Skip to main content
4 of 4
added 18 characters in body
Ben Webster
  • 44.7k
  • 12
  • 126
  • 260

$H^1(X,\mathcal G)$ where $X$ is any topological space, and $\mathcal G$ any sheaf of groups, classifies $\mathcal G$-torsors on $X$. A $\mathcal G$-torsor is a sheaf of sets with a $\mathcal G$-action on $X$ which is isomorphic to the sheaf $\mathcal G$ on small enough open sets.

If $\mathcal G$ is the set of locally constant functions valued is a group $G$, then a $\mathcal G$-torsor is really just an $G$-local system (this is essentially by definition), so for any group this result holds.

EDIT: Paul's answer made me realize I hadn't proceeded to then point out that a local system is the same thing as a map $\pi_1(X)\to G$ up to conjugacy, by taking the monodromy along paths (which requires choosing base points, hence the conjugacy). I wasn't trying to be mysterious; I just have this so ingrained in my head that I forgot it was worth mentioning.

You have to careful here, because when $G$ is a topological group, it's very tempting to think about the sheaf of continuous functions to $G$ on $X$; that's the sheaf of groups whose torsors are principal bundles. This will only agree with the above if $G$ is discrete (hence Angelo's answer).

Ben Webster
  • 44.7k
  • 12
  • 126
  • 260