De Rham theory of a simplicial complex (Q1200374)

D. Sullivan's basic result in rational homotopy theory is that integration of differential forms whose coefficients are \(Q\)-polynomials in the barycentric coordinates of a simplicial complex \(X\) induces an isomorphism between the cohomology of the de Rham-Sullivan commutative differential graded algebra \(A^*(X)\) and the singular cohomology \(H^*(X;Q)\). The author sketches the proof of a similar result, for a finite complex \(X\), with emphasis on the ``coordinate ring'' \(A^ 0(X)\) and its associated de Rham complex, constructed in terms of Kähler differentials. The key role played by Sullivan's algebra of 0-forms \(A^ 0(X)\) in the homotopy theory of a finite complex \(X\) has been noticed by \textit{D. Kan} and \textit{E. Miller} [Topology 16, 193-197 (1977; Zbl 0367.55007) and Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 57, 337-339 (1976; Zbl 0332.58001)].