Loop spaces and transgression

Transgression is a relationship between higher-categorical geometry on a manifold M and infinite-dimensional geometry on the loop space LM. This mutual connection is highly insightful for both domains, as distinct insights are known on each side, and the acquired knowledge can be transferred reciprocally.

Transgression serves as a fundamental method in string geometry, and more broadly in the study of smooth functorial field theories. A multiplicative version of transgression explores extensions of loop groups and their connection to extensions of higher-categorical groups.

Below are some articles and manuscripts of talks about this topic.

Articles associated with this topic

  • String structures and loop spaces
    Encyclopedia of Mathematical Physics (2nd edition), to appear
    arxiv:2312.12998  

  • The stringor bundle
    arxiv:2206.09797  

  • Smooth Functorial Field Theories from B-Fields and D-Branes
    together with Severin Bunk
    J. Homotopy Relat. Struct. 16.1 (2021): 75-153
    arxiv:1911.09990  

  • Transgression of D-branes
    together with Severin Bunk
    Adv. Theor. Math. Phys., Vol. 25, No. 5 (2021), pp. 1095-1198.
    arxiv:1808.04894  

  • Transgressive loop group extensions
    Math. Z. 286(1) 325-360, 2017
    arxiv:1502.05089  

  • A Construction of String 2-Group Models using a Transgression-Regression Technique
    Analysis, Geometry and Quantum Field Theory, edited by C. L. Aldana, M. Braverman, B. Iochum, and C. Neira-Jiménez, volume 584 of Contemp. Math., pages 99-115, AMS, 2012
    arxiv:1201.5052  

  • Lifting Problems and Transgression for Non-Abelian Gerbes
    together with Thomas Nikolaus
    Adv. Math. 242 (2013) 50-79
    arxiv:1112.4702  

  • Transgression to Loop Spaces and its Inverse, III: Gerbes and Thin Fusion Bundles
    Adv. Math. 231 (2012), 3445-3472
    arxiv:1109.0480  

  • A Loop Space Formulation for Geometric Lifting Problems
    J. Aust. Math. Soc. 90, 129-144 (2011)
    arxiv:1007.5373  

  • Transgression to Loop Spaces and its Inverse, II: Gerbes and Fusion Bundles with Connection
    Asian J. Math., Vol. 20, No. 1 (2016), pp. 59-116
    arxiv:1004.0031  

  • Transgression to Loop Spaces and its Inverse, I: Diffeological Bundles and Fusion Maps
    Cah. Topol. Géom. Différ. Catég., 2012, Vol. LIII, 162-210
    arxiv:0911.3212  

  • Multiplicative Bundle Gerbes with Connection
    Differential Geom. Appl. 28(3), 313-340 (2010)
    arxiv:0804.4835  

Talks associated with this topic

  • Transgression of Gerbes to Loop Spaces
    Workshop "Higher Structures in Topology and Geometry IV", Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, June 2010
    Notes  

  • Abelian gauge theories on loop spaces and their regression
    Workshop "Higher Gauge Theory, TQFT and Quantum Gravity", Instituto Superior Técnico Lisboa, February 2011
    Notes  

  • A loop space formulation for the geometry of abelian gerbes
    Conference "Analysis, Geometry, and Quantum Field Theory", Universität Potsdam, October 2011
    Notes  

  • Differential string classes and loop spaces
    Workshop "Differential Cohomologies", The Graduate Center, CUNY, August 2014
    Video   Notes  

  • String structures and supersymmetric sigma models
    Program "Higher structures in string theory and quantum field theory", Erwin-Schrödinger-Institut für Mathematische Physik, December 2015
    Notes  

  • Transgressive central extensions of loop groups
    Conference "Colloquium on Algebras and Representations - Quantum 2016", Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, March 2016
    Notes  

  • String geometry and spin geometry on loop spaces
    Parallel session "Mathematical aspects of string theory and string geometry", Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, July 2016
    Notes  

  • String connections and loop spaces
    Workshop "Loop spaces, supersymmetry and index theory", Nankai University at Tianjin, July 2017
    Presentation  

  • Fusion in loop spaces
    Workshop "Geometric Quantization", Banff International Research Station for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery, April 2018
    Video  

  • Transgression of higher structures to loop spaces
    Workshop "Loop Space and Higher Category", online, December 2022
    Presentation  

  • The stringor bundle
    Conference "Geometries from Strings and Fields", Galileo Galilei Institute, July 2023
    Video