Generalized differential forms over an operand and algebraic models of fibrations (Q5954966)

The author gives an analog of \textit{D. Sullivan}'s commutative cochain functor \({\mathcal A}_{PL}\) [Inst. Hautes Étud. Sci., Publ. Math. 47, 269-331 (1977; Zbl 0374.57002)] for any commutative unitary ring \(R\). His approach is based on the theory of graded differential \(E_\infty\)-algebras as described, e.g., by \textit{M. A. Mandell} [Topology 40, No. 1, 43-94 (2001; Zbl 0974.55004)]. Indeed, the author constructs (for the category of simplicial sets) a functor of generalized differential forms over \(R\), equipped with a natural \(E_\infty\)-structure for a given cofibrant \(E_\infty\)-operad. The author establishes in two different ways (using either the theory of acyclic models or \textit{H. Cartan}'s [Invent. Math. 35, 261-271 (1976; Zbl 0334.55005)] and \textit{R. G. Swan}'s [Topology 14, 271-273 (1975; Zbl 0319.58004)] concept of a cochain theory) that for any simplicial set \(X\), the generalized differential forms on \(X\) are quasi-isomorphic as \(E_\infty\)-algebra to the cochains on \(X\) with coefficients in \(R\). For \(R={\mathbb F}_p\), this yields a new approach to Steenrod operations. The author finally shows that the model of the fiber of a simplicial fibration may be obtained as the cofiber of the model of the simplicial map.