Kontsevich's Deformation Quantization Research Articles

Batalin-Vilkovisky algebra structure on Poisson manifolds with diagonalizable modular symmetry

We study the “twisted” Poincaré duality of smooth Poisson manifolds, and show that, if the modular vector field is diagonalizable, then there is a mixed complex associated to the Poisson complex, which, combining with the twisted Poincaré duality, gives a Batalin-Vilkovisky algebra structure on the Poisson cohomology. This generalizes the previous results obtained by Xu for unimodular Poisson manifolds. We also show that the Batalin-Vilkovisky algebra structure is preserved under Kontsevich's deformation quantization, and in the case of polynomial algebras it is also preserved by Koszul duality.

Poisson cohomology, Koszul duality, and Batalin–Vilkovisky algebras

We study the noncommutative Poincare duality between the Poisson homology and cohomology of unimodular Poisson algebras, and show that Kontsevich's deformation quantization as well as Koszul duality preserve the corresponding Poincare duality. As a corollary, the Batalin-Vilkovisky algebra structures that naturally arise in these cases are all isomorphic.

Categorical Saito theory, I: A comparison result

In this paper, we present an explicit cyclic minimal A∞ model for the category of matrix factorizations MF(W) of an isolated hypersurface singularity. The key observation is to use Kontsevich's deformation quantization technique. Pushing this idea further, we use the Tsygan formality map to obtain a comparison theorem that the categorical Variation of Semi-infinite Hodge Structure of MF(W) is isomorphic to Saito's original geometric construction in primitive form theory.

The Expansion ⋆ mod ō (ℏ4) and Computer-Assisted Proof Schemes in the Kontsevich Deformation Quantization

The Kontsevich deformation quantization combines Poisson dynamics, noncommutative geometry, number theory, and calculus of oriented graphs. To manage the algebra and differential calculus of series of weighted graphs, we present software modules: these allow generating the Kontsevich graphs, expanding the noncommutative ⋆-product by using a priori undetermined coefficients, and deriving linear relations between the weights of graphs. Throughout this text we illustrate the assembly of the Kontsevich ⋆-product up to order 4 in the deformation parameter Already at this stage, the ⋆-product involves hundreds of graphs; expressing all their coefficients via 149 weights of basic graphs (of which 67 weights are now known exactly), we express the remaining 82 weights in terms of only 10 parameters (more specifically, in terms of only 6 parameters modulo gauge-equivalence). Finally, we outline a scheme for computer-assisted proof of the associativity, modulo for the newly built ⋆-product expansion.

Relational symplectic groupoid quantization for constant poisson structures

As a detailed application of the BV-BFV formalism for the quantization of field theories on manifolds with boundary, this note describes a quantization of the relational symplectic groupoid for a constant Poisson structure. The presence of mixed boundary conditions and the globalization of results is also addressed. In particular, the paper includes an extension to space-times with boundary of some formal geometry considerations in the BV-BFV formalism, and specifically introduces into the BV-BFV framework a "differential" version of the classical and quantum master equations. The quantization constructed in this paper induces Kontsevich's deformation quantization on the underlying Poisson manifold, i.e., the Moyal product, which is known in full details. This allows focussing on the BV-BFV technology and testing it. For the unexperienced reader, this is also a practical and reasonably simple way to learn it.

Membrane sigma-models and quantization of non-geometric flux backgrounds

We develop quantization techniques for describing the nonassociative geometry probed by closed strings in flat non-geometric R-flux backgrounds M. Starting from a suitable Courant sigma-model on an open membrane with target space M, regarded as a topological sector of closed string dynamics in R-space, we derive a twisted Poisson sigma-model on the boundary of the membrane whose target space is the cotangent bundle T^*M and whose quasi-Poisson structure coincides with those previously proposed. We argue that from the membrane perspective the path integral over multivalued closed string fields in Q-space is equivalent to integrating over open strings in R-space. The corresponding boundary correlation functions reproduce Kontsevich's deformation quantization formula for the twisted Poisson manifolds. For constant R-flux, we derive closed formulas for the corresponding nonassociative star product and its associator, and compare them with previous proposals for a 3-product of fields on R-space. We develop various versions of the Seiberg-Witten map which relate our nonassociative star products to associative ones and add fluctuations to the R-flux background. We show that the Kontsevich formula coincides with the star product obtained by quantizing the dual of a Lie 2-algebra via convolution in an integrating Lie 2-group associated to the T-dual doubled geometry, and hence clarify the relation to the twisted convolution products for topological nonassociative torus bundles. We further demonstrate how our approach leads to a consistent quantization of Nambu-Poisson 3-brackets.

Kontsevich Deformation Quantization and Flat Connections

In Torossian (J Lie Theory 12(2):597–616, 2002), the second author used the Kontsevich deformation quantization technique to define a natural connection ω n on the compactified configuration spaces $${\overline{C}_{n,0}}$$ of n points on the upper half-plane. Connections ω n take values in the Lie algebra of derivations of the free Lie algebra with n generators. In this paper, we show that ω n is flat. The configuration space $${\overline{C}_{n,0}}$$ contains a boundary stratum at infinity which coincides with the (compactified) configuration space of n points on the complex plane. When restricted to this stratum, ω n gives rise to a flat connection $${\omega_n^\infty}$$ . We show that the parallel transport $${\Phi}$$ defined by the connection $${\omega_3^\infty}$$ between configuration 1(23) and (12)3 verifies axioms of an associator. We conjecture that $${\omega_n^\infty}$$ takes values in the Lie algebra $${\mathfrak{t}_n}$$ of infinitesimal braids. If correct, this conjecture implies that $${\Phi \in \exp(\mathfrak{t}_3)}$$ is a Drinfeld’s associator. Furthermore, we prove $${\Phi \neq \Phi_{KZ}}$$ showing that $${\Phi}$$ is a new explicit solution of associator axioms.

Homotopy Algebras Inspired by Classical Open-Closed String Field Theory

We define a homotopy algebra associated to classical open-closed strings. We call it an open-closed homotopy algebra (OCHA). It is inspired by Zwiebach's open-closed string field theory and also is related to the situation of Kontsevich's deformation quantization. We show that it is actually a homotopy invariant notion; for instance, the minimal model theorem holds. Also, we show that our open-closed homotopy algebra gives us a general scheme for deformation of open string structures (A ∞-algebras) by closed strings (L ∞-algebras).

The Hopf algebra of renormalization, normal coordinates and Kontsevich deformation quantization

Using normal coordinates in a Poincar\'e-Birkhoff-Witt basis for the Hopf algebra of renormalization in perturbative quantum field theory, we investigate the relation between the twisted antipode axiom in that formalism, the Birkhoff algebraic decomposition and the universal formula of Kontsevich for quantum deformation.

A proof of the Tsygan formality conjecture for chains

We extend the Kontsevich formality L ∞-morphism U : T poly •( R d)→ D poly •( R d) to an L ∞-morphism of L ∞-modules over T poly •( R d), U ̂ : C •(A,A)→Ω •( R d), A=C ∞( R d) . The construction of the map U ̂ is given in Kontsevich-type integrals. The conjecture that such an L ∞-morphism exists is due to Boris Tsygan (Formality Conjecture for Chains, math. QA/9904132). As an application, we obtain an explicit formula for isomorphism A ∗/[A ∗,A ∗] → ∼ A/{A,A} (A ∗ is the Kontsevich deformation quantization of the algebra A by a Poisson bivector field, and {,} is the Poisson bracket). We also formulate a conjecture extending the Kontsevich theorem on cup-products to this context. The conjecture implies a generalization of the Duflo formula, and many other things.

Sh-Lie Algebras Induced by Gauge Transformations

Traditionally symmetries of field theories are encoded via Lie group actions, or more generally, as Lie algebra actions. A significant generalization is required when “gauge parameters” act in a field dependent way. Such symmetries appear in several field theories, most notably in a “Poisson induced” class due to Schaller and Strobl [SS94] and to Ikeda [Ike94], and employed by Cattaneo and Felder [CF99] to implement Kontsevich's deformation quantization [Kon97]. Consideration of “particles of spin > 2” led Berends, Burgers and van Dam [Bur85,BBvD84,BBvD85] to study “field dependent parameters” in a setting permitting an analysis in terms of smooth functions. Having recognized the resulting structure as that of an sh-Lie algebra (L ∞-algebra), we have now formulated such structures entirely algebraically and applied it to a more general class of theories with field dependent symmetries.

Kontsevich quantization and invariant distributions on Lie groups

We study Kontsevich's deformation quantization for the dual of a finite-dimensional real Lie algebra (or superalgebra) g . In this case the Kontsevich ★-product defines a new convolution on S( g) , regarded as the space of distributions supported at 0∈ g . For p∈S( g) , we show that the convolution operator f↦ p★ f is a differential operator with analytic germ. We use this fact to prove a conjecture of Kashiwara and Vergne on invariant distributions on a Lie group G. This implies local solvability of bi-invariant differential operators on a Lie supergroup. In the special case of Lie groups, we get a new proof Duflo's theorem.

On the AKSZ Formulation of the Poisson Sigma Model

We review and extend the Alexandrov–Kontsevich–Schwarz–Zaboronsky construction of solutions of the Batalin–Vilkovisky classical master equation. In particular, we study the case of sigma models on manifolds with boundary. We show that a special case of this construction yields the Batalin–Vilkovisky action functional of the Poisson sigma model on a disk. As we have shown in a previous paper, the perturbative quantization of this model is related to Kontsevich's deformation quantization of Poisson manifolds and to his formality theorem. We also discuss the action of diffeomorphisms of the target manifolds.

Poisson Bracket, Deformed Bracket and Gauge Group Actions in Kontsevich Deformation Quantization

We express the difference between the Poisson bracket and a deformed bracket for Kontsevich deformation quantization on any Poisson manifold by means of the second derivative of the formality quasi-isomorphism. The counterpart in star products of the action of formal diffeomorphisms on Poisson formal bivector fields is also investigated.

Deformation quantization and invariant distributions

In 1979, M. Kashiwara and M. Vergne formulated a conjecture on a Lie group G which implies that the Duflo isomorphism of Z(g) and S(g)^g extends to a natural module isomorphism between the spaces of germs of invariant distributions on G and g=Lie(G), respectively. They also proved their conjecture for G solvable. Using Kontsevich's deformation quantization we establish directly this result for distributions on any real Lie group G. In turn this gives a new proof of Duflo's result on the local solvability of bi-invariant differential operators on G.

A Path Integral Approach¶to the Kontsevich Quantization Formula

We give a quantum field theory interpretation of Kontsevich's deformation quantization formula for Poisson manifolds. We show that it is given by the perturbative expansion of the path integral of a simple topological bosonic open string theory. Its Batalin-Vilkovisky quantization yields a superconformal field theory. The associativity of the star product, and more generally the formality conjecture can then be understood by field theory methods. As an application, we compute the center of the deformed algebra in terms of the center of the Poisson algebra.