# Electric charges on compact four-manifolds

Textbook wisdom in electromagnetism tells you that there is no total electric charge on a compact manifold. For example, consider space-time of the form $\mathbb{R} \times M_3$ where the first factor is time. One defines the total charge via $Q(M_3) = \int_{M_3} \star j$ where $d\star F = \star j$ is the electric current. If $M_3$ has no boundary (e.g. if it is compact) one can use Stokes' theorem to argue that $$Q(M_3) = \int_{M_3} d\star F = \int_{\partial M_3} \star F = 0.$$

I wonder what happens for general four-manifolds $M_4$, especially in the case that the third Betti number is zero (otherwise one can simply integrate over a three-cycle). Is there a sensible way to define charge in the above sense? Can one argue that it has to vanish if $\partial M_4 = 0$?

• in a sense charges express defects, non-linearities, spikes, non-compactness of a manifold (for lack of better word). – Nikos M. Sep 29 '14 at 18:48
• Total charge is only defined on a spatial slices and there can be an exeptions from the fact mentioned in this question in case of ABJ anonaly as explained here – Dilaton Sep 29 '14 at 20:27
• The case of compact manifolds without a boundary is extremely dull. If we allow boundaries, things become much more interesting as in Alvarez and Olive arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0303229v1 – David Bar Moshe Sep 12 '17 at 14:47
• Are you still intereseted in an answer? – Creo Jul 4 '18 at 15:09