Orthogonal Calculus

Abstract
Orthogonal calculus is a calculus of functors, similar to Goodwillie's calculus. The functors in question take finite dimensional real vector spaces (with an inner product) to pointed spaces. Prime example: , where is the orthogonal group of . In this example, and in general, first derivatives in the orthogonal calculus reproduce and generalize much of the theory of Stiefel-Whitney classes. Similarly, second derivatives in the orthogonal calculus reproduce and generalize much of the theory of Pontryagin classes.

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