text/tqftreview.tex
changeset 409 291f82fb79b5
parent 341 675f53735445
child 411 98b8559b0b7a
--- a/text/tqftreview.tex	Mon Jun 28 08:54:36 2010 -0700
+++ b/text/tqftreview.tex	Mon Jun 28 10:03:13 2010 -0700
@@ -209,6 +209,15 @@
 with codimension $i$ cells labeled by $i$-morphisms of $C$.
 We'll spell this out for $n=1,2$ and then describe the general case.
 
+This way of decorating an $n$-manifold with an $n$-category is sometimes referred to
+as a ``string diagram".
+It can be thought of as (geometrically) dual to a pasting diagram.
+One of the advantages of string diagrams over pasting diagrams is that one has more
+flexibility in slicing them up in various ways.
+In addition, string diagrams are traditional in quantum topology.
+The diagrams predate by many years the terms ``string diagram" and ``quantum topology".
+\nn{?? cite penrose, kauffman, jones(?)}
+
 If $X$ has boundary, we require that the cell decompositions are in general
 position with respect to the boundary --- the boundary intersects each cell
 transversely, so cells meeting the boundary are mere half-cells.