Noncommutative correspondences, duality and D-branes in bivariant K-theory
We describe a categorical framework for the classification of D-branes on noncommutative spaces using techniques from bivariant K-theory of C*-algebras. We present a new description of bivariant K-theory in terms of noncommutative correspondences which is nicely adapted to the study of T-duality in open string theory. We systematically use the diagram calculus for bivariant K-theory as detailed in our previous paper. We explicitly work out our theory for a number of examples of noncommutative manifolds.

title: Dualities in Field Theories and the Role of K-Theory
abstract: It is now known (or in some cases just believed) that many quantum field theories exhibit dualities, equivalences with the same or a different theory in which things appear very different, but the overall physical implications are the same. We will discuss some of these dualities from the point of view of a mathematician, focusing on "charge conservation" and the role played by K-theory and noncommutative geometry. Some of the work described here is joint with Mathai Varghese and Stefan Mendez-Diez; the last section is new.

title: T-Duality for Torus Bundles with H-Fluxes via Noncommutative Topology
abstract: It is known that the T-dual of a circle bundle with H-flux (given by a Neveu-Schwarz 3-form) is the T-dual circle bundle with dual H-flux. However, it is also known that torus bundles with H-flux do not necessarily have a T-dual which is a torus bundle. A big puzzle has been to explain these mysterious “missing T-duals.” Here we show that this problem is resolved using noncommutative topology. It turns out that every principal T2-bundle with H-flux does indeed have a T-dual, but in the missing cases (which we characterize), the T-dual is non-classical and is a bundle of noncommutative tori. The duality comes with an isomorphism of twisted K-theories, just as in the classical case. The isomorphism of twisted cohomology which one gets in the classical case is replaced by an isomorphism of twisted cyclic homology.

title: On mysteriously missing T-duals, H-flux and the T-duality group
abstract: A general formula for the topology and H-flux of the T-duals of type II string theories with H-flux on toroidal compactifications is presented here. It is known that toroidal compactifications with H-flux do not necessarily have T-duals which are themselves toroidal compactifications. A big puzzle has been to explain these mysterious ``missing T-duals'', and our paper presents a solution to this problem using noncommutative topology. We also analyze the T-duality group and its action, and illustrate these concepts with examples.

title: D-branes, KK-theory and duality on noncommutative spaces
abstract: We present a new categorical classification framework for D-brane charges on noncommutative manifolds using methods of bivariant K-theory. We describe several applications including an explicit formula for D-brane charge in cyclic homology, a refinement of open string T-duality, and a general criterion for cancellation of global worldsheet anomalies.

title: K-theoretic matching of brane charges in S- and U-duality
abstract: We discuss K-theoretic matching of D-brane charges in the string duality between type I on T 4 and type IIA on K3. This case is more complex than the familiar case of IIA/IIB duality, which is already well understood, but it turns out that replacing K3 by its orbifold blow-down seems largely to resolve the apparent problems with the theory.

title: Design of the Chicago Air Shower Array