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Hirzebruch-Riemann-Roch as a categorical trace (Recordings)

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Speaker: 
Dennis Gaitsgory
Affiliation: 
Harvard University
Date: 
Tue, 10/01/2017 - 12:30 - Fri, 13/01/2017 - 14:30
Location: 
MPIM Lecture Hall

Let X be a smooth proper scheme over a field of characteristic 0, and let E be a vector bundle on X.  The classical Hirzebruch-Riemann-Roch says that the Euler characteristic of the cohomology H^*(X,E) equals \int_X  ch(E) Td(X).
Thus, HRR is an equality of numbers, i.e., elements of a set.  In these talks,
we will explain a proof of HRR that uses the hierarchy
{2-categories} -> {1-categories} -> {Vector spaces} -> {Numbers}.
I.e., the origin of HRR will be 2-categorical.  The procedure by which we
go down from 2-categories to numbers is that of *categorical trace*.

However, in order to carry out our program, we will need to venture into
the world of higher categories: the 2-category we will be working with
consists of DG-categories, the latter being higher categorical objects.
And the process of calculation of the categorical trace will involve derived
algebraic geometry: the key geometric player will be the self-intersection
of the diagonal of X, a.k.a. the inertia (derived) scheme of X. 

So, this series of talks can be regarded as providing a motivation for studying
higher category theory and derived algebraic geometry: we will use them
in order to prove an equality of numbers. That said, we will try to make these
talks self-contained, and so some necessary background will be supplied.

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