# free loop space and invariant forms

Cartan proved that for a connected compact Lie group $G$ the left invariant differential forms yield the correct cohomology of $G$. The same argument works for a connected compact $G$-manifold: the idea is to "average" left invariant forms on $G$ using a Haar measure.

Can we extend this result for non compact infinite dimensional manifolds? In particular, consider the free loop space $LM$ of a manifold $M$; this is an infinite dimensional $S^1$-manifold. Is there a way to compute the cohomology of $LM$ using a model of "invariant forms" and the idea of averaging?

By a result of Chen, we know that iterated integrals of differential forms in $M$ yield the correct cohomology of $LM$. Is this model related to Cartan's story of invariant forms?

These questions are a bit vague, but I guess how to make them precise is part of my question.

-
You mean $Diff(S^1)$-manifold? Actually, since you're using a based loop space you probably need the group of diffeomorphisms fixing a point? – Squark Feb 14 '12 at 22:21
You might want to look at Pressley-Segal, section 4.11, for the case of the free loop space. Alternatively, you could try section 5 of Abbaspour and Zeimalian's article on the String bracket and flat connections. – skupers Feb 15 '12 at 1:10
How do you rotate a based loop? Isn't the image of the base point fixed? – S. Carnahan Feb 15 '12 at 2:12
Oops! Sorry, I wanted to consider the free loop space. I will edit it now. – Manuel Rivera Feb 15 '12 at 3:45
@Manuel Rivera: Would it help to try canoical invariant differential forms like the Maurer–Cartan form on LM? There should be a way of "translating" these onto LM from M, since you can always pull-back in cohomology. I do not know if such suggestion is too naive. – Kerry Feb 15 '12 at 4:40

Iterated integrals define a map $$\sigma: C(\Omega(M)) \to \Omega(LM)$$ where $C(\Omega(M))$ is the cyclic bar complex of $\Omega(M)$. It has various nice properties; for instance, it induces an isomorphism in cohomology, when $M$ is simply-connected.
Unfortunately, the forms in the image of $\sigma$ are not invariant with respect to the $S^1$-action on $LM$, which probably means that there is no relation of the kind you expect.
However, the forms in the image of $\sigma$ are basic (in particular, invariant) with respect to the action of $Diff([0,1])$ by reparameterization, but the image of $\sigma$ is not even dense in the space of all basic forms. (The image is characterized by a stronger invariance that cannot be formulated in terms of a group action: a kind of thin homotopy invariance).
Just in order to add a layer of confusion, I remark that if $G$ is a compact group acting on $M$, there exists a $G$-equivariant extension of the iterated integral map $\sigma$, introduced by Getzler-Jones-Petrack. It uses the Cartan model for $G$-equivariant forms on $LM$, and an equivariant version of the cyclic bar complex of equivariant forms on $M$.
Yes, I actually wrote this question when I started to read Getzler's paper and now that I got to the section you cite it makes more sense. Also, I realized that we can also think about iterated integrals as averaging forms with respect to the circle action. For example, the simplest case is the following: Given a 1-form $\omega$ we have a function on $LM$ given by $\gamma \mapsto \int_{\gamma} \omega$ this function is the same as $\gamma \mapsto \int_0^1 \omega(e_{s*}T_{\gamma})ds$ where $T$ is the vector field on $LM$ generated by the circle action and $e_s: LM \to M$ is evaluation at $s$. – Manuel Rivera Feb 15 '12 at 12:06
Note that the second integral is $\int_0^1 i(T)e_s^*(\omega)ds$, where $i$ denotes interior multiplication, which is an integral in the space of forms: you are averaging the pullback of $\omega$ with respect to the circle action just as we do for compact $G$-manifolds! Moreover, higher iterated integrals can be thought about as averaging over a simplex... – Manuel Rivera Feb 15 '12 at 12:13