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1. • CommentRowNumber1.
   • CommentAuthorUrs
   • CommentTimeFeb 4th 2011
   • (edited Feb 4th 2011)
   • PermaLink
   Author: Urs
   Format: MarkdownItexI have created an entry [[differential characteristic class]]. I felt need for this as the traditional term [[secondary characteristic class]] first of all has (as discussed there) quite a bit of variance in convention of meaning in the established literature, and secondly it is unfortunately undescriptive (which is probably the reason for the first problem, I guess!). Moreover, I felt the need for a place to discuss the concept "differential characteristic class" in the fully general abstract way in the spirit of our entry on [[cohomology]], whereas "secondary characteristic class" has a certain association with concrete models. Some people use it almost synonymously with "Cheeger-Simons differential character". Anyway, so I created a new entry. So far it contains just the "unrefined" definition. I'll try to expand on it later,

   I have created an entry differential characteristic class.

   I felt need for this as the traditional term secondary characteristic class first of all has (as discussed there) quite a bit of variance in convention of meaning in the established literature, and secondly it is unfortunately undescriptive (which is probably the reason for the first problem, I guess!).

   Moreover, I felt the need for a place to discuss the concept “differential characteristic class” in the fully general abstract way in the spirit of our entry on cohomology, whereas “secondary characteristic class” has a certain association with concrete models. Some people use it almost synonymously with “Cheeger-Simons differential character”.

   Anyway, so I created a new entry. So far it contains just the “unrefined” definition. I’ll try to expand on it later,