Index Theory Learning Seminar

Spencer Whitehead, Department of Pure Mathematics, University of Waterloo

"Clifford Algebras and Dirac Operators"

This is the first talk in the index theory learning seminar, and will follow the first part of Chapter 3 of John Roe's "Elliptic operators, topology, and asymptotic methods". In this talk we examine the basic theory of Clifford algebras and their use in defining the Dirac operator of a Clifford bundle over a Riemannian manifold. The goal is to derive the Weitzenbock formula, relating Dirac operators to the Laplace operator and curvature of the manifold.

MC 5403