An introduction to Bernstein-Gelfand-Gelfand sequences

Andreas Cap
(University of Vienna)

Abstract: I will start by describing a geometric construction of the generalized Bernstein-Gelfand-Gelfand resolutions on a generalized flag manifold in terms of invariant differential operators. Next I will discuss how this construction extends to manifolds endowed with Cartan geometries modelled on these homogeneous spaces, the so--called parabolic geometries. This not only provides a general construction for a large class of invariant differential operators for these geometries but it also leads to an efficient calculus. Some applications will be discussed in a second lecture on June 23.