This volume presents the proceedings of the conference held in honor of J. Michael Boardman's 60th birthday. It brings into print his classic work on conditionally convergent spectral sequences. Over the past 30 years, it has become evident that some of the deepest questions in algebra are best understood against the background of homotopy theory. Boardman and Vogt's theory of homotopy-theoretic algebraic structures and the theory of spectra, for example, were two benchmark breakthroughs underlying the development of algebraic $K$-theory and the recent advances in the theory of motives. The volume begins with short notes by Mac Lane, May, Stasheff, and others on the early and recent history of the subject. But the bulk of the volume consists of research papers on topics that have been strongly influenced by Boardman's work. Articles give readers a vivid sense of the current state of the theory of "homotopy-invariant algebraic structures". Also included are two major foundational papers by Goerss and Strickland on applications of methods of algebra (i.e., Dieudonné modules and formal schemes) to problems of topology. Boardman is known for the depth and wit of his ideas. This volume is intended to reflect and to celebrate those fine characteristics.

Homotopy theory and C* algebras are central topics in contemporary mathematics. This book introduces a modern homotopy theory for C*-algebras. One basic idea of the setup is to merge C*-algebras and spaces studied in algebraic topology into one category comprising C*-spaces. These objects are suitable fodder for standard homotopy theoretic moves, leading to unstable and stable model structures. With the foundations in place one is led to natural definitions of invariants for C*-spaces such as homology and cohomology theories, K-theory and zeta-functions. The text is largely self-contained. It serves a wide audience of graduate students and researchers interested in C*-algebras, homotopy theory and applications.

Algebraic Topology is a system and strategy of partial translations, aiming to reduce difficult topological problems to algebraic facts that can be more easily solved. The main subject of this book is singular homology, the simplest of these translations. Studying this theory and its applications, we also investigate its underlying structural layout - the topics of Homological Algebra, Homotopy Theory and Category Theory which occur in its foundation.This book is an introduction to a complex domain, with references to its advanced parts and ramifications. It is written with a moderate amount of prerequisites — basic general topology and little else — and a moderate progression starting from a very elementary beginning. A consistent part of the exposition is organised in the form of exercises, with suitable hints and solutions.It can be used as a textbook for a semester course or self-study, and a guidebook for further study.

This book gives a modern presentation of modular operands and their role in string field theory. The authors aim to outline the arguments from the perspective of homotopy algebras and their operadic origin. Part I reviews string field theory from the point of view of homotopy algebras, including A-infinity algebras, loop homotopy (quantum L-infinity) and IBL-infinity algebras governing its structure. Within this framework, the covariant construction of a string field theory naturally emerges as composition of two morphisms of particular odd modular operads. This part is intended primarily for researchers and graduate students who are interested in applications of higher algebraic structures to strings and quantum field theory. Part II contains a comprehensive treatment of the mathematical background on operads and homotopy algebras in a broader context, which should appeal also to mathematicians who are not familiar with string theory.

Were I to take an iron gun, And ?re it o? towards the sun; I grant ‘twould reach its mark at last, But not till many years had passed. But should that bullet change its force, And to the planets take its course, ‘Twould never reach the nearest star, Because it is so very far. from FACTS by Lewis Carroll [55] Let me begin by describing the two purposes which prompted me to write this monograph. This is a book about algebraic topology and more especially about homotopy theory. Since the inception of algebraic topology [217] the study of homotopy classes of continuous maps between spheres has enjoyed a very exc- n n tional, central role. As is well known, for homotopy classes of maps f : S ?? S with n? 1 the sole homotopy invariant is the degree, which characterises the homotopy class completely. The search for a continuous map between spheres of di?erent dimensions and not homotopic to the constant map had to wait for its resolution until the remarkable paper of Heinz Hopf [111]. In retrospect, ?nding 3 an example was rather easy because there is a canonical quotient map from S to 3 1 1 2 theorbitspaceofthe freecircleactionS /S =CP = S .

Algebraic topology is a basic part of modern mathematics, and some knowledge of this area is indispensable for any advanced work relating to geometry, including topology itself, differential geometry, algebraic geometry, and Lie groups. This book provides a detailed treatment of algebraic topology both for teachers of the subject and for advanced graduate students in mathematics either specializing in this area or continuing on to other fields. J. Peter May's approach reflects the enormous internal developments within algebraic topology over the past several decades, most of which are largely unknown to mathematicians in other fields. But he also retains the classical presentations of various topics where appropriate. Most chapters end with problems that further explore and refine the concepts presented. The final four chapters provide sketches of substantial areas of algebraic topology that are normally omitted from introductory texts, and the book concludes with a list of suggested readings for those interested in delving further into the field.