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Supermanifold

A supermanifold is a concept in noncommutative geometry. Recall that in noncommutative geometry, we don't look at point set spaces but instead, the algebra of functions over them. If M is a (smooth) manifold and H is an (smooth) algebra bundle over M with a Grassmann algebra as the fiber, then the space of (smooth) sections of M forms a supercommutative algebra under pointwise multiplication. We say that this algebra defines the supermanifold (which isn't a point set space).

If M is a real manifold and we define an involution * over the fiber turning it into a * algebra, then the resulting algebra would define a real supermanifold.

OX is the sheaf of smooth sections of the algebra bundle. This is a structure sheaf of noncommutative rings. See locally ringed space.

Side comment

This is different from the convention used by some people where using a fixed Grassmann algebra generated by a countable number of generators Λ, they define a supermanifold as a point set space using charts with the "even coordinates" taking values in the linear combination of elements of Λ with even grading and the "odd coordinates" taking values which are linear combinations of elements of Λ with odd grading. But then, you'd have to question what the physical meaning of all these Grassmann-valued variables are! Most physicists would claim they have none and they are purely formal, but then, this makes the definition in the main part of the article more preferable.

07-10-2008 09:35:13
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