The cohomology ring of free loop spaces (Q5940672)

Let \(k\) be a commutative ring with unit and let \(X\) be a path connected space. Let \(\Omega X\) be the (pointed) loop space, \(X^{S^1}\) the free loop space. In the paper under review it is shown that there is a natural isomorphism of graded \(k\)-algebras \(HH^*(S_*(\Omega X))\cong H^*(X^{S^1})\) where \(S_*\) gives the singular \(k\)-chains, \(HH\) is the Hochschild homology, and \(H^*\) is singular cohomology with coefficients in \(k\). On the level of \(k\)-modules, this isomorphism dates back to \textit{T. G. Goodwillie} [Topology 24, 187-215 (1985; Zbl 0569.16021)] and \textit{D. Burghelea} and \textit{Z. Fiedorowicz} [ibid. 25, 303-317 (1986; Zbl 0639.55003)], but the multiplicative structure is new. The multiplicative property is proved simply by checking that the steps in the proof of the \(k\)-module isomorphism were compatible with the multiplicative structure. More precisely, this is done at the chain level, taking care of the comultiplication. The key step being replacing the free loop space by the cyclic nerve on the pointed loops and taking care of the difference between tensors of simplicial abelian groups and chain complexes. The multiplicative structure in question is the cup-product in singular cohomology and in Hochschild homology it arises from the fact that \(S_*(\Omega X)\) is a differential graded Hopf algebra. The multiplicative structure is important for calculations, and the author gives several examples. In particular, the algebra \(H^*(X^{S^1})\) is described when \(X\) is a suspension of a path-connected space, a complex or quaternionic projective space. In all of these cases we get isomorphisms of algebras \(HH_*(H^*(X))\cong H^*(X^{S^1})\). If \(X\) is a finite CW-complex of dimension \(p\) the author proves a Sullivan/Vigué-Porrier type theorem, extending the result of Dupont and Hess from fields to rings such that \(\frac{1}{(p-1)!}\in k\).