Topological quantization and cohomology (Q1088197)

The paper gives some applications of algebraic topology methods in theoretical physics. A general criterion for charge quantization is used in the discussion of several physical models. The first section is an introduction. The second and third sections are characterized by their title, ''Dirac's quantization condition revisited'' and ''A field theory example'', respectively. Two sections, 4 and 5, present a review of Čech cohomology theory and relations between cohomology and homotopy, following classical textbooks (mainly \textit{R. Bott} and \textit{L. W. Tu} [Differential forms in algebraic topology (1982; Zbl 0496.55001)]; the reader is advised to compare that book). The purpose of Section 5 is to introduce some uniform approach to quantization conditions for many theories, based on Čech cohomology.