Extended moduli spaces, the Kan construction, and lattice gauge theory (Q1292694)

In [Am J. Math. 81, 512-528 (1959; Zbl 0109.16201)] \textit{D. M. Kan} gave a construction of a free simplicial group associated to any CW-complex with just one 0-cell. The geometric realization of this Kan group is a model of the loop space of the CW-complex. In this paper the author proves that there is a weak \(G\)-equivariant homotopy equivalence between the geometric realization of \(\Hom (K(Y), G)\) and \(\text{Map}^{\circ} (Y,BG)\). Furthermore, he gives a set of generators of the equivaraint cohomology of \(\Hom (K(Y),G)\). This in turn, gives a combinatorial expression for the Chern-Simons invariant of a flat connection on a 3-manifold. The author illustrates his formula by computing the Chern-Simons invariants of flat \(SU_2\) connections on lens spaces. This new relation between algebraic topology and gauge theory is the most interesting point of this nice paper.