On Quantum Integrability and the Lefschetz Number

Abstract

Certain phase space path integrals can be evaluated exactly using equivariant cohomology and localization in the canonical loop space. Here we extend this to a general class of models. We consider hamiltonians which are {\it a priori} arbitrary functions of the Cartan subalgebra generators of a Lie group which is defined on the phase space. We evaluate the corresponding path integral and find that it is closely related to the infinitesimal Lefschetz number of a Dirac operator on the phase space. Our results indicate that equivariant characteristic classes could provide a natural geometric framework for understanding quantum integrability.

11 pages

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