Chern class

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In <a href="/facts/Mathematics/pxTouaz4">mathematics</a>, in particular in <a href="/facts/Algebraic_topology/2wA8yrjT">algebraic topology</a>, <a href="/facts/Differential_geometry_and_topology/c04XmyLu">differential geometry</a> and <a href="/facts/Algebraic_geometry/rh7RHVp3">algebraic geometry</a>, the Chern classes are <a href="/facts/Characteristic_class/A6NV9tUu">characteristic classes</a> associated with <a href="/facts/Complex_vector_bundle/0nE8TEIn">complex</a> <a href="/facts/Vector_bundle/cXACAa1I">vector bundles</a>. They have since become fundamental concepts in many branches of mathematics and physics, such as <a href="/facts/String_theory/HUJFIPYH">string theory</a>, <a href="/facts/Chern%E2%80%93Simons_theory/AQ3Kayn3">Chern–Simons theory</a>, <a href="/facts/Knot_theory/mb7rtqVP">knot theory</a>, and <a href="/facts/Gromov%E2%80%93Witten_theory/EJwrClYB">Gromov–Witten invariants</a>.
Chern classes were introduced by <a href="/facts/Shiing-Shen_Chern/FpfIQsEH">Shiing-Shen Chern</a> (1946).
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Chern class open-in-new

Chern class