The first instances of deformation theory were given by Kodaira and
Spencer for complex structures and by Gerstenhaber for associative
algebras. Since then, deformation theory has been applied as a useful
tool in the study of many other mathematical structures, and even today
it plays an important role in many developments of modern mathematics.
This volume collects a few self-contained and peer-reviewed papers by
experts which present up-to-date research topics in algebraic and
motivic topology, quantum field theory, algebraic geometry,
noncommutative geometry and the deformation theory of Poisson algebras.
They originate from activities at the Max-Planck-Institute for
Mathematics and the Hausdorff Center for Mathematics in Bonn.