Let $G$ be a simple Lie group and let $G(\mathbb{C}((t)))$ be its loop group. The Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}[[t]][t^{-1}]$ has a well known central extension (see e.g. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affine_Lie_algebra"> Wikipedia</a>) given by the cocycle<br> $c(f,g) = Res_0\langle f,dg\rangle$. Here, $\langle\ ,\ \rangle \colon \mathfrak{g}\otimes \mathfrak{g}\to\mathbb{C}$ denotes some invariant bilinear form on $\mathfrak{g}$, and $f dg$ is the $\mathfrak{g}\otimes \mathfrak{g}$-valued differential given by multiplying $f$ and <i>dg</i>. > **Question:** It there a similarly concrete cocycle for the central extension of $G(\mathbb{C}((t)))$ by $\mathbb{C}^\ast$? To give you an idea of what I'm looking for, let me show you a cocycle for central extension by $S^1$ of the smooth loop group $LG = \mathop{Map} _ {C^\infty} (S^1,G)$ of a compact Lie group $G$. Pick a bounding disc $D_\gamma$ : $D^2 \to G$ for each element $\gamma\in LG$. The cocycle is then given by $$ c(\gamma,\delta) = \exp\left(i\int \langle D_\gamma^*\theta_L,D_\delta^*\theta_R\rangle +i\int H^*\eta\right) $$ where $\theta_L,\theta_R\in\Omega(G,\mathfrak{g})$ are the Maurer-Cartan 1-forms, $\eta\in\Omega^3(G)$ is the Cartan 3-form,<br> and $H:D^3\to G$ in a homotopy between $D_\gamma D_\delta$ and $D _ {\gamma\delta}$. --- **References:**<br> The cocycle for the smooth loop group can be found on page 19 of the paper<br> <a href="http://arxiv.org/pdf/math/0504123v2">From Loop groups to 2-groups</a>, by Baez, Crans, Schreiber, and Stevenson,<br> and also on page 8 of Mickelsson's paper [From Gauge anomalies to Gerbes and Gerbal actions][1]. [1]: http://arxiv.org/pdf/0812.1640v1