Document Type
Article
Abstract
The Dixmier-Douady invariant is the primary tool in the classification of continuous trace C*-algebras. These algebras have come to the fore in recent years because of their relationship to twisted K-theory and via twisted K-theory to branes, gerbes, and string theory.
This note sets forth the basic properties of the Dixmier-Douady invariant using only classical homotopy and bundle theory. Algebraic topology enters the scene at once since the algebras in question are algebras of sections of certain fibre bundles.
Disciplines
Algebra | Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Recommended Citation
C. Shochet, The Dixmier-Douady invariant for dummies, Notices of the American Mathematical Society 56.7 (2009), 809-816.
Comments
First published in Notices of the American Mathematical Society in 2009 (56.7, http://www.ams.org/notices/200907/rtx090700809p.pdf), published by the American Mathematical Society.