On the geometry of free loop spaces
Let \(M\) be a finite-dimensional path-connected Riemannian manifold. The infinite-dimensional space of all smooth maps from the circle group \(S^1\) to \(M\) is the Fréchet manifold \(\Lambda M\) called the free loop space. The points in \(\Lambda M\) can be described as free loops in \(M\). \textit{M. F. Atiyah} [Colloq. Honneur L. Schwartz, Ec. Polytech. 1983, Vol. 1, Astérisque 131, 43-59 (1985; Zbl 0578.58039)] showed that there is a fundamental closed 2-form \(\omega\) on \(\Lambda M\) which, unlike the finite-dimensional case, can be degenerate at some points. In this paper, the author proves that the set of all points where \(\omega\) is nondegenerate is open. In modern physical theories such as string theory, the idea of representing particles not as points but rather as loops on some manifold \(M\) has resulted in the formulation of spinors on the loop space \(\Lambda M\) of \(M\). A string structure is defined as a lifting of the structural group to an \(S^1\)-central extension of the loop group. If \(\widetilde G\to \widetilde P\to X\) is a lifting of a principal Fréchet bundle \(G\to P\to X\) over a Fréchet manifold \(X\) and if \(S^1\to \widetilde G\to G\) is an \(S^1\)-central extension of \(G\), then the author shows that every connection on the principal bundle \(G\to P\to X\) together with a \(\widetilde G\)-invariant connection on \(S^1\to \widetilde P\to P\) defines a connection on \(\widetilde G\to \widetilde P\to X\), and, as a consequence of this result, that there exist connections on the string structure of \(\Lambda M\). Finally, the author defines Christoffel symbols on \(\Lambda M\) which are described in terms of the Christoffel symbols on \(M\) and compute the corresponding curvature.
- The bitwisted Cartesian model for the free loop fibration
- On the loop space of a geometric realization
- The extended loop group: An infinite dimensional manifold associated with the loop space
- On the genus of free loop fibrations over F₀-spaces
- A geometric construction of the K-loop of a hyperbolic space
- Bounding geometry of loops in Alexandrov spaces
- Infinite-dimensional second order ordinary differential equations via \(T^{2}M\)
- A generalized second-order frame bundle for Fréchet manifolds
- scientific article; zbMATH DE number 4129634 (Why is no real title available?)
- scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3977924 (Why is no real title available?)
- Formalité des espaces de lacets libres
- scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1989674 (Why is no real title available?)
- scientific article; zbMATH DE number 880228 (Why is no real title available?)
- String geometry vs. spin geometry on loop spaces
- The geometry of loop spaces. I: \(H^{s}\)-Riemannian metrics
- Path space and free loop space
- The tangent bundle of an almost-complex free loopspace
- On the topology of the free complexes of convex geometries
- The geometry of loop spaces. II: Characteristic classes.
This page was built for publication: On the geometry of free loop spaces
Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q1608154)
