QFT, STRINGS AND LOW-DIMENSIONAL TOPOLOGY

Abstract

In between the 80's and 90's we witnessed deep interactions between mathematics and theoretical physics, especially in the understanding of low-dimensional topology in terms of quantum field theory. For example, Jones polynomials (Chern–Simons–Witten theory), Donaldson and Seiberg–Witten invariants (SUSY Yang–Mills theory) and mirror symmetry (T duality in strings) are all naturally understood in terms of QFT and strings. Recent developments indicate a close relationship between gauge theory and gravity theory both in physics and in low-dimensional topology. We shall survey these developments and report some of our work. We shall also find that the keys to connect geometric and physical objects are through symmetry and quantization.