Algebra cochains and cyclic cohomology (Q581892)

Let \(A\) be an augmented algebra over a field \(k\) of characteristic zero, and denote by \(BA\) its ``bar construction''. Thus \(BA\) is a differential graded coalgebra (\(DG\) coalgebra) over \(k\). Any \(DG\) coalgebra \(C\) over \(k\) has a ``bicomodule of coderivations'' \(\Omega^ C\), viz. the cokernel of the diagonal \(\Delta: C\to C\otimes C\). Also any bicomodule \(M\) over \(C\) has a ``cocommutator subspace'' \(M^{\#}\), viz. \[ M^{\#}=Ker(\Delta_{\ell}-\sigma \Delta_ r: M\to C\otimes M), \] where \(\Delta_{\ell}\) and \(\Delta_ r\) are the structure maps ans \(\sigma\) : \(M\otimes C\to C\otimes M\) permutes factors. The marvellous discovery of this paper is the following: If one systematically investigates the relations among the 3 constructions mentioned above, then one is led directly to the celebrated periodic double complex of \textit{J. L. Loday} and \textit{D. Quillen} [Comment. Math. Helv. 59, 565-591 (1984; Zbl 0565.17006)]. In fact \((BA)^{\#}is\) essentially the cyclic complex; \((\Omega^{BA})^{\#}\) gives rise to Hochschild homology; and the full double complex arises by studying the behaviour of the functor {\#}. The author uses this set up to give a very transparent definition of Connes' odd cyclic classes as well as their even counterparts which are viewed as Chern-Simons classes. It is also shown that Connes' classes as well as the Chern-Simmons type classes are related by the \(S\)-operations of cyclic cohomology. Finally it is shown how to construct for a vector bundle \(E\) with a given connection periodic cyclic cocycles on the algebra \(A\) of endomorphisms of \(E\), and this is related to the Chern character of \textit{A. Jaffe}, \textit{A. Lesniewski} and \textit{K. Osterwalder} [Commun. Math. Phys. 118, 1-14 (1988; Zbl 0656.58048)].