The central sphere of an ALE space

We consider the induced metric on the spherical fixed point set of a circle action on an ALE space and describe it by using the algebraic geometry of rational curves on algebraic surfaces, in particular the lines on a cubic.

Circle Actions

This chapter focuses on circle actions. Specifically, it specializes the Weil algebra and the Weil model to a circle action. In this case, all the formulas simplify. The chapter derives a simpler complex, called the Cartan model, which is isomorphic to the Weil model as differential graded algebras. It considers the theorem that for a circle action, there is a graded-algebra isomorphism. Under the isomorphism F, the Weil differential δ‎ corresponds to a differential called the Cartan differential. An element of the Cartan model is called an equivariant differential form or equivariant form for a circle action on the manifold M.

Proof of the Localization Formula for a Circle Action

This chapter provides a proof of the localization formula for a circle action. It evaluates the integral of an equivariantly closed form for a circle action by blowing up the fixed points. On the spherical blow-up, the induced action has no fixed points and is therefore locally free. The spherical blow-up is a manifold with a union of disjoint spheres as its boundary. For a locally free action, one can express an equivariantly closed form as an exact form. Since the localized equivariant cohomology of a locally free action is zero, after localization an equivariantly closed form must be equivariantly exact. Stokes's theorem then reduces the integral to a computation over spheres.

Borel Localization for a Circle Action

This chapter explores Borel localization for a circle action. For a circle action, the Borel localization theorem says that up to torsion, the equivariant cohomology of an S1-manifold is concentrated on its fixed point set and that the isomorphism in localized equivariant cohomology of the manifold and its fixed point set is a ring isomorphism. This is clearly an important result in its own right. Moreover, since the fixed point set is a regular submanifold and is usually simpler than the manifold, the Borel localization theorem sometimes allows one to obtain the ring structure of the equivariant cohomology of an S1-manifold from that of its fixed point set. The chapter demonstrates this method with the example of S1 acting on S2 by rotations.

Integration of Equivariant Forms

This chapter illustrates integration of equivariant forms. An equivariant differential form is an element of the Cartan model. For a circle action on a manifold M, it is a polynomial in u with coefficients that are invariant forms on M. Such a form can be integrated by integrating the coefficients. This can be called equivariant integration. The chapter shows that under equivariant integration, Stokes's theorem still holds. Everything done so far in this book concerning a Lie group action on a manifold can be generalized to a manifold with boundary. An important fact concerning manifolds with boundary is that a diffeomorphism of a manifold with boundary takes interior points to interior points and boundary points to boundary points.