L= : V W. d ker L:

ker L = {f C (S1 ) | f () = 0} = const. functions R. = Thus, dim(ker L) = 1.

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II. The index of a linear map

Ex 2 cont: Lemma: h Im L
0 2

h() d = 0.

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II. The index of a linear map

Ex 2 cont: Lemma: h Im L
0 2

h() d = 0.

Proof: Suff: Assume h = Lf = f (). Then,

2 2

h() d =
0 0

f () d = f (2) f (0) = 0.

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II. The index of a linear map

Ex 2 cont: Lemma: h Im L
0 2

h() d = 0.

Proof: Suff: Assume h = Lf = f (). Then,

2 2

h() d =
0 0 2 0

f () d = f (2) f (0) = 0. h() d = 0. Dene

Nec: Assume

f () =
0

h(t) dt.

Then f (0) = f (2) = 0. Therefore, f C (S1 ). Moreover, f () = h() = h = Lf Im L.

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II. The index of a linear map

Ex 2 cont: W/Im L: Let g W = C (S1 ). Dene 1 h := g 2 Then,
2 0 2

g(t) dt.
0

h() d = 0.

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II. The index of a linear map

Ex 2 cont: W/Im L: Let g W = C (S1 ). Dene 1 h := g 2 Then,
2 0 2

g(t) dt.
0

h() d = 0.

Lemma = h = Lf (some f ) = g = Lf + const. = W/Im L R. = Thus, dim(W/Im L) = dim(R) = 1.

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II. The index of a linear map

Ex 2 cont: Thus, ind L = dim(ker L) dim W/ImL = 1 1 = 0.

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II. The index of a linear map

Ex 2 cont: Thus, ind L = dim(ker L) dim W/ImL = 1 1 = 0. Hence, ind L analytical This is a deep result. (S1 ) topological

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II. The index of a linear map

Summary of Part II For a linear map L : V W , ind L = dim(ker L) dim W/ImL , provided that the RHS is well-dened as an integer. ind L indicates, reveals, characterizes how far L is from being made invertible. Specic examples suggest that ind L indicates, reveals, characterizes certain topological information. The index is stable its an analytic invariant. The interplay of analysis and topology through the index is deep because it relates two distinct notions.

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III. The Gauss-Bonnet theorem

Preview of Part III The Gauss-Bonnet theorem gives a formula relating two aspects of a surface: The topology and the geometry.

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III. The Gauss-Bonnet theorem

Topology: The Euler Characteristic. E.g. Recall that (S2 ) = 2.

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III. The Gauss-Bonnet theorem

Topology: The Euler Characteristic. E.g. Recall that (S2 ) = 2. Geometry: The Curvature. E.g. consider S2 ,

K=1

The curvature measures how much the surface bends away from the tangent plane. K > 0 bending away; K < 0 bending into.

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III. The Gauss-Bonnet theorem

Observation: 1 2 1 K= 2 S2 1 1= Area(S2 ) 2 S2 1 = (4) = 2. 2

Therefore, 1 (S ) = 2
2

K.
S2

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III. The Gauss-Bonnet theorem

Another example: The Torus T. Recall (T) = 0.

K>0

K=0

K<0

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III. The Gauss-Bonnet theorem

Another example: The Torus T. Recall (T) = 0.

K>0

K=0

K<0

We have Therefore,

1 2

K = 0.
T

1 (T) = 2

K.
T

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III. The Gauss-Bonnet theorem

Gauss-Bonnet theorem: Given an oriented, compact, 2-dimensional, Riemannian manifold M , we have (M ) topological
1 2 M

geometrical

The G-B formula bridges two areas of math: topology and geometry. The G-B formula is a deep result because it relates two seemingly distinct properties of a surface.

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III. The Gauss-Bonnet theorem

Ex. Each of the surfaces

satises 1 2 Not at all obvious! K = 2.

M

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III. The Gauss-Bonnet theorem

Summary of Parts I, II, III The Euler Characteristic is a topological invariant. The index of a linear map is an analytical invariant and for one-dimensional topological spaces (the line and the circle), we saw that ind L = Euler Characteristic. The Gauss-Bonnet formula: For a two-dimensional surface, 1 Euler Characteristic = K. 2 M

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IV. Index version of Gauss-Bonnet

Preview of Part IV As expected, given two-dimensional surface, there is a differential operator L such that 1 ind L = Euler Characteristic = 2 K.
M

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IV. Index version of Gauss-Bonnet

Let M be an oriented, compact, 2-dim., Riemannian manifold. Vector spaces: V = C (M, T M ) = innitely differentiable tangent vector elds on M

W = C (M, R2 ) = (basically) pairs of innitely differentiable functions on M T M is for tangent bundle of M .

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IV. Index version of Gauss-Bonnet

Linear map: L : C (M, T M ) C (M, R2 ) is the map L(v) = (curl v , div v). L is called the poor mans Gauss-Bonnet operator.
 ? 6   ^

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IV. Index version of Gauss-Bonnet

Exercise: Think of the torus as T = S1 S1 . Let g f curl (f + g ) = . f g div (f + g ) = + . Prove that ind L = 0.

Recall that (T) = 0

ind L = (T).

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IV. Index version of Gauss-Bonnet

Theorem: (Consequence of Hodge theory). We have ind L = (M ). This theorem is a generalization of the R and S1 examples we did earlier! Since (M ) =
1 2 M

K, we have
1 2 M

ind L analytical This is a deep result.

geometrical

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IV. Index version of Gauss-Bonnet

Summary of Part IV If L : C (M, T M ) C (M, R2 ) is the poor mans G-B operator (curl , div ), then ind L analytical
1 2 M

geometrical

This is the index formula version of the Gauss-Bonnet formula. The Atiyah-Singer index formula is a higher-dimensional version of the above formula!

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Part IV: The Atiyah-Singer formula

Let M be an oriented, compact, even-dim. Riemannian manifold. Let E and F be Hermitian vector bundles on M and let L : C (M, E) C (M, F ) be a Gauss-Bonnet type operator (technically called a Dirac operator).

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Part IV: The Atiyah-Singer formula

Let M be an oriented, compact, even-dim. Riemannian manifold. Let E and F be Hermitian vector bundles on M and let L : C (M, E) C (M, F ) be a Gauss-Bonnet type operator (technically called a Dirac operator). (Atiyah-Singer Index Theorem, 1963) ind L is Fredholm and the following index formula holds: ind L analytical
M

KAS ,

geometrical

where KAS is an explicitly dened polynomial in the curvatures of M, E, and F .

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Summary of Talk
Question: Can a linear map detect topological information? Answer: Yes, via the index of the operator. Question: Are the topology and geometry related for a smooth surface? What about the analysis and the geometry? Answer: Yes, via the Gauss-Bonnet formula; the traditional and index versions. Question: Can all the above be generalized to higher dimensional manifolds and vector bundles? Answer: Yes the Atiyah-Singer index formula.

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Questions you may have

We discussed a poor mans Gauss-Bonnet operator, but a . . . poor mans is a cheaper, simpler version of . So, what is the true Gauss-Bonnet operator?

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Questions you may have

We discussed a poor mans Gauss-Bonnet operator, but a . . . poor mans is a cheaper, simpler version of . So, what is the true Gauss-Bonnet operator? What is a Dirac operator?

The Atiyah-Singer Index Theorem I p. 43/4

Questions you may have

We discussed a poor mans Gauss-Bonnet operator, but a . . . poor mans is a cheaper, simpler version of . So, what is the true Gauss-Bonnet operator? What is a Dirac operator? What is KAS ?

The Atiyah-Singer Index Theorem I p. 43/4

Questions you may have

We discussed a poor mans Gauss-Bonnet operator, but a . . . poor mans is a cheaper, simpler version of . So, what is the true Gauss-Bonnet operator? What is a Dirac operator? What is KAS ? Answers in next index theory lecture!

The Atiyah-Singer Index Theorem I p. 43/4