In mathematics, complex cobordism is a generalized cohomology theory related to cobordism of manifolds. Its spectrum is denoted by MU. It is an exceptionally powerful cohomology theory, but can be quite hard to compute, so often instead of using it directly one uses some slightly weaker theories derived from it, such as Brown–Peterson cohomology or Morava K-theory, that are easier to compute.
The generalized homology and cohomology complex cobordism theories were introduced by Atiyah (1961) using the Thom spectrum.
Read more about Complex Cobordism: Spectrum of Complex Cobordism, Formal Group Laws, Brown–Peterson Cohomology, Conner–Floyd Classes, Cohomology Operations
Famous quotes containing the word complex:
“All propaganda or popularization involves a putting of the complex into the simple, but such a move is instantly deconstructive. For if the complex can be put into the simple, then it cannot be as complex as it seemed in the first place; and if the simple can be an adequate medium of such complexity, then it cannot after all be as simple as all that.”
—Terry Eagleton (b. 1943)