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Matthias Wendt
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This is rather late, and not a full answer to your question, sorrybut may be interesting nonetheless. Nevertheless

Concerning point 1), some useful information pertainingI would like to propose the following natural refinement which avoids the problems mentioned in Pavel Etingof's answer. If you want to know the relation between cohomology of the group and the Lie algebra over $\mathbb{Q}$, you should work with $\mathbb{Q}$-forms of both. Take $G_{\mathbb{Q}}$ a form of $G$ defined over $\mathbb{Q}$, and take $\mathfrak{g}_{\mathbb{Q}}$ the associated Lie algebra (in the sense of algebraic groups). Then you want to compare the algebraic de Rham cohomology of $G_{\mathbb{Q}}$ with the Lie algebra cohomology of $\mathfrak{g}_{\mathbb{Q}}$. As Pavel Etingof pointed out, these $\mathbb{Q}$-vector subspaces of the cohomology of $G$ over $\mathbb{C}$ depend on the choice of form. Maybe there is an explicit formula which from a cocycle in $H^1_{\text{ét}}(\mathbb{Q},\operatorname{Aut}G)$ produces the factors relating the subspaces - the factor $i$ in Pavel Etingof's answer is most certainly related to defining $SU(3)$ in terms of the complex conjugation involution.

Concerning point 2), the same as in point 1) applies to $\mathbb{Z}$-forms: choose a $\mathbb{Z}$-form of $G$ and take its associated Lie algebra. You will most likely end up getting Kostant's $\mathbb{Z}$-forms mentioned in Scott Carnahan's comment.

In the special case $GL_n$ and cohomology in top degree, your question can be found2) and 3) are discussed in a preprint of Annette Huber and Wolfgang Soergel, arXiv version can be found here. The goal of that paper is to compare different integral structures in the top cohomology of $GL_n$: one integral structure comes from the natural $\mathbb{Z}$-form of $\mathfrak{gl}_n$, another from the suspensions of Chern classes in de Rham cohomology, and the third one from the dual of the fundamental class in singular cohomology. They work out the explicit comparison factors. The comparison between de Rham and singular cohomology involves the usual period $2\pi i$, and the comparison between de Rham cohomology and the subspace coming from the Lie algebragroup cohomology is in fact a rational factor (so no further periods).

As you mentioned periods in your question: there is a philosophical reason why the comparison between de Rham cohomology and singular cohomology should only involve rational multiples of powers of $2\pi i$. If $G$ is a reductive group over $\mathbb{Q}$, we can view it as a variety and as such it has a mixed Tate motive; therefore, all periods should be rational multiples of powers of $2\pi i$.

Similar methods could surely be applied to other Lie groups. The obvious guess would be that the rational factor can be explained by some Weyl group combinatorics in general. I am not that sure if it is straightforward to extend the comparison result to the whole cohomology, but somehow it should be possible to compare the generators of Lie algebra cohomology to the duals of the Chern classes.

Later edit: Another thing that may be noteworthy. The rational factor in the comparison between Lie algebra and de Rham cohomology that is worked out in the Huber-Soergel paper is $\prod_{j=1}^n(j-1)!$. TheseIt is interesting to note that these same factors appear when comparing homotopy and homology of $GL_n(\mathbb{C})$ - the Hurewicz map sends a generator of $\pi_{2j-1}GL_n(\mathbb{C})$ to some multiple of a generator of $H_{2j-1}(GL_n(\mathbb{C}),\mathbb{Z})$, and this multiple is $(j-1)!$. Maybe this is related to the comparison of Lie algebra to Lie group cohomology? MaybeI am fairly convinced now that this is the way the subspaces are related in case $GL_n$ - that the generators of Lie algebragroup cohomology classes in degree $2j-1$ are ashould be the $(j-1)!$-th multiple of the Chern classes?generators of Lie algebra cohomology. One would hope that such a description applies to other Lie groups and that the rational factor can be explained by some Weyl group combinatorics in general, but there is some work to be done for that...

Concerning periods there is a philosophical reason why the comparison between de Rham cohomology and singular cohomology should only involve rational multiples of powers of $2\pi i$. If $G$ is a reductive group over $\mathbb{Q}$, we can view it as a variety and as such it has a mixed Tate motive; therefore, all periods should be rational multiples of powers of $2\pi i$.

This is rather late, and not a full answer to your question, sorry. Nevertheless, some useful information pertaining to the question can be found in a preprint of Annette Huber and Wolfgang Soergel, arXiv version can be found here. The goal of that paper is to compare different integral structures in the top cohomology of $GL_n$: one integral structure comes from the natural $\mathbb{Z}$-form of $\mathfrak{gl}_n$, another from the suspensions of Chern classes in de Rham cohomology, and the third one from the dual of the fundamental class in singular cohomology. They work out the explicit comparison factors. The comparison between de Rham and singular cohomology involves the usual period $2\pi i$, and the comparison between de Rham cohomology and the subspace coming from the Lie algebra cohomology is in fact a rational factor (so no further periods).

As you mentioned periods in your question: there is a philosophical reason why the comparison between de Rham cohomology and singular cohomology should only involve rational multiples of powers of $2\pi i$. If $G$ is a reductive group over $\mathbb{Q}$, we can view it as a variety and as such it has a mixed Tate motive; therefore, all periods should be rational multiples of powers of $2\pi i$.

Similar methods could surely be applied to other Lie groups. The obvious guess would be that the rational factor can be explained by some Weyl group combinatorics in general. I am not that sure if it is straightforward to extend the comparison result to the whole cohomology, but somehow it should be possible to compare the generators of Lie algebra cohomology to the duals of the Chern classes.

Later edit: Another thing that may be noteworthy. The rational factor in the comparison between Lie algebra and de Rham cohomology that is worked out in the Huber-Soergel paper is $\prod_{j=1}^n(j-1)!$. These same factors appear when comparing homotopy and homology of $GL_n(\mathbb{C})$ - the Hurewicz map sends a generator of $\pi_{2j-1}GL_n(\mathbb{C})$ to some multiple of a generator of $H_{2j-1}(GL_n(\mathbb{C}),\mathbb{Z})$, and this multiple is $(j-1)!$. Maybe this is related to the comparison of Lie algebra to Lie group cohomology? Maybe this is the way the subspaces are related - that the generators of Lie algebra cohomology in degree $2j-1$ are a $(j-1)!$-th multiple of the Chern classes?

This is rather late, and not a full answer to your question, but may be interesting nonetheless.

Concerning point 1), I would like to propose the following natural refinement which avoids the problems mentioned in Pavel Etingof's answer. If you want to know the relation between cohomology of the group and the Lie algebra over $\mathbb{Q}$, you should work with $\mathbb{Q}$-forms of both. Take $G_{\mathbb{Q}}$ a form of $G$ defined over $\mathbb{Q}$, and take $\mathfrak{g}_{\mathbb{Q}}$ the associated Lie algebra (in the sense of algebraic groups). Then you want to compare the algebraic de Rham cohomology of $G_{\mathbb{Q}}$ with the Lie algebra cohomology of $\mathfrak{g}_{\mathbb{Q}}$. As Pavel Etingof pointed out, these $\mathbb{Q}$-vector subspaces of the cohomology of $G$ over $\mathbb{C}$ depend on the choice of form. Maybe there is an explicit formula which from a cocycle in $H^1_{\text{ét}}(\mathbb{Q},\operatorname{Aut}G)$ produces the factors relating the subspaces - the factor $i$ in Pavel Etingof's answer is most certainly related to defining $SU(3)$ in terms of the complex conjugation involution.

Concerning point 2), the same as in point 1) applies to $\mathbb{Z}$-forms: choose a $\mathbb{Z}$-form of $G$ and take its associated Lie algebra. You will most likely end up getting Kostant's $\mathbb{Z}$-forms mentioned in Scott Carnahan's comment.

In the special case $GL_n$ and cohomology in top degree, your question 2) and 3) are discussed in a preprint of Annette Huber and Wolfgang Soergel, arXiv version can be found here. The goal of that paper is to compare different integral structures in the top cohomology of $GL_n$: one integral structure comes from the natural $\mathbb{Z}$-form of $\mathfrak{gl}_n$, another from the suspensions of Chern classes in de Rham cohomology, and the third one from the dual of the fundamental class in singular cohomology. They work out the explicit comparison factors. The comparison between de Rham and singular cohomology involves the usual period $2\pi i$, and the comparison between de Rham cohomology and the subspace coming from the Lie group cohomology is in fact a rational factor (so no further periods).

The rational factor in the comparison between Lie algebra and de Rham cohomology that is worked out in the Huber-Soergel paper is $\prod_{j=1}^n(j-1)!$. It is interesting to note that these same factors appear when comparing homotopy and homology of $GL_n(\mathbb{C})$ - the Hurewicz map sends a generator of $\pi_{2j-1}GL_n(\mathbb{C})$ to some multiple of a generator of $H_{2j-1}(GL_n(\mathbb{C}),\mathbb{Z})$, and this multiple is $(j-1)!$. I am fairly convinced now that this is the way the subspaces are related in case $GL_n$ - the group cohomology classes in degree $2j-1$ should be the $(j-1)!$-th multiple of the generators of Lie algebra cohomology. One would hope that such a description applies to other Lie groups and that the rational factor can be explained by some Weyl group combinatorics in general, but there is some work to be done for that...

Concerning periods there is a philosophical reason why the comparison between de Rham cohomology and singular cohomology should only involve rational multiples of powers of $2\pi i$. If $G$ is a reductive group over $\mathbb{Q}$, we can view it as a variety and as such it has a mixed Tate motive; therefore, all periods should be rational multiples of powers of $2\pi i$.

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Matthias Wendt
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This is rather late, and not a full answer to your question, sorry. Nevertheless, some useful information pertaining to the question can be found in a preprint of Annette Huber and Wolfgang Soergel, arXiv version can be found here. The goal of that paper is to compare different integral structures in the top cohomology of $GL_n$: one integral structure comes from the natural $\mathbb{Z}$-form of $\mathfrak{gl}_n$, another from the suspensions of Chern classes in de Rham cohomology, and the third one from the dual of the fundamental class in singular cohomology. They work out the explicit comparison factors. The comparison between de Rham and singular cohomology involves the usual period $2\pi i$, and the comparison between de Rham cohomology and the subspace coming from the Lie algebra cohomology is in fact a rational factor (so no further periods).

As you mentioned periods in your question: there is a philosophical reason why the comparison between de Rham cohomology and singular cohomology should only involve rational multiples of powers of $2\pi i$. If $G$ is a reductive group over $\mathbb{Q}$, we can view it as a variety and as such it has a mixed Tate motive; therefore, all periods should be rational multiples of powers of $2\pi i$.

Similar methods could surely be applied to other Lie groups. The obvious guess would be that the rational factor can be explained by some Weyl group combinatorics in general. I am not that sure if it is straightforward to extend the comparison result to the whole cohomology, but somehow it should be possible to compare the generators of Lie algebra cohomology to the duals of the Chern classes.

Later edit: Another thing that may be noteworthy. The rational factor in the comparison between Lie algebra and de Rham cohomology that is worked out in the Huber-Soergel paper is $\prod_{j=1}^n(j-1)!$. These same factors appear when comparing homotopy and homology of $GL_n(\mathbb{C})$ - the Hurewicz map sends a generator of $\pi_{2j-1}GL_n(\mathbb{C})$ to some multiple of a generator of $H_{2j-1}(GL_n(\mathbb{C}),\mathbb{Z})$, and this multiple is $(j-1)!$. Maybe this is related to the comparison of Lie algebra to Lie group cohomology? Maybe this is the way the subspaces are related - that the generators of Lie algebra cohomology in degree $2j-1$ are a $(j-1)!$-th multiple of the Chern classes?

This is rather late, and not a full answer to your question, sorry. Nevertheless, some useful information pertaining to the question can be found in a preprint of Annette Huber and Wolfgang Soergel, arXiv version can be found here. The goal of that paper is to compare different integral structures in the top cohomology of $GL_n$: one integral structure comes from the natural $\mathbb{Z}$-form of $\mathfrak{gl}_n$, another from the suspensions of Chern classes in de Rham cohomology, and the third one from the dual of the fundamental class in singular cohomology. They work out the explicit comparison factors. The comparison between de Rham and singular cohomology involves the usual period $2\pi i$, and the comparison between de Rham cohomology and the subspace coming from the Lie algebra cohomology is in fact a rational factor (so no further periods).

As you mentioned periods in your question: there is a philosophical reason why the comparison between de Rham cohomology and singular cohomology should only involve rational multiples of powers of $2\pi i$. If $G$ is a reductive group over $\mathbb{Q}$, we can view it as a variety and as such it has a mixed Tate motive; therefore, all periods should be rational multiples of powers of $2\pi i$.

Similar methods could surely be applied to other Lie groups. The obvious guess would be that the rational factor can be explained by some Weyl group combinatorics in general. I am not that sure if it is straightforward to extend the comparison result to the whole cohomology, but somehow it should be possible to compare the generators of Lie algebra cohomology to the duals of the Chern classes.

This is rather late, and not a full answer to your question, sorry. Nevertheless, some useful information pertaining to the question can be found in a preprint of Annette Huber and Wolfgang Soergel, arXiv version can be found here. The goal of that paper is to compare different integral structures in the top cohomology of $GL_n$: one integral structure comes from the natural $\mathbb{Z}$-form of $\mathfrak{gl}_n$, another from the suspensions of Chern classes in de Rham cohomology, and the third one from the dual of the fundamental class in singular cohomology. They work out the explicit comparison factors. The comparison between de Rham and singular cohomology involves the usual period $2\pi i$, and the comparison between de Rham cohomology and the subspace coming from the Lie algebra cohomology is in fact a rational factor (so no further periods).

As you mentioned periods in your question: there is a philosophical reason why the comparison between de Rham cohomology and singular cohomology should only involve rational multiples of powers of $2\pi i$. If $G$ is a reductive group over $\mathbb{Q}$, we can view it as a variety and as such it has a mixed Tate motive; therefore, all periods should be rational multiples of powers of $2\pi i$.

Similar methods could surely be applied to other Lie groups. The obvious guess would be that the rational factor can be explained by some Weyl group combinatorics in general. I am not that sure if it is straightforward to extend the comparison result to the whole cohomology, but somehow it should be possible to compare the generators of Lie algebra cohomology to the duals of the Chern classes.

Later edit: Another thing that may be noteworthy. The rational factor in the comparison between Lie algebra and de Rham cohomology that is worked out in the Huber-Soergel paper is $\prod_{j=1}^n(j-1)!$. These same factors appear when comparing homotopy and homology of $GL_n(\mathbb{C})$ - the Hurewicz map sends a generator of $\pi_{2j-1}GL_n(\mathbb{C})$ to some multiple of a generator of $H_{2j-1}(GL_n(\mathbb{C}),\mathbb{Z})$, and this multiple is $(j-1)!$. Maybe this is related to the comparison of Lie algebra to Lie group cohomology? Maybe this is the way the subspaces are related - that the generators of Lie algebra cohomology in degree $2j-1$ are a $(j-1)!$-th multiple of the Chern classes?

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Matthias Wendt
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This is rather late, and not a full answer to your question, sorry. Nevertheless, some useful information pertaining to the question can be found in a preprint of Annette Huber and Wolfgang Soergel, arXiv version can be found here. The goal of that paper is to compare different integral structures in the top cohomology of $GL_n$: one integral structure comes from the natural $\mathbb{Z}$-form of $\mathfrak{gl}_n$, another from the suspensions of Chern classes in de Rham cohomology, and the third one from the dual of the fundamental class in singular cohomology. They work out the explicit comparison factors. The comparison between de Rham and singular cohomology involves the usual period $2\pi i$, and the comparison between de Rham cohomology and the subspace coming from the Lie algebra cohomology is in fact a rational factor (so no further periods).

As you mentioned periods in your question: there is a philosophical reason why the comparison between de Rham cohomology and singular cohomology should only involve rational multiples of powers of $2\pi i$. If $G$ is a reductive group over $\mathbb{Q}$, we can view it as a variety and as such it has a mixed Tate motive; therefore, all periods should be rational multiples of powers of $2\pi i$.

Similar methods could surely be applied to other Lie groups. The obvious guess would be that the rational factor can be explained by some Weyl group combinatorics in general. I am not that sure if it is straightforward to extend the comparison result to the whole cohomology, but somehow it should be possible to compare the generators of Lie algebra cohomology to the duals of the Chern classes.

This is rather late, and not a full answer to your question, sorry. Nevertheless, some useful information pertaining to the question can be found in a preprint of Annette Huber and Wolfgang Soergel, arXiv version can be found here. The goal of that paper is to compare different integral structures in the top cohomology of $GL_n$: one integral structure comes from the natural $\mathbb{Z}$-form of $\mathfrak{gl}_n$, another from the suspensions of Chern classes in de Rham cohomology, and the third one from the dual of the fundamental class in singular cohomology. They work out the explicit comparison factors. The comparison between de Rham and singular cohomology involves the usual period $2\pi i$, and the comparison between de Rham cohomology and the subspace coming from the Lie algebra cohomology is in fact a rational factor (so no further periods).

Similar methods could surely be applied to other Lie groups. The obvious guess would be that the rational factor can be explained by some Weyl group combinatorics in general. I am not that sure if it is straightforward to extend the comparison result to the whole cohomology, but somehow it should be possible to compare the generators of Lie algebra cohomology to the duals of the Chern classes.

This is rather late, and not a full answer to your question, sorry. Nevertheless, some useful information pertaining to the question can be found in a preprint of Annette Huber and Wolfgang Soergel, arXiv version can be found here. The goal of that paper is to compare different integral structures in the top cohomology of $GL_n$: one integral structure comes from the natural $\mathbb{Z}$-form of $\mathfrak{gl}_n$, another from the suspensions of Chern classes in de Rham cohomology, and the third one from the dual of the fundamental class in singular cohomology. They work out the explicit comparison factors. The comparison between de Rham and singular cohomology involves the usual period $2\pi i$, and the comparison between de Rham cohomology and the subspace coming from the Lie algebra cohomology is in fact a rational factor (so no further periods).

As you mentioned periods in your question: there is a philosophical reason why the comparison between de Rham cohomology and singular cohomology should only involve rational multiples of powers of $2\pi i$. If $G$ is a reductive group over $\mathbb{Q}$, we can view it as a variety and as such it has a mixed Tate motive; therefore, all periods should be rational multiples of powers of $2\pi i$.

Similar methods could surely be applied to other Lie groups. The obvious guess would be that the rational factor can be explained by some Weyl group combinatorics in general. I am not that sure if it is straightforward to extend the comparison result to the whole cohomology, but somehow it should be possible to compare the generators of Lie algebra cohomology to the duals of the Chern classes.

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Matthias Wendt
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