Bosonisation Cohomology: Spin Structure Summation in Every Dimension

Abstract

Gauging fermion parity and summing over spin structures are subtly distinct operations. We introduce 'bosonisation cohomology' groups $H_B^{d+2}(X)$ to capture this difference, for theories in spacetime dimension $d$ equipped with maps to some $X$. Non-trivial classes in $H_B^{d+2}(X)$ contain theories for which $(-1{)}^F$ is anomaly-free, but spin structure summation is anomalous. We formulate a sequence of cobordism groups whose failure to be exact is measured by $H_B^{d+2}(X)$, and from here we compute it for $X=\text{pt}$. The result is non-trivial only in dimensions $d\in 4\mathbb{Z}+2$, being due to the presence of gravitational anomalies. The first few are $H_B^4={\mathbb{Z}}_2$, probed by a theory of 8 Majorana-Weyl fermions in $d=2$, then $H_B^8={\mathbb{Z}}_8$, $H_B^{12}={\mathbb{Z}}_{16}\times {\mathbb{Z}}_2$. We rigorously derive a general formula extending this to every spacetime dimension. Along the way, we compile many general facts about (fermionic and bosonic) anomaly polynomials, and about spin and pin${}^{-}$ (co)bordism generators, that we hope might serve as a useful reference for physicists working with these objects. We briefly discuss some physics applications, including how the $H_B^{12}$ class is trivialised in supergravity. Despite the name, and notation, we make no claim that $H_B^{\bullet }(X)$ actually defines a cohomology theory (in the Eilenberg-Steenrod sense).

64 pages, 4 figures