Smooth Invariants of Four-dimensional Manifolds and Quantum Field Theory

This course covers smooth invariants of four-dimensional manifolds and their connection to quantum field theory. The learning outcomes include understanding nuclear force, Yang-Mills theory, instantons, topological invariants, supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory, low-energy effective theory, and more. The course teaches skills such as analyzing Donaldson invariance, working with path integrals, and exploring Class S theories. The teaching method involves a lecture format with topics like the Yang-Mills action and Witten's theory. The intended audience for this course is likely advanced students, researchers, and professionals in the fields of mathematics and theoretical physics.