Scalar curvature, covering spaces, and Seiberg-Witten theory.
Following S. Bauer and M. Furuta we investigate finite dimensional approximations of a monopole map in the case b 1 = 0. We define a certain topological degree which is exactly equal to the Seiberg-Witten invariant. Using homotopy invariance of the topological degree a simple proof of the wall crossing formula is derived.
We give an introduction into and exposition of Seiberg-Witten theory.