The Witten genus and equivariant elliptic cohomology (Q1849488)

Let \(T\) be the circle group, \(X\) a \(T\)-space and let \(X_T\) be the Borel construction of \(X\). One denotes by \(H_T\) the Borel \(T\)-equivariant ordinary cohomology with complex coefficients. Choose a generator of the complex character group of \(T\) and so an isomorphism \(H_T(pct)\cong\mathbb{C}[z]\). One defines a \(T\)-equivariant elliptic cohomology functor \(E\) from compact \(T\)-spaces to sheaves of algebras over \(O_\Gamma\), equipped with a canonical isomorphism \[ E(x)_0\cong H_T(x)\otimes_{\mathbb{C}[z]} O_{\Gamma^0} \] of stalks at the identity of \(\Gamma\), where \(\Gamma\) is the associated elliptic curve. In the present work, the authors construct a Thom class in \(E\)-theory. Extending the equivariant Witten genus, in fact, they give a new proof of the rigidity of the Witten genus.