arxiv:0705.

0452
Hamburger Beiträge zur Mathematik Nr. 269
ZMP-HH/07-5
arXiv:0705.0452v5 [math.DG] 25 Aug 2014

Parallel Transport and Functors

Urs Schreiber and Konrad Waldorf
Organisationseinheit Mathematik
Schwerpunkt Algebra und Zahlentheorie
Universität Hamburg
Bundesstraße 55
D–20146 Hamburg

Abstract

Parallel transport of a connection in a smooth fibre bundle yields

a functor from the path groupoid of the base manifold into a category
that describes the fibres of the bundle. We characterize functors ob-
tained like this by two notions we introduce: local trivializations and
smooth descent data. This provides a way to substitute categories of
functors for categories of smooth fibre bundles with connection. We
indicate that this concept can be generalized to connections in catego-
rified bundles, and how this generalization improves the understanding
of higher dimensional parallel transport.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction 2

2 Functors and local Trivializations 6

2.1 The Path Groupoid of a smooth Manifold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.2 Extracting Descent Data from a Functor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.3 Reconstructing a Functor from Descent Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

3 Transport Functors 18
3.1 Smooth Descent Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3.2 Wilson Lines of Transport Functors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

4 Differential Forms and smooth Functors 26

5 Examples 31
5.1 Principal Bundles with Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
5.2 Holonomy Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
5.3 Associated Bundles and Vector Bundles with Connection . . . . . . . . . . 38
5.4 Generalized Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

6 Groupoid Bundles with Connection 41

7 Generalizations and further Topics 46

7.1 Transport n-Functors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
7.2 Curvature of Transport Functors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
7.3 Alternatives to smooth Functors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
7.4 Anafunctors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

A More Background 51
A.1 The universal Path Pushout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
A.2 Diffeological Spaces and smooth Functors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

B Postponed Proofs 57
B.1 Proof of Theorem 2.9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
B.2 Proof of Theorem 3.12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
B.3 Proof of Proposition 4.3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
B.4 Proof of Proposition 4.7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Table of Notations 68

References 70
1 Introduction
Higher dimensional parallel transport generalizes parallel transport along
curves to parallel transport along higher dimensional objects, for instance
surfaces. One motivation to consider parallel transport along surfaces comes
from two-dimensional conformal field theories, where so-called Wess-Zumino
terms have been recognized as surface holonomies [Gaw88, CJM02, SSW07].
Several mathematical objects have have been used to define higher dimen-
sional parallel transport, among them classes in Deligne cohomology [Del91],
bundle gerbes with connection and curving [Mur96], or 2-bundles with 2-
connections [BS, BS07]. The development of such definitions often occurs in
two steps: an appropriate definition of parallel transport along curves, fol-
lowed by a generalization to higher dimensions. For instance, bundle gerbes
with connection can be obtained as a generalization of principal bundles with
connection. However, in the case of both bundle gerbes and Deligne classes
one encounters the obstruction that the structure group has to be abelian.
It is hence desirable to find a reformulation of fibre bundles with connection,
that brings along a natural generalization for arbitrary structure group.
A candidate for such a reformulation are holonomy maps [Bar91, CP94].
These are group homomorphisms
H : π11 (M, ∗) / G
from the group of thin homotopy classes of based loops in a smooth mani-
fold M into a Lie group G. Any principal G-bundle with connection over
M defines a group homomorphism H, but the crucial point is to distinguish
those from arbitrary ones. By imposing a certain smoothness condition on H,
these holonomy maps correspond – for connected manifolds – bijectively to
principal G-bundles with connection [Bar91, CP94]. On the other hand, they
have a natural generalization from loops to surfaces. However, the obstruc-
tion for M being connected becomes even stronger: only if the manifold M
is connected and simply-connected, holonomy maps generalized to surfaces
capture all aspects of surface holonomy [MP02]. Especially the second ob-
struction erases one of the most interesting of these aspects, see, for example,
[GR02].
In order to obtain a formulation of parallel transport along curves without
topological assumptions on the base manifold M, one considers functors
F : P1 (M) / T
from the path groupoid P1 (M) of M into another category T [Mac87, MP02].
The set of objects of the path groupoid P1 (M) is the manifold M itself, and

2
the set of morphisms between two points x and y is the set of thin homotopy
classes of curves starting at x and ending at y. A functor F : P1 (M) / T is
1
a generalization of a group homomorphism H : π1 (M, ∗) / G, but it is not
clear how the smoothness condition for holonomy maps has to be generalized
to these functors.
Let us first review how a functor F : P1 (M) / T arises from parallel
transport in a, say, principal G-bundle P with connection. In this case,
the category T is the category G-Tor of smooth manifolds with smooth,
free and transitive G-action from the right, and smooth equivariant maps
between those. Now, the connection on P associates to any smooth curve
γ : [0, 1] / M and any element in the fibre Pγ(0) over the starting point,
a unique horizontal lift γ̃ : [0, 1] / P . Evaluating this lift at its endpoint
defines a smooth map
τγ : Pγ(0) / Pγ(1) ,

the parallel transport in P along the curve γ. It is G-equivariant with respect

to the G-action on the fibres of P , and it is invariant under thin homotopies.
Moreover, it satisfies

τidx = idPx and τγ ′ ◦γ = τγ ′ ◦ τγ ,

where idx is the constant curve and γ and γ ′ are smoothly composable curves.
These are the axioms of a functor

traP : P1 (M) / G-Tor

which sends an object x of P1 (M) to the object Px of G-Tor and a morphism

γ of P1 (M) to the morphism τγ of G-Tor. Summarizing, every principal G-
bundle with connection over M defines a functor traP . Now the crucial point
is to characterize these functors among all functors from P1 (M) to G-Tor.
In this article we describe such a characterization. For this purpose, we
introduce, for general target categories T , the notion of a transport functor.
These are certain functors

tra : P1 (M) / T,

such that the category they form is – in the case of T = G-Tor – equivalent
to the category of principal G-bundles with connection.
The defining properties of a transport functor capture two important con-
cepts: the existence of local trivializations and the smoothness of associated
descent data. Just as for fibre bundles, local trivializations are specified
with respect to an open cover of the base manifold M and to a choice of

3
a typical fibre. Here, we represent an open cover by a surjective submer-
sion π : Y / M, and encode the typical fibre in the notion of a structure
groupoid: this is a Lie groupoid Gr together with a functor

i : Gr / T.

Now, a π-local i-trivialization of a functor F : P1 (M) / T is another functor

triv : P1 (Y ) / Gr

together with a natural equivalence

t : F ◦ π∗ / i ◦ triv,

where π∗ : P1 (Y ) / P1 (M) is the induced functor between path groupoids.

In detail, the natural equivalence t gives for every point y ∈ Y an isomor-
phism F (π(y)) ∼= i(triv(y)) that identifies the “fibre” F (π(y)) of F over π(y)
with the image of a “typical fibre” triv(y) under the functor i. In other
words, a functor is π-locally i-trivializable, if its pullback to the cover Y
factors through the functor i up to a natural equivalence. Functors with a
chosen π-local i-trivialization (triv, t) form a category Triv1π (i).
The second concept we introduce is that of smooth descent data. Descent
data is specified with respect to a surjective submersion π and a structure
groupoid i : Gr / T . While descent data for a fibre bundle with connection
is a collection of transition functions and local connection 1-forms, descent
data for a functor F : P1 (M) / T is a pair (triv, g) consisting of a functor
triv : P1 (Y ) / Gr like the one from a local trivializations and of a certain
natural equivalence g that compares triv on the two-fold fibre product of Y
with itself. Such pairs define a descent category Des1π (i). The first result
of this article (Theorem 2.9) is to prove the descent property: extracting
descent data and, conversely, reconstructing a functor from descent data, are
equivalences of categories

Triv1π (i) ∼
= Des1π (i).

We introduce descent data because one can precisely decide whether a pair
(triv, g) is smooth or not (Definition 3.1). The smoothness conditions we
introduce can be expressed in basic terms of smooth maps between smooth
manifolds, and arises from the theory of diffeological spaces [Che77]. The
concept of smooth descent data is our generalization of the smoothness con-
dition for holonomy maps to functors.
Combining both concepts we have introduced, we call a functor that
allows – for some surjective submersion π – a π-local i-trivialization whose

4
corresponding descend data is smooth, a transport functor on M in T with
Gr-structure. The category formed by these transport functors is denoted
by Trans1Gr (M, T ).

Let us return to the particular target category T = G-Tor. As described

above, one obtains a functor traP : P1 (M) / G-Tor from any principal G-
bundle P with connection. We consider the Lie groupoid Gr = BG, which has
only one object, and where every group element g ∈ G is an automorphism
of this object. The notation indicates the fact that the geometric realization
of the nerve of this category yields the classifying space BG of the group G.
The Lie groupoid BG can be embedded in the category G-Tor via the functor
iG : BG / G-Tor which sends the object of BG to the group G regarded
as a G-space, and a morphism g ∈ G to the equivariant smooth map which
multiplies with g from the left.
The descent category Des1π (iG ) for the structure groupoid BG and
some surjective submersion π is closely related to differential geometric
objects: we derive a one-to-one correspondence between smooth functors
triv : P1 (Y ) / BG, which are part of the objects of Des1 (iG ), and 1-forms
π
A on Y with values in the Lie algebra of G (Proposition 4.7). The corres-
pondence can be symbolically expressed as the path-ordered exponential
Z 
triv(γ) = P exp A
γ

for a path γ. Using this relation between smooth functors and differential
forms, we show that a functor traP : P1 (M) / G-Tor obtained from a
principal G-bundle with connection, is a transport functor on M in G-Tor
with BG-structure. The main result of this article (Theorem 5.4) is that this
establishes an equivalence of categories

Bun∇ ∼ 1
G (M) = TransBG (M, G-Tor)

between the category of principal G-bundles with connection over M and the
category of transport functors on M in G-Tor with BG-structure. In other
words, these transport functors provide a proper reformulation of principal
bundles with connection, emphasizing the aspect of parallel transport.

This article is organized as follows. In Section 2 we review the path

groupoid of a smooth manifold and describe some properties of functors de-
fined on it. We introduce local trivializations for functors and the descent
category Des1π (i). In Section 3 we define the category Trans1Gr (M, T ) of trans-
port functors on M in T with Gr-structure and discuss several properties.

5
In Section 4 we derive the result that relates the descent category Des1π (iG )
for the particular functor iG : BG / G-Tor to differential forms. In Sec-
tion 5 we provide examples that show that the theory of transport functors
applies well to several situations: we prove our main result concerning prin-
cipal G-bundles with connection, show a similar statement for vector bundles
with connection, and also discuss holonomy maps. In Section 6 we discuss
principal groupoid bundles and show how transport functors can be used to
derive the definition of a connection on such groupoid bundles. Section 7
contains various directions in which the concept of transport functors can be
generalized. In particular, we outline a possible generalization of transport
functors to transport n-functors

tra : Pn (M) / T,

which provide an implementation for higher dimensional parallel transport.

The discussion of the interesting case n = 2 is the subject of a separate
publication [SW13].

2 Functors and local Trivializations

We give the definition of the path groupoid of a smooth manifold and describe
functors defined on it. We introduce local trivializations and descent data of
such functors.

2.1 The Path Groupoid of a smooth Manifold

We start by setting up the basic definitions around the path groupoid of a
smooth manifold M. We use the conventions of [CP94, MP02], generalized
from loops to paths.
Definition 2.1. A path γ : x / y between two points x, y ∈ M is a smooth
map γ : [0, 1] / M which has a sitting instant: a number 0 < ǫ < 1 such
2
that γ(t) = x for 0 ≤ t < ǫ and γ(t) = y for 1 − ǫ < t ≤ 1.

Let us denote the set of such paths by P M. For example, for any point
x ∈ M there is the constant path idx defined by idx (t) := x. Given a path
γ1 : x / y and another path γ2 : y / z we define their composition to be
the path γ2 ◦ γ1 : x / z defined by
(
γ1 (2t) for 0 ≤ t ≤ 21
(γ2 ◦ γ1 )(t) :=
γ2 (2t − 1) for 21 ≤ t ≤ 1.

6
This gives a smooth map since γ1 and γ2 are both constant near the gluing
point, due to their sitting instants. We also define the inverse γ −1 : y / x
−1
of a path γ : x / y by γ (t) := γ(1 − t).
Definition 2.2. Two paths γ1 : x / y and γ2 : x / y are called thin
homotopy equivalent, if there exists a smooth map h : [0, 1] × [0, 1] / M
such that
1
1. there exists a number 0 < ǫ < 2
with

(a) h(s, t) = x for 0 ≤ t < ǫ and h(s, t) = y for 1 − ǫ < t ≤ 1.

(b) h(s, t) = γ1 (t) for 0 ≤ s < ǫ and h(s, t) = γ2 (t) for 1 − ǫ < s ≤ 1.

2. the differential of h has at most rank 1 everywhere, i.e.

rank(dh|(s,t) ) ≤ 1

for all (s, t) ∈ [0, 1] × [0, 1].

Due to condition (b), thin homotopy defines an equivalence relation on

P M. The set of thin homotopy classes of paths is denoted by P 1 M, and the
projection to classes is denoted by

pr : P M / P 1M.

We denote a thin homotopy class of a path γ : x / y by γ : x / y. Notice

that thin homotopies include the following type of reparameterizations: let
β : [0, 1] / [0, 1] be a path β : 0 / 1, in particular with β(0) = 0 and
β(1) = 1. Then, for any path γ : x / y, also γ ◦ β : x / y is a path and

h(s, t) := γ(tβ(1 − s) + β(t)β(s))

defines a thin homotopy between them.

The composition of paths defined above on P M descends to P 1M due
to condition (a), which admits a smooth composition of smooth homotopies.
The composition of thin homotopy classes of paths obeys the following rules:
Lemma 2.3. For any path γ : x / y,

a) γ ◦ idx = γ = idy ◦ γ,

b) For further paths γ ′ : y / z and γ ′′ : z / w,

(γ ′′ ◦ γ ′ ) ◦ γ = γ ′′ ◦ (γ ′ ◦ γ).

7
 c) γ ◦ γ −1 = idy and γ −1 ◦ γ = idx .
These three properties lead us to the following
Definition 2.4. For a smooth manifold M, we consider the category whose
set of objects is M, whose set of morphisms is P 1 M, where a class γ : x / y
is a morphism from x to y, and the composition is as described above. Lemma
2.3 a) and b) are the axioms of a category and c) says that every morphism
is invertible. Hence we have defined a groupoid, called the path groupoid of
M, and denoted by P1 (M).
For a smooth map f : M / N, we denote by
f∗ : P1 (M) / P1 (N)
the functor with f∗ (x) = f (x) and (f∗ )(γ) := f ◦ γ. The latter is well-defined,
since a thin homotopy h between paths γ and γ ′ induces a thin homotopy
f ◦ h between f ◦ γ and f ◦ γ ′ .
In the following we consider functors
F : P1 (M) / T (2.1)
for some arbitrary category T . Such a functor sends each point p ∈ M to
an object F (p) in T , and each thin homotopy class γ : x / y of paths to a
morphism F (γ) : F (x) / F (y) in T . We use the following notation: we call
M the base space of the functor F , and the object F (p) the fibre of F over
p. In the remainder of this section we give examples of natural constructions
with functors (2.1).

Additional Structure on T . Any additional structure for the category

T can be applied pointwise to functors into T , for instance,
a) if T has direct sums, we can take the direct sum F1 ⊕F2 of two functors.
b) if T is a monoidal category, we can take tensor products F1 ⊗ F2 of
functors.
c) if T is monoidal and has a duality regarded as a functor d : T / T op ,
we can form the dual F ∗ := d ◦ F of a functor F .

Pullback. If f : M / N is a smooth map and F : P1 (N) / T is a

functor, we define
f ∗ F := F ◦ f∗ : P1 (M) / T
to be the pullback of F along f .

8
Flat Functors. Instead of the path groupoid, one can also consider the
fundamental groupoid Π1 (M) of a smooth manifold M, whose objects are
points in M, just like for P1 (M), but whose morphisms are smooth homotopy
classes of paths (whose differential may have arbitrary rank). The projection
from thin homotopy classes to smooth homotopy classes provides a functor

p : P1 (M) / Π1 (M).

We call a functor F : P1 (M) / T flat, if there exists a functor F̃ :

Π1 (M) / ∼
T with F = F̃ ◦ p. This is motivated by parallel transport in
principal G-bundles: while it is invariant under thin homotopy, it is only ho-
motopy invariant if the bundle is flat, i.e. has vanishing curvature. However,
aside from Section 7.2 we will not discuss the flat case any further in this
article.

Restriction to Paths between fixed Points. Finally, let us consider the

restriction of a functor F : P1 (M) / T to paths between two fixed points.
This yields a map

Fx,y : MorP1 (M ) (x, y) / MorT (F (x), F (y)).

Of particular interest is the case x = y, in which MorP1 (M ) (x, x) forms a

group under composition, which is called the thin homotopy group of M
at x, and is denoted by π11 (M, x) [CP94, MP02]. Even more particular, we
consider the target category G-Tor: by choosing a diffeomorphism F (x) ∼= G,
we obtain an identification

MorG-Tor (F (x), F (x)) = G,

and the restriction Fx,x of a functor F : P1 (M) / G-Tor to the thin homo-
topy group of M at x gives a group homomorphism

Fx,x : π11 (M, x) / G.

This way one obtains the setup of [Bar91, CP94] and [MP02] for the case
G = U(1) as a particular case of our setup. A further question is, whether
the group homomorphism Fx,x is smooth in the sense used in [Bar91, CP94,
MP02]. An answer is given in Section 5.2.

2.2 Extracting Descent Data from a Functor

To define local trivializations of a functor F : P1 (M) / T , we fix three
attributes:

9
 1. A surjective submersion π : Y / M. Compared to local trivializations
of fibre bundles, the surjective submersion replaces an open cover of the
manifold. Indeed, given an open cover {Uα }α∈A of M, one obtains a
surjective submersion by taking Y to be the disjoint union of the Uα
and π : Y / M to be the union of the inclusions Uα   / M.

2. A Lie groupoid Gr, i.e. a groupoid whose sets of objects and morphisms
are smooth manifolds, whose source and target maps

s, t : Mor(Gr) / Obj(Gr)

are surjective submersions, and whose composition

◦ : Mor(Gr) s×t Mor(Gr) / Mor(Gr)

and the identity id : Obj(Gr) / Mor(Gr) are smooth maps. The Lie
groupoid Gr plays the role of the typical fibre of the functor F .

3. A functor i : Gr / T , which relates the typical fibre Gr to the target

category T of the functor F . In all of our examples, i will be an
equivalence of categories. This is important for some results derived in
Section 3.2.

Definition 2.5. Given a Lie groupoid Gr, a functor i : Gr / T and a

surjective submersion π : Y / M, a π-local i-trivialization of a functor

F : P1 (M) / T

is a pair (triv, t) of a functor triv : P1 (Y ) / Gr and a natural equivalence

t : π∗F / i ◦ triv.

The natural equivalence t is also depicted by the diagram

π∗
P1 (Y ) / P1 (M)
✈ ✈✈
✈
✈✈✈✈✈✈
✈✈
triv ✈t F
✈✈✈✈✈✈✈
✈
 v~ ✈✈✈ 
Gr i
/ T.

To set up the familiar terminology, we call a functor locally i-trivializable,

if it admits a π-local i-trivialization for some choice of π. We call a functor

10
i-trivial , if it admits an idM -local i-trivialization, i.e. if it is naturally equi-
valent to the functor i ◦ triv. To abbreviate the notation, we will often write
trivi instead of i ◦ triv.
Note that local trivializations can be pulled back: if ζ : Z / Y and π :
Y / M are surjective submersions, and (triv, t) is a π-local i-trivialization
of a functor F , we obtain a (π ◦ ζ)-local i-trivialization (ζ ∗triv, ζ ∗ t) of F . In
terms of open covers, this corresponds to a refinement of the cover.

Definition 2.6. Let Gr be a Lie groupoid and let i : Gr / T be a functor.

1
The category Trivπ (i) of functors with π-local i-trivialization is defined as
follows:

1. its objects are triples (F, triv, t) consisting of a functor F : P1 (M) / T

and a π-local i-trivialization (triv, t) of F .

2. a morphism
α
(F, triv, t) / (F ′ , triv′ , t′ )

is a natural transformation α : F / F ′ . Composition of morphisms

is simply composition of these natural transformations.

Motivated by transition functions of fibre bundles, we extract a similar

datum from a functor F with π-local i-trivialization (triv, t); this datum is a
natural equivalence
g : π1∗ trivi / π ∗ trivi
2

between the two functors π1∗ trivi and π2∗ trivi from P1 (Y [2] ) to T , where π1
and π2 are the projections from the two-fold fibre product Y [2] := Y ×M Y of
Y to the components. In the case that the surjective submersion comes from
an open cover of M, Y [2] is the disjoint union of all two-fold intersections of
open subsets. The natural equivalence g is defined by

g := π2∗ t ◦ π1∗ t−1 ;

its component at a point α ∈ Y [2] is the morphism t(π2 (α)) ◦ t(π1 (α))−1 in
T . The composition is well-defined because π ◦ π1 = π ◦ π2 .
Transition functions of fibre bundles satisfy a cocycle condition over three-
fold intersections. The natural equivalence g has a similar property when
pulled back to the three-fold fibre product Y [3] := Y ×M Y ×M Y .

11
Proposition 2.7. The diagram

π2∗ trivi
⑥> ❆❆
❆❆
∗ g ⑥⑥⑥ ❆❆ π23
∗
π12
⑥⑥ ❆❆ g
⑥⑥⑥ ❆❆
⑥⑥ ❆❆
⑥⑥ ❆
π1∗ trivi ∗ g
π13
/ π ∗ trivi
3

of natural equivalences between functors from P1 (Y [3] ) to T is commutative.

Now that we have defined the data (triv, g) associated to an object

(F, triv, t) in Triv1π (i), we consider a morphism

α : (F, triv, t) / (F ′ , triv′ , t′ )

between two functors with π-local i-trivializations, i.e. a natural transforma-

tion α : F / F ′ . We define a natural transformation

h : trivi / triv′i

by h := t′ ◦ π ∗ α ◦ t−1 , whose component at x ∈ Y is the morphism t′ (x) ◦

α(π(x)) ◦ t(x)−1 in T . From the definitions of g, g ′ and h one obtains the
commutative diagram
g
π1∗ trivi / π2∗ trivi

π1∗ h π2∗ h (2.2)

 
π1∗ triv′i / π2∗ triv′i .
g′

The behaviour of the natural equivalences data g and h leads to the

following definition of a category Des1π (i) of descent data. This terminology
will be explained in the next section.

Definition 2.8. The category Des1π (i) of descent data of π-locally i-trivialized
functors is defined as follows:

1. its objects are pairs (triv, g) of a functor triv : P1 (Y ) / Gr and a

natural equivalence
g : π1∗ trivi / π ∗ trivi ,
2

12
 such that the diagram

π2∗ trivi
> ❆❆
⑥⑥⑥ ❆❆
∗ g
π12 ⑥⑥ ❆❆ π23
∗
⑥⑥ ❆❆ g
⑥⑥ ❆❆
❆❆
(2.3)
⑥⑥ ❆
⑥⑥
π1∗ trivi ∗ g
π13
/ π ∗ trivi
3

is commutative.

2. a morphism (triv, g) / (triv′ , g ′) is a natural transformation

h : trivi / triv′i

such that the diagram

g
π1∗ trivi / π2∗ trivi

π1∗ h π2∗ h (2.4)

 
π1∗ triv′i / π2∗ triv′i .
g′

is commutative. The composition is the composition of these natural

transformations.

Summarizing, we have defined a functor

Exπ : Triv1π (i) / Des1π (i), (2.5)

that extracts descent data from functors with local trivialization and of mor-
phisms of those in the way described above.

2.3 Reconstructing a Functor from Descent Data

In this section we show that extracting descent data from a functor F pre-
serves all information about F . We also justify the terminology descent data,
see Remark 2.10 below.
Theorem 2.9. The functor

Exπ : Triv1π (i) / Des1π (i)

is an equivalence of categories.

13
 For the proof we define a weak inverse functor
Recπ : Des1π (i) / Triv1π (i) (2.6)
that reconstructs a functor (and a π-local i-trivialization) from given descent
data. The definition of Recπ is given in three steps:
1. We construct a groupoid P1π (M) covering the path groupoid P1 (M) by
means of a surjective functor pπ : P1π (M) / P1 (M), and show that
1
any object (triv, g) in Desπ (i) gives rise to a functor
R(triv,g) : P1π (M) / T.
We enhance this to a functor
R : Des1π (i) / Funct(P1π (M), T ), (2.7)
where Funct(P1π (M), T ) is the category of functors from P1π (M) to T
and natural transformations between those.
2. We show that the functor pπ : P1π (M) / P1 (M) is an equivalence of
categories and construct a weak inverse
s : P1 (M) / P1π (M).
The pullback along s is the functor
s∗ : Funct(P1π (M), T ) / Funct(P1 (M), T ) (2.8)
obtained by pre-composition with s.
3. By constructing canonical π-local i-trivializations of functors in the
image of the composition s∗ ◦ R of the functors (2.7) and (2.8), we
extend this composition to a functor
Recπ := s∗ ◦ R : Des1π (i) / Triv1π (i).
Finally, we give in Appendix B.1 the proof that Recπ is a weak inverse of
the functor Exπ and thus show that Exπ is an equivalence of categories.
Before we perform the steps 1 to 3, let us make the following remark
about the nature of the category Des1π (i) and the functor Recπ .
Remark 2.10. We consider the case i := idGr . Now, the forgetful functor v :
Triv1π (i) / Funct(P1 (M), Gr) has a canonical weak inverse, which associates
to a functor F : P1 (M) / Gr the π-local i-trivialization (π ∗ F, idπ∗ F ). Under
this identification, Des1π (i) is the descent category of the functor category
Funct(M, Gr) with respect to π in the sense of a stack [Moe02, Str04]. The
functor
Recπ : Des1π (i) / Funct(P1 (M), Gr)

realizes the descent.

14
Step 1: The Groupoid P1π (M). The groupoid P1π (M) we introduce is the
universal path pushout associated to the surjective submersion π : Y / M.
π
Heuristically, P1 (M) is the path groupoid of the covering Y combined with
“jumps” in the fibres of π. We explain its universality in Appendix A.1 for
completeness and introduce here a concrete realization (see Lemma A.4).
Definition 2.11. The groupoid P1π (M) is defined as follows. Its objects
are points x ∈ Y and its morphisms are formal (finite) compositions of two
types of basic morphisms: thin homotopy classes γ : x / y of paths in Y ,
[2]
and points α ∈ Y regarded as morphisms α : π1 (α) / π2 (α). Among the
morphisms, we impose three relations:

(1) for any thin homotopy class Θ : α / β of paths in Y [2] , we demand

that the diagram
α
π1 (α) / π2 (α)

(π1 )∗ (Θ) (π2 )∗ (Θ)

 
π1 (β) β
/ π2 (β).

of morphisms in P1π (M) is commutative.

(2) for any point Ξ ∈ Y [3] , we demand that the diagram

π@ 2 (Ξ)❃
❃❃
❃❃
π12 (Ξ) ❃❃π23 (Ξ)
❃❃
❃❃
❃
π1 (Ξ) / π3 (Ξ)
π13 (Ξ)

of morphisms in P1π (M) is commutative.

(3) we impose the equation idx = (x, x) ∈ Y [2] for any x ∈ Y .

It is clear that this definition indeed gives a groupoid. It is important for

us because it provides the two following natural definitions.
Definition 2.12. For an object (triv, g) in Des1π (i), we have a functor
R(triv,g) : P1π (M) / T
that sends an object x ∈ Y to trivi (x), a basic morphism γ : x / y to
trivi (γ) and a basic morphism α to g(α).

15
 The definition is well-defined since it respects the relations among the
morphisms: (1) is respected due to the commutative diagram for the natural
transformation g, (2) is the cocycle condition (2.3) for g and (3) follows from
the latter since g is invertible.

Definition 2.13. For a morphism h : (triv, g) / (triv′ , g ′ ) in Des1π (i) we

have a natural transformation

Rh : R(triv,g) / R(triv′ ,g′ )

that sends an object x ∈ Y to the morphism h(x) in T .

The commutative diagram for the natural transformation Rh for a basic

morphism γ : x / y follows from the one of h, and for a basic morphism
α ∈ Y from the condition (2.4) on the morphisms of Des1π (i).
[2]

We explain in Appendix A.1 that Definitions (2.12) and (2.13) are con-
sequences of the universal property of the groupoid P1π (M), as specified in
Definition A.1 and calculated in Lemma A.4. Here we summarize the defini-
tions above in the following way:

Lemma 2.14. Definitions (2.12) and (2.13) yield a functor

R : Des1π (i) / Funct(P1π (M), T ). (2.9)

Step 2: Pullback to M. To continue the reconstruction of a functor from

given descent data let us introduce the projection functor

pπ : P1π (M) / P1 (M) (2.10)

sending an object x ∈ Y to π(x), a basic morphism γ : x / y to π∗ (γ) and

[2]
a basic morphism α ∈ Y to idπ(π1 (α)) (= idπ(π2 (α)) ). In other words, it is
just the functor π∗ and forgets the jumps in the fibres of π. More precisely,

pπ ◦ ι = π∗ ,

where ι : P1 (Y ) / P1π (M) is the obvious inclusion functor.

Lemma 2.15. The projection functor pπ : P1π (M) / P1 (M) is a surjective

equivalence of categories.

16
 Proof. Since π : Y / M is surjective, it is clear that pπ is surjective on
objects. It remains to show that the map

(pπ )1 : MorP1π (M ) (x, y) / MorP1 (M ) (π(x), π(y)) (2.11)

is bijective for all x, y ∈ Y . Let γ : π(x) / π(y) be any path in M. Let

{Ui }i∈I an open cover of M with sections si : Ui / Y . Since the image
of γ : [0, 1] / M is compact, there exists a finite subset J ⊂ I such that
{Ui }i∈J covers the image. Let γ = γn ◦...◦γ1 be a decomposition of γ such that
γi ∈ P Uj(i) for some assignment j : {1, ..., n} / J. Let γ̃i := (sj(i) )∗ γi ∈ P Y
be lifts of the pieces, γ̃i : ai / bi with ai , bi ∈ Y . Now we consider the path

γ̃ := (bn , y) ◦ γ̃n ◦ (bn−1 , an ) ◦ ... ◦ γ̃2 ◦ (b1 , a2 ) ◦ γ̃1 ◦ (x, a1 ),

whose thin homotopy class is evidently a preimage of the thin homotopy class
of γ under (pπ )1 . The injectivity of (2.11) follows from the identifications
(1), (2) and (3) of morphisms in the groupoid P1π (M). 

Since pπ is an equivalence of categories, there exists a (up to natural

isomorphism) unique weak inverse functor s : P1 (M) / P π (M) together
1
π / idP π (M ) and ρ : pπ ◦ s
with natural equivalences λ : s ◦ p 1
/ idP (M ) .
1
The inverse functor s can be constructed explicitly: for a fixed choice of lifts
s(x) ∈ Y for every point x ∈ M, and a fixed choice of an open cover, each
path can be lifted as described in the proof of Lemma 2.15. In this case we
have ρ = id, and the component of λ at x ∈ Y is the morphism (s(π(x)), x)
in P1π (M). Now we have a canonical functor

s∗ ◦ R : Des1π (i) / Funct(P1 (M), T ).

It reconstructs a functor s∗ R(triv,g) from a given object (triv, g) in Des1π (i)

and a natural transformation s∗ Rh from a given morphism h in Des1π (i).

Step 3: Local Trivialization. What remains to enhance the functor s∗ ◦R

to a functor
Recπ : Des1π (i) / Triv1 (i)
π

is finding a π-local i-trivialization (triv, t) of each reconstructed functor

s∗ R(triv,g) . Of course the given functor triv : P1 (Y ) / Gr serves as the
first component of the trivialization, and it remains to define the natural
equivalence
t : π ∗ s∗ R(triv,g) / trivi . (2.12)

17
We use the natural equivalence λ : s◦pπ / idP1π (M ) associated to the functor
s and obtain a natural equivalence

ι∗ λ : s ◦ π∗ / ι

between functors from P1 (Y ) to P1π (M). Its component at x ∈ Y is the

morphism (s(π(x)), x) going from s(π(x)) to x. Using

π ∗ s∗ R(triv,g) = (s ◦ π∗ )∗ R(triv,g) and trivi = ι∗ R(triv,g) ,

we define by
t := g ◦ ι∗ λ
the natural equivalence (2.12). Indeed, its component at x ∈ Y is the mor-
phism g((s(π(x)), x)) : trivi (s(π(x))) / trivi (x), these are natural in x and
isomorphisms because g is one. Diagrammatically, it is
π∗
P1 (Y ) 3/ P1 (M)
❏❏ s
❏❏
❏❏ pπ sssss
ι ❏❏❏ sλ
% }u sssss s
s
triv P1π (M) s∗ R(triv,g)
▲▲
▲▲
▲▲
▲
R(triv,g) ▲▲▲ 
 %
Gr i
/ T.

This shows

Lemma 2.16. The pair (triv, t) is a π-local i-trivialization of the functor

s∗ R(triv,g) .

This finishes the definition of the reconstruction functor Recπ . The re-
maining proof that Recπ is a weak inverse of Exπ is postponed to Appendix
B.1.

3 Transport Functors
Transport functors are locally trivializable functors whose descent data is
smooth. Wilson lines are restrictions of a functor to paths between two fixed
points. We deduce a characterization of transport functors by the smoothness
of their Wilson lines.

18
3.1 Smooth Descent Data
In this section we specify a subcategory Des1π (i)∞ of the category Des1π (i)
of descent data we have defined in the previous section. This subcategory is
supposed to contain smooth descent data. The main issue is to decide, when
a functor F : P1 (X) / Gr is smooth: in contrast to the objects and the
morphisms of the Lie groupoid Gr, the set P 1X of morphisms of P1 (X) is
not a smooth manifold.
Definition 3.1. Let Gr be a Lie groupoid and let X be a smooth manifold.
A functor F : P1 (X) / Gr is called smooth, if the following two conditions
are satisfied:

1. On objects, F : X / Obj(Gr) is a smooth map.

2. For every k ∈ N0 , every open subset U ⊂ Rk and every map c :

U / P X such that the composite

c×id ev
U × [0, 1] / P X × [0, 1] / X (3.1)

is smooth, also
c pr F
U / PX / P 1X / Mor(Gr)

is smooth.

In (3.1), ev is the evaluation map ev(γ, t) := γ(t). Similar definitions of

smooth maps defined on thin homotopy classes of paths have also been used
in [Bar91, CP94, MP02]. We explain in Appendix A.2 how Definition 3.1 is
motivated and how it arises from the general concept of diffeological spaces
[Che77], a generalization of the concept of a smooth manifold, cf. Proposition
A.7 i).
Definition 3.2. A natural transformation η : F / G between smooth func-
tors F, G : P1 (X) / Gr is called smooth, if its components form a smooth
map X / Mor(Gr) : X ✤ / η(X).

Because the composition in the Lie groupoid Gr is smooth, compositions

of smooth natural transformations are again smooth. Hence, smooth functors
and smooth natural transformations form a category Funct∞ (P1 (X), Gr).
Notice that if f : M / X is a smooth map, and F : P1 (X) / Gr is a
∗
smooth functor, the pullback f F is also smooth. Similarly, pullbacks of
smooth natural transformations are smooth.

19
Definition 3.3. Let Gr be a Lie groupoid and let i : Gr / T be a functor.
1
An object (triv, g) in Desπ (i) is called smooth, if the following two conditions
are satisfied:

1. The functor
triv : P1 (Y ) / Gr
is smooth in the sense of Definition 3.1.

2. The natural equivalence

g : π1∗ trivi / π2∗ trivi

factors through i by a natural equivalence g̃ : π1∗ triv / π ∗ triv which is

2
smooth in the sense of Definition 3.2. For the components at a point
α ∈ Y [2] , the factorization means g(α) = i(g̃(α)).

In the same sense, a morphism

h : (triv, g) / (triv′ , g ′ )

between smooth objects is called smooth, if it factors through i by a smooth

natural equivalence h̃ : triv / triv′ .

Remark 3.4. If i is faithful, the natural equivalences g̃ and h̃ in Definition

3.3 are uniquely determined, provided that they exist. If i is additionally
full, also the existence of g and h is guaranteed.

Smooth objects and morphisms in Des1π (i) form the subcategory

Des1π (i)∞ . Using the equivalence Exπ defined in Section 2.2, we obtain a
subcategory Triv1π (i)∞ of Triv1π (i) consisting of those objects (F, triv, t) for
which Exπ (F, triv, t) is smooth and of those morphisms h for which Exπ (h)
is smooth.

Proposition 3.5. The functor Recπ : Des1π (i) / Triv1π (i) restricts to an
equivalence of categories

Recπ : Des1π (i)∞ / Triv1π (i)∞ .

Proof. This follows from the fact that Exπ ◦ Recπ = idDes1π (i) , see the
proof of Theorem 2.9 in Appendix B.1. 

Now we are ready to define transport functors.

20
Definition 3.6. Let M be a smooth manifold, T a category, Gr a Lie
groupoid and i : Gr / T a functor.

1. A transport functor on M in T with Gr-structure is a functor

tra : P1 (M) / T

such that there exists a surjective submersion π : Y / M and a π-local

i-trivialization (triv, t), such that Exπ (tra, triv, t) is smooth.

2. A morphism between transport functors on M in T with Gr-structure is

a natural equivalence η : tra / tra′ such that there exists a surjective
submersion π : Y / M together with π-local i-trivializations of tra
′
and tra , such that Exπ (η) is smooth.

It is clear that the identity natural transformation of a transport functor

tra is a morphism in the above sense. To show that the composition of
morphisms between transport functors is possible, note that if π : Y / M
is a surjective submersion for which Exπ (η) is smooth, and ζ : Z / Y is
another surjective submersion, then also Exπ◦ζ (η) is smooth. If now η :
tra / tra′ and η ′ : tra′ / tra′′ are morphisms of transport functors, and
π:Y / M and π ′ : Y ′ / M are surjective submersions for which Exπ (η)
and Exπ′ (η ) are smooth, the fibre product π̃ : Y ×M Y ′
′ / M is a surjective
′
submersion and factors through π and π by surjective submersions. Hence,
Exπ̃ (η ′ ◦ η) is smooth.

Definition 3.7. The category of all transport functors on M in T with Gr-

structure and all morphisms between those is denoted by Trans1Gr (M, T ).

From the definition of a transport functor with Gr-structure it is not clear

that, for a fixed surjective submersion π : Y / M, all choices of π-local
i-trivializations (triv, t) with smooth descent data give rise to isomorphic
objects in Des1π (i)∞ . This is at least true for full functors i : Gr / T and
contractible surjective submersions: a surjective submersion π : Y / M is
called contractible, if there exists a smooth map c : Y × [0, 1] / Y such that
c(y, 0) = y for all y ∈ Y and c(y, 1) = yk for some fixed choice of yk ∈ Yk
for each connected component Yk of Y . We may assume without loss of
generality, that c has a sitting instant with respect to the second parameter,
so that we can regard c also as a map c : Y / P Y . For example, if Y is
the disjoint union of the open sets of a good open cover of M, π : Y / M
is contractible.

21
Lemma 3.8. Let i : Gr / T be a full functor, let π : Y / M be a con-
′ ′
tractible surjective submersion and let (triv, t) and (triv , t ) be two π-local
i-trivializations of a transport functor tra : P1 (M) / T with Gr-structure.
Then, the identity natural transformation idtra : tra / tra defines a mor-
phism
idtra : (tra, triv, t) / (tra, triv′ , t′ )

in Triv1π (i)∞ , in particular, Exπ (tra, triv, t) and Exπ (tra, triv′ , t′ ) are isomor-
phic objects in Des1π (i)∞ .

Proof. Let c : Y × [0, 1] / Y be a smooth contraction, regarded as a

map c : Y / P Y . For each y ∈ Yk we have a path c(y) : y / yk , and the
commutative diagram for the natural transformation t gives
t(y) = trivi (c(y))−1 ◦ t(yk ) ◦ tra(π∗ (c(y))),
and analogously for t′ . The descent datum of the natural equivalence idtra is
the natural equivalence
h := Exπ (id) = t′ ◦ t−1 : trivi / triv′i .
Its component at y ∈ Yk is the morphism
h(y) = triv′i (c(y))−1 ◦ t′ (yk ) ◦ t(yk )−1 ◦ trivi (c(y)) : trivi (y) / triv′i (y) (3.2)
in T . Since i is full, t′ (yk ) ◦ t(yk )−1 = i(κk ) for some morphism κk :
triv(yk ) / triv′ (yk ), so that h factors through i by

h̃(y) := triv′ (c(y))−1 ◦ κk ◦ triv(c(y)) ∈ Mor(Gr).

Since triv and triv′ are smooth functors, triv◦pr◦c and triv′ ◦pr◦c are smooth
maps, so that the components of h̃ form a smooth map Y / Mor(Gr).
Hence, h is a morphism in Des1π (i)∞ . 

To keep track of all the categories we have defined, consider the following
diagram of functors which is strictly commutative:
Recπ v∞
Des1π (i)

∞ / Triv1π (i)∞ / Trans1Gr (M,
 T)
_ _ _
(3.3)
  
Des1π (i) Recπ
/ Triv 1 (i)
π v
/ Funct(M, T )

The vertical arrows are the inclusion functors, and v ∞ and v are forgetful
functors. In the next subsection we show that the functor v ∞ is an equiva-
lence of categories.

22
3.2 Wilson Lines of Transport Functors
We restrict functors to paths between two fixed points and study the smooth-
ness of these restrictions. For this purpose we assume that the functor
i : Gr / T is an equivalence of categories; this is the case in all examples
of transport functors we give in Section 5.
Definition 3.9. Let F : P1 (M) / T be a functor, let Gr be a Lie groupoid
and let i : Gr / T be an equivalence of categories. Consider two points
x1 , x2 ∈ M together with a choice of objects Gk in Gr and isomorphisms
tk : F (xk ) / i(Gk ) in T for k = 1, 2. Then, the map

WxF,i
1 ,x2
: MorP1 (M ) (x, y) / MorGr (G1 , G2 ) : γ ✤ / i−1 (t2 ◦ F (γ) ◦ t−1
1 )

is called the Wilson line of F from x1 to x2 .

Note that because i is essentially surjective, the choices of objects Gk and
morphisms tk : F (xk ) / Gk exist for all points xk ∈ M. Because i is full and
faithful, the morphism t2 ◦ F (γ) ◦ t−1
1 : i(G1 )
/ i(G2 ) has a unique preimage
under i, which is the Wilson line. For a different choice t′k : F (xk ) / i(G′ )
k
of objects in Gr and isomorphisms in T the Wilson line changes like
WxF,i
1 ,x2
✤ / τ2−1 ◦ WxF,i
1 ,x2
◦ τ1
for τk : G′k / Gk defined by i(τk ) = tk ◦ t′−1
k .

Definition 3.10. A Wilson line WxF,i 1 ,x2

is called smooth, if for every k ∈ N0 ,
k
every open subset U ⊂ R and every map c : U / P M such that c(u)(t) ∈
M is smooth on U × [0, 1], c(u, 0) = x1 and c(u, 1) = x2 for all u ∈ U, also
the map
WxF,i
1 ,x2
◦ pr ◦ c : U / MorGr (G1 , G2 )

is smooth.
This definition of smoothness arises again from the context of diffeological
spaces, see Proposition A.6 i) in Appendix A.2. Notice that if a Wilson line
is smooth for some choice of objects Gk and isomorphisms tk , it is smooth
for any other choice. For this reason we have not labelled Wilson lines with
additional indices G1 , G2 , t1 , t2 .
Lemma 3.11. Let i : Gr / T be an equivalence of categories, let
F : P1 (M) / T
be a functor whose Wilson lines WxF,i 1 ,x2
are smooth for all points x1 , x2 ∈ M,
and let π : Y / M be a contractible surjective submersion. Then, F admits
a π-local i-trivialization (triv, t) whose descent data Exπ (triv, t) is smooth.

23
 Proof. We choose a smooth contraction r : Y / P Y and make, for
every connected component Yk of Y , a choice of objects Gk in Gr and iso-
morphisms tk : F (π(yk )) / i(Gk ). First we set triv(y) := Gk for all y ∈ Yk ,
and define morphisms
t(y) := tk ◦ F (π∗ (r(y))) : F (π(y)) / i(Gk )
in T . For a path γ : y / y ′ , we define the morphism
triv(γ) := i−1 (t(y ′ ) ◦ F (π∗ (γ)) ◦ t(y)−1 ) : Gk / Gk
in Gr. By construction, the morphisms t(y) are the components of a natural
equivalence t : π ∗ F / trivi , so that we have defined a π-local i-trivialization
(triv, t) of F . Since triv is locally constant on objects, it satisfies condition 1
of Definition 3.1. To check condition 2, notice that, for any path γ : y / y ′,
−1
triv(γ) = WyF,i
k ,yk
(π∗ (r(y ′) ◦ γ ◦ r(y) )). (3.4)
More generally, if c : U / P Y is a map, we have, for every u ∈ U, a path
c̃(u) := π∗ (r(c(u)(1)) ◦ c(u) ◦ r(c(u)(0))−1)
in M. Then, equation (3.4) becomes
triv ◦ pr ◦ c = WyF,i
k ,yk
◦ pr ◦ c̃.
Since the right hand side is by assumption a smooth function; triv is a smooth
functor. The component of the natural equivalence g := π2∗ t◦π1∗ t−1 at a point
α = (y, y ′) ∈ Y [2] with y ∈ Yk and y ′ ∈ Yl is the morphism
g(α) = tl ◦ F (π(c(y ′))) ◦ F (π(c(y)))−1 ◦ t−1
k : i(Gk )
/ i(Gl ),
and hence of the form g(α) = i(g̃(α)). Now consider a chart ϕ : V / Y [2]
with an open subset V ∈ Rn , and the path c(u) := r(π2 (ϕ(u)))◦r(π1 (ϕ(u)))−1
in Y . We find
g̃ ◦ ϕ = WyF,i
k ,yl
◦ pr ◦ c
as functions from U to Mor(Gk , Gl ). Because the right hand side is by
assumption a smooth function, g̃ is smooth on every chart, and hence also a
smooth function. 

Theorem 3.12. Let i : Gr / T be an equivalence of categories. A functor

F : P1 (M) / T
is a transport functor with Gr-structure if and only if for every pair (x1 , x2 )
of points in M the Wilson line WxF,i
1 ,x2
is smooth.

24
 Proof. One implication is shown by Lemma 3.11, using the fact
that contractible surjective submersions always exist. To prove the other
implication we express the Wilson line of the transport functor locally in
terms of the functor R(triv,g) : P1π (M) / T from Section 2.3. We postpone
this construction to Appendix B.2. 

Theorem 3.12 makes it possible to check explicitly, whether a given func-

tor F is a transport functor or not. Furthermore, because every transport
functor has smooth Wilson lines, we can apply Lemma 3.11 and have

Corollary 3.13. Every transport functor tra : P1 (M) / T with Gr-

structure (with i : Gr / T an equivalence of categories) admits a π-local
i-trivialization with smooth descent data for any contractible surjective sub-
mersion π.

This corollary can be understood analogously to the fact, that every fibre
bundle over M is trivializable over every good open cover of M.

Proposition 3.14. For an equivalence of categories i : Gr / T and a con-

tractible surjective submersion π : Y / M, the forgetful functor

v ∞ : Triv1π (i)∞ / Trans1Gr (M, T )

is a surjective equivalence of categories.

Proof. By Corollary 3.13 v ∞ is surjective. Since it is certainly faithful,

it remains to prove that it is full. Let η be a morphism of transport
functors with π-local i-trivialization, i.e. there exists a surjective submersion
π′ : Y ′ / M such that Exπ′ (η) is smooth. Going to a contractible surjective
submersion Z / Y ×M Y ′ shows that also Exπ (η) is smooth. 

Summarizing, we have for i an equivalence of categories and π a con-

tractible surjective submersion, the following equivalences of categories:

Recπ

#
v∞
Des1π (i)∞ Triv1π (i)∞ / Trans1Gr (M, T ).
c

Exπ

25
4 Differential Forms and smooth Functors
We establish a relation between smooth descent data we have defined in the
previous section and more familiar geometric objects like differential forms,
motivated by [BS] and [Bae07]. The relation we find can be expressed as
a path ordered exponential, understood as the solution of an initial value
problem.

Lemma 4.1. Let G be a Lie group with Lie algebra g. There is a canonical
bijection between the set Ω1 (R, g) of g-valued 1-forms on R and the set of
smooth maps
f :R×R / G

satisfying the cocycle condition

f (y, z) · f (x, y) = f (x, z). (4.1)

Proof. The idea behind this bijection is that f is the path-ordered

exponential of a 1-form A,
Z y 
f (x, y) = P exp A .
x

Let us explain in detail what that means. Given the 1-form A, we pose the
initial value problem
 
∂ ∂
u(t) = −dru(t) |1 (At ) and u(t0 ) = 1 (4.2)
∂t ∂t

for a smooth function u : R / G and a number t0 ∈ R. Here, ru(t) is the

right multiplication in G and dru(t) |1 : g / Tu(t) G is its differential evaluated
at 1 ∈ G. The sign in (4.2) is a convention well-adapted to the examples
in Section 5. Differential equations of this type have a unique solution u(t)
defined on all of R, such that f (t0 , t) := u(t) depends smoothly on both
parameters. To see that f satisfies the cocycle condition (4.1), define for
fixed x, y ∈ R the function Ψ(t) := f (y, t) · f (x, y). Its derivative is
 
∂ ∂
Ψ(t) = drf (x,y) |1 f (y, t)
∂t ∂t
 
∂
= −drf (x,y) |1 (drf (y,t) |1 (At ))
∂t
 
∂
= −drΨ(t) (At )
∂t

26
and furthermore Ψ(y) = f (x, y). So, by uniqueness

f (y, t) · f (x, y) = Ψ(t) = f (x, t).

Conversely, for a smooth function f : R × R / G, let u(t) := f (t0 , t) for

some t0 ∈ R, and define
 
∂ ∂
At := −dru(t) |−1
1 u(t), (4.3)
∂t ∂t
which yields a 1-form on R. If f satisfies the cocycle condition, this 1-form is
independent of the choice of t0 . The definition of the 1-form A is obviously
inverse to (4.2) and thus establishes the claimed bijection. 

We also need a relation between the functions fA and fA′ corresponding

to 1-forms A and A′ , when A and A′ are related by a gauge transformation.
In the following we denote the left and right invariant Maurer-Cartan forms
on G forms by θ and θ̄ respectively.
Lemma 4.2. Let A ∈ Ω1 (R, g) be a g-valued 1-form on R, let g : R / G be
′ ∗
a smooth function and let A := Adg (A) − g θ̄. If fA and fA′ are the smooth
functions corresponding to A and A′ by Lemma 4.1, we have

g(y) · fA (x, y) = fA′ (x, y) · g(x).

Proof. By direct verification, the function g(y) · fA (x, y) · g(x)−1 solves

the initial value problem (4.2) for the 1-form A′ . Uniqueness gives the
claimed equality. 

In the following we use the two lemmata above for 1-forms on R to obtain
a similar correspondence between 1-forms on an arbitrary smooth manifold
X and certain smooth functors defined on the path groupoid P1 (X). For a
given 1-form A ∈ Ω1 (X, g), we first define a map

kA : P X / G

in the following way: a path γ : x / y in X can be continued to a smooth

function γ : R / X with γ(t) = x for t < 0 and γ(t) = y for t > 1, due
to its sitting instants. Then, the pullback γ ∗ A ∈ Ω1 (R, g) corresponds by
Lemma 4.1 to a smooth function fγ ∗ A : R × R / G. Now we define

kA (γ) := fγ ∗ A (0, 1).

The map kA defined like this comes with the following properties:

27
 a) For the constant path idx we obtain the constant function fid∗x A (x, y) =
1 and thus
kA (idx ) = 1. (4.4)

b) For two paths γ1 : x / y and γ2 : y / z, we have

1 1
f(γ2 ◦γ1 )∗ A (0, 1) = f(γ2 ◦γ1 )∗ A ( , 1) · f(γ2 ◦γ1 )∗ A (0, ) = fγ1∗ A (0, 1) · fγ2∗ A (0, 1)
2 2
and thus
kA (γ2 ◦ γ1 ) = kA (γ2 ) · kA (γ1 ). (4.5)

c) If g : X / G is a smooth function and A′ := Adg (A) − g ∗ θ̄,

g(y) · kA (γ) = kA′ (γ) · g(x) (4.6)

for any path γ : x / y.

The next proposition shows that the definition of kA (γ) depends only on
the thin homotopy class of γ.

Proposition 4.3. The map kA : P X / G factors in a unique way through

1
the set P X of thin homotopy classes of paths, i.e. there is a unique map

FA : P 1X / G

such that kA = FA ◦ pr with pr : P X / P 1 X the projection.

Proof. If kA factors through the surjective map pr : P X / P 1 X,

the map FA is determined uniquely. So we only have to show that two
thin homotopy equivalent paths γ0 : x / y and γ1 : x / y are mapped
to the same group element, kA (γ0 ) = kA (γ1 ). We have moved this issue to
Appendix B.3. 

In fact, the map FA : P 1 X / G is not just a map. To understand it

correctly, we need the following category:

Definition 4.4. Let G be a Lie group. We denote by BG the following Lie

groupoid: it has only one object, and G is its set of morphisms. The unit
element 1 ∈ G is the identity morphism, and group multiplication is the
composition, i.e. g2 ◦ g1 := g2 · g1 .

28
 To understand the notation, notice that the geometric realization of the
nerve of BG yields the classifying space of the group G, i.e. |N(BG)| = BG.
We claim that the map FA defined by Proposition 4.3 defines a functor
FA : P1 (X) / BG.
Indeed, since BG has only one object one only has to check that FA respects
the composition (which is shown by (4.4)) and the identity morphisms (shown
in (4.5)).
Lemma 4.5. The functor FA is smooth in the sense of Definition 3.1.
Proof. Let U ⊂ Rk be an open subset of some Rk and let c : U / P X be
a map such that c(u)(t) is smooth on U ×[0, 1]. We denote the path associated
to a point x ∈ U and extended smoothly to R by γx := c(x) : R / X. This
1 ✤ ∗
means that U / Ω (R, g) : x / γ A is a smooth family of g-valued 1-forms
x
on R. We recall that
(kA ◦ c)(x) = kA (γx ) = fγx∗ A (0, 1)
is defined to be the solution of a differential equation, which now depends
smoothly on x. Hence, kA ◦ c = FA ◦ pr ◦ c : U / G is a smooth function. 

Let us summarize the correspondence between 1-forms on X and smooth

functors developed in the Lemmata above in terms of an equivalence be-
tween categories. One category is a category Funct∞ (P1 (X), BG) of smooth
functors and smooth natural transformations. The second category is the
category of differential G-cocycles on X:
Definition 4.6. Let X be a smooth manifold and G be a Lie group with
1
Lie algebra g. We consider the following category ZX (G)∞ : objects are all
′
g-valued 1-forms A on X, and a morphism A / A is a smooth function
g:X / G such that
A′ = Adg (A) − g ∗ θ̄.
The composition is the multiplication of functions, g2 ◦ g1 = g2 g1 .
We claim that the Lemmata above provide the structure of a functor
1
P : ZX (G)∞ / Funct∞ (P1 (X), BG).
It sends a g-valued 1-form A on X to the functor FA defined uniquely in
Proposition 4.3 and which is shown by Lemma 4.5. It sends a function
g:X / G regarded as a morphism A / A′ to the smooth natural trans-
formation FA / FA′ whose component at a point x is g(x). This is natural
in x due to (4.6).

29
Proposition 4.7. The functor
1
P : ZX (G)∞ / Funct∞ (X, BG).

is an isomorphism of categories, which reduces on the level of objects to a

bijection

Ω1 (X, g) ∼
= {Smooth functors F : P1 (X) / BG}.

Proof. If A and A′ are two g-valued 1-forms on X, the set of morphisms

between them is the set of smooth functions g : X / G satisfying the
condition A′ = Adg (A) − g ∗ θ̄. The set of morphisms between the func-
tors FA and FA′ are smooth natural transformations, i.e. smooth maps
g : X / G, whose naturality square is equivalent to the same condition.
So, the functor P is manifestly full and faithful. It remains to show
that it is a bijection on the level of objects. This is done in Appendix
B.4 by an explicit construction of a 1-form A to a given smooth functor F . 

1
One can also enhance the category ZX (G)∞ in such a way that it becomes
the familiar category of local data of principal G-bundles with connection.

Definition 4.8. The category Zπ1 (G)∞ of differential G-cocycles of the sur-
jective submersion π is the category whose objects are pairs (g, A) consisting
of a 1-form A ∈ Ω1 (Y, g) and a smooth function g : Y [2] / G such that

∗ ∗ ∗
π13 g = π23 g · π12 g and π2∗ A = Adg (π1∗ A) − g ∗ θ̄.

A morphism
h : (g, A) / (g ′ , A′ )
is a smooth function h : Y / G such that

A′ = Adh (A) − h∗ θ̄ and π2∗ h · g = g ′ · π1∗ h.

Composition of morphisms is given by the product of these functions, h2 ◦h1 =

h2 h1 .
1
To explain the notation, notice that for π = idX we obtain ZX (G)∞ =
Zπ1 (G)∞ . As an example, we consider the group G = U(1) and a surjec-
tive submersion π : Y / M coming from a good open cover U of M.
Then, the group of isomorphism classes of Zπ1 (U(1))∞ is the Deligne hy-
percohomology group H 1 (U, D(1)), where D(1) is the Deligne sheaf complex
0 / U(1) / Ω1 .

30
Corollary 4.9. The functor P extends to an equivalence of categories

Zπ1 (G)∞ ∼
= Des1π (iG )∞ ,

where iG : BG / G-Tor sends the object of BG to the group G regarded

as a G-space, and a morphism g ∈ G to the equivariant smooth map which
multiplies with g from the left.

This corollary is an important step towards our main theorem, to which

we come in the next section.

5 Examples
Various structures in the theory of bundles with connection are special cases
of transport functors with Gr-structure for particular choices of the structure
groupoid Gr. In this section we spell out some prominent examples.

5.1 Principal Bundles with Connection

In this section, we fix a Lie group G. Associated to this Lie group, we have the
Lie groupoid BG from Definition 4.4, the category G-Tor of smooth manifolds
with right G-action and G-equivariant smooth maps between those, and the
functor iG : BG / G-Tor that sends the object of BG to the G-space G and
a morphism g ∈ G to the G-equivariant diffeomorphism that multiplies from
the left by g. The functor iG is an equivalence of categories.
As we have outlined in the introduction, a principal G-bundle P with
connection over M defines a functor

traP : P1 (M) / G-Tor.

Before we show that traP is a transport functor with BG-structure, let us

recall its definition in detail. To an object x ∈ M it assigns the fibre Px of
the bundle P over the point x. To a path γ : x / y, it assigns the parallel
transport map τγ : Px / Py .
For preparation, we recall the basic definitions concerning local trivializa-
tions of principal bundles with connections. In the spirit of this article, we use
surjective submersions instead of coverings by open sets. In this language,
a local trivialization of the principal bundle P is a surjective submersion
π:Y / M together with a G-equivariant diffeomorphism

φ : π∗P / Y ×G

31
that covers the identity on Y . Here, the fibre product π ∗ P = Y ×M P comes
with the projection p : π ∗ P / P on the second factor. It induces a section

s:Y / P :y ✤ / p(φ−1 (y, 1)).

The transition function g̃φ : Y [2] / G associated to the local trivialization

φ is defined by
s(π1 (α)) = s(π2 (α)) · g̃φ (α) (5.1)
for every point α ∈ Y [2] . A connection on P is a g-valued 1-form ω ∈ Ω1 (P, g)
that obeys
      
d −1 dρ dg
ωρg (ρg) = Adg ωρ + θg (5.2)
dt dt dt

for smooth maps ρ : [0, 1] / P and g : [0, 1] / G. In this setup, a tangent

vector v ∈ Tp P is called horizontal, if it is in the kernel of ω.
Notice that all our conventions are chosen such that the transition func-
tion g̃φ : Y [2] / G and the local connection 1-form Ãφ := s∗ ω ∈ Ω1 (Y, g)
define an object in the category Zπ1 (G)∞ from Definition 4.8.
To define the parallel transport map τγ associated to a path γ : x / y
in M, we assume first that γ has a lift γ̃ : x̃ / ỹ in Y , that is, π∗ γ̃ = γ.
Consider then the path s∗ γ̃ in P , which can be modified by the pointwise
action of a path g in G from the right, (s∗ γ̃)g. This modification has now to
be chosen such that every tangent vector to (s∗ γ̃)g is horizontal, i.e.
      
d (5.2) −1 d(s∗ γ̃) dg
0 = ω(s∗ γ̃)g ((s∗ γ̃)g) = Adg ωs∗ γ̃ + θg
dt dt dt
This is a linear differential equation for g, which has together with the initial
condition g(0) = 1 a unique solution g = g(γ̃). Then, for any p ∈ Px ,

τγ (p) := s(y)(g(1) · h), (5.3)

where h is the unique group element with s(x)h = p. It is evidently smooth

in p and G-equivariant. Paths γ in M which do not have a lift to Y have
to be split up in pieces which admit lifts; τγ is then the composition of the
parallel transport maps of those.
Lemma 5.1. Let P be a principal G-bundle over M with connection ω ∈
Ω1 (P, g). For a surjective submersion π : Y / M and a trivialization φ
with associated section s : Y / P , we consider the smooth functor

Fω := P(s∗ ω) : P1 (Y ) / BG

32
associated to the 1-form s∗ ω ∈ Ω1 (Y, g) by Proposition 4.7. Then,

iG (Fω (γ)) = φy ◦ τπ∗ γ ◦ φ−1

x (5.4)

for any path γ : x / y in P Y .

Proof. Recall the definition of the functor Fω : for a path γ : x / y,

∗ ∗ 1
we have to consider the 1-form γ s ω ∈ Ω (R, g), which defines a smooth
function fω : R × R / G. Then, Fω (γ) := fω (0, 1). We claim the equation

fω (0, t) = g(t). (5.5)

This comes from the fact that both functions are solutions of the same dif-
ferential equation, with the same initial value for t = 0. Using (5.5),

iG (Fω (γ))(h) = Fω (γ) · h = g(1) · h

for some h ∈ G. On the other hand,

(5.3)
φy (τπ∗ γ (φ−1
x (h))) = φy (τπ∗ γ (s(x)h)) = φy (s(y)(g(1) · h)) = g(1) · h.

This proves equation (5.4). 

Now we are ready to formulate the basic relation between principal G-

bundles with connection and transport functors with BG-structure.
Proposition 5.2. The functor

traP : P1 (M) / G-Tor

obtained from parallel transport in a principal G-bundle P , is a transport

functor with BG-structure in the sense of Definition 3.6.

Proof. The essential ingredient is, that P is locally trivializable: we

choose a surjective submersion π : Y / M and a trivialization φ. The
construction of a functor trivφ : P1 (Y ) / BG and a natural equivalence

π∗
P1 (Y ) / P1 (M)
✉
✉✉✉
✉
t
✉✉✉✉✉
trivφ φ traP
✉✉✉✉✉✉
 v~ ✉✉✉✉ 
BG iG
/ G-Tor

is as follows. We let trivφ := P(s∗ ω) be the smooth functor associated to the

1-form s∗ ω by Proposition 4.7. To define the natural equivalence tφ , consider

33
a point x ∈ Y . We find π ∗ traP (x) = Pπ(x) and (iG ◦ trivφ )(x) = G. So we
define the component of tφ at x by

tφ (x) := φx : Pπ(x) / G.

This is natural in x since the diagram

φx
Pπ(x) / G

τπ∗ γ iG (trivφ (γ))

 
Pπ(y) φy
/ G

is commutative by Lemma 5.1. Notice that the natural equivalence

gφ := π2∗ tφ ◦ π1∗ tφ (5.6)

factors through the smooth transition function g̃φ from (5.1), i.e. gφ = iG (g̃φ ).
Hence, the pair (trivφ , gφ ) is a smooth object in Des1π (i)∞ . 

Now we consider the morphisms. Let ϕ : P / P ′ be a morphism of

principal G-bundles over M (covering the identity on M) which respects
the connections, i.e. ω = ϕ∗ ω ′. For any point p ∈ M, its restriction ϕx :
Px / P ′ is a smooth G-equivariant map. For any path γ : x / y, the
x
parallel transport map satisfies

ϕy ◦ τγ = τγ′ ◦ ϕx .

This is nothing but the commutative diagram for the components ηϕ (x) := ϕx
natural transformation ηϕ : traP / traP ′ .

Proposition 5.3. The natural transformation

ηϕ : traP / traP ′

obtained from a morphism ϕ : P / P ′ of principal G-bundles, is a morphism

of transport functors in the sense of Definition 3.6.

Proof. Consider a surjective submersion π : Y / M such that π ∗ P

and π P are trivializable, and choose trivializations φ and φ′ . The descent
∗ ′

datum of ηϕ is the natural equivalence h := t′φ ◦ π ∗ ηϕ ◦ t−1φ . Now define the

map
h̃ : Y / G : x ✤ / pG (φ′ (x, ϕ(s(x))))

34
where pG is the projection to G. This map is smooth and satisfies h = iG (h̃).
Thus, ηϕ is a morphism of transport functors. 

Taking the Propositions 5.2 and 5.3 together, we have defined a functor

Bun∇
G (M)
/ Trans1Gr (M, G-Tor) (5.7)

from the category of principal G-bundles over M with connection to the cat-
egory of transport functors on M in G-Tor with BG-structure. In particular,
this functor provides us with lots of examples of transport functors.
Theorem 5.4. The functor

Bun∇
G (M)
/ Trans1BG (M, G-Tor) (5.8)

is an equivalence of categories.

We give two proofs of this Theorem: the first is short and the second is
explicit.
First Proof. Let π : Y / M be a contractible surjective submersion,
over which every principal G-bundle is trivializable. Extracting a connection
1-form Ãφ ∈ Ω1 (Y, g) and the transition function (5.1) yields a functor

Bun∇
G (M)
/ Zπ1 (G)∞

to the category of differential G-cocycles for π, which is in fact an equivalence

of categories. We claim that the composition of this equivalence with the
sequence
P Recπ v∞
Zπ1 (G)∞ / Des1π (i)∞ / Triv1π (i)∞ / Trans1Gr (M, G-Tor) (5.9)

of functors is naturally equivalent to the functor (5.8). By Corollary 4.9,

Theorem 2.9 and Proposition 3.14 all functors in (5.9) are equivalences of
categories, and so is (5.8). To show the claim recall that in the proof of Pro-
position 5.2 we have defined a local trivialization of traP , whose descent data
(trivφ , gφ ) is the image of the local data (Ãφ , g̃φ ) of the principal G-bundle un-
der the functor P. This reproduces exactly the steps in the sequence (5.9). 

Second proof. We show that the functor (5.8) is faithful, full and essen-
tially surjective. In fact, this proof shows that it is even surjective. So let P
and P ′ two principal G-bundles with connection over M, and let traP and
traP ′ be the associated transport functors.

35
 Faithfulness follows directly from the definition, so assume now that η :
traP / traP ′ is a morphism of transport functors. We define a morphism ϕ :
P / P pointwise as ϕ(x) := η(p(x))(x) for any x ∈ P , where p : P / M
is the projection of the bundle P . This is clearly a preimage of η under the
functor (5.8), so that we only have to show that ϕ is a smooth map. We
choose a surjective submersion such that P and P ′ are trivializable and such
1
that h := Exπ (η) = tφ′ ◦ π ∗ η ◦ t−1 ∞
φ is a smooth morphism in Desπ (i) . Hence
it factors through a smooth map h̃ : Y / G, and from the definitions of tφ
∗
and tφ′ it follows that π ϕ is the function
π∗ϕ : π∗P / π ∗ P ′ : (y, p) ✤ / φ′−1 (φ(y, p)h̃(y)),
and thus smooth. Finally, since π is a surjective submersion, ϕ is smooth.
It remains to prove that the functor (5.8) is essentially surjective. First
we construct, for a given transport functor tra : P1 (M) / G-Tor a principal
G-bundle P with connection over M, performing exactly the inverse steps
of (5.9). We choose a surjective submersion π : Y / M and a π-local
i-trivialization (triv, t) of the transport functor tra. By construction, its
descent data (triv, g) := Exπ (triv, g) is an object in Des1π (i)∞ . By Corollary
4.9, there exists a 1-form A ∈ Ω1 (Y, g), and a smooth function g̃ : Y [2] / G,
forming an object (A, g̃) in the category Zπ1 (G)∞ of differential cocycles such
that
P(A, g̃) = (triv, g) (5.10)
in Des1π (i)∞ . In particular g = iG (g̃). The pair (A, g̃) is local data for a
principal G-bundle P with connection ω. The reconstructed bundle comes
with a canonical trivialization φ : π ∗ P / Y × G, for which the associated
∗
section s : Y / P is such that A = s ω, and whose transition function is
g̃φ = g̃.
Let us extract descent data of the transport functor traP of P : as de-
scribed in the proof of Proposition 5.4, the trivialization φ of the bundle
P gives rise to a π-local iG -trivialization (trivφ , tφ ) of the transport functor
traP , namely
trivφ := Fω := P(s∗ ω) = P(A) (5.11)
and tφ (x) := φx . Its natural equivalence gφ from (5.6) is just gφ = iG (g̃φ ).
Finally we construct an isomorphism η : traP / tra of transport func-
tors. Consider the natural equivalence
ζ := t−1 ◦ tφ : π ∗ traP / π ∗ tra.
From condition (2.4) it follows that ζ(π1 (α)) = ζ(π2 (α)) for every point
α ∈ Y [2] . So ζ descends to a natural equivalence
η(x) := ζ(x̃)

36
for x ∈ M and any x̃ ∈ Y with π(x̃) = x. An easy computation shows that
Exπ (η) = t ◦ ζ ◦ t−1
φ = id, which is in particular smooth and thus proves that
η is an isomorphism in Des1π (i)∞ . 

5.2 Holonomy Maps

In this section, we show that important results of [Bar91, CP94] on holonomy
maps of principal G-bundles with connection can be reproduced as particular
cases.
Definition 5.5 ([CP94]). A holonomy map on a smooth manifold M at a
point x ∈ M is a group homomorphism

Hx : π11 (M, x) / G,

which is smooth in the following sense: for every open subset U ⊂ Rk and
every map c : U / Lx M such that Γ(u, t) := c(u)(t) is smooth on U × [0, 1],
also
c / pr
U Lx M / π 1 (M, x) H / G
1

is smooth.

Here, Lx M ⊂ P M is the set of paths γ : x / x, whose image under

1
the projection pr : P M / P M is, by definition, the thin homotopy group
1
π1 (M, x) of M at x. Also notice, that

• in the context of diffeological spaces reviewed in Appendix A.2, the

definition of smoothness given here just means that H is a morphism
between diffeological spaces, cf. Proposition A.6 ii).

• the notion of intimate paths from [CP94] and the notion of thin homo-
topy from [MP02] coincides with our notion of thin homotopy, while
the notion of thin homotopy used in [Bar91] is different from ours.

In [CP94] it has been shown that parallel transport in a principal G-bundle

over M around based loops defines a holonomy map. For connected man-
ifolds M it was also shown how to reconstruct a principal G-bundle with
connection from a given holonomy map H at x, such that the holonomy
of this bundle around loops based at x equals H. This establishes a bijec-
tion between holonomy maps and principal G-bundles with connection over
connected manifolds. The same result has been proven (with the before
mentioned different notion of thin homotopy) in [Bar91].

37
 To relate these results to Theorem 5.4, we consider again transport func-
tors tra : P1 (M) / G-Tor with BG-structure. Recall from Section 2.1 that
for any point x ∈ M and any identification F (x) ∼ = G the functor tra pro-
1
duces a group homomorphism Fx,x : π1 (M, x) / G.
Proposition 5.6. Let tra : P1 (M) / G-Tor be a transport functor on M
with BG-structure. Then, for any point x ∈ M and any identification F (x) ∼
=
G, the group homomorphism

trax,x : π11 (M, x) / G

is a holonomy map.

Proof. The group homomorphism trax,x is a Wilson line of the transport

functor tra, and hence smooth by Theorem 3.12. 

For illustration, let us combine Theorem 5.4 and Proposition 5.6 to the
following diagram, which is evidently commutative:
 
[CP94]
∇
BunG (M) / Holonomy maps
❋❋
❋❋
❋❋ 9on M at x
t
❋❋ tt
❋❋ ttt
t
❋❋ tt
❋ ttt
Theorem 5.4 ❋❋❋❋ tt
tt Proposition 5.6
❋❋
❋❋ ttt
❋" tt
tt
Trans1Gr (M, G-Tor).

5.3 Associated Bundles and Vector Bundles with Con-

nection
Recall that a principal G-bundle P together with a faithful representation
ρ : G / Gl(V ) of the Lie group G on a vector space V defines a vector
bundle P ×ρ V with structure group G, called the vector bundle associated
to P by the representation ρ. One can regard a (say, complex) representa-
tion of a group G conveniently as a functor ρ : BG / Vect(C) from the
one-point-category BG into the category of complex vector spaces: the ob-
ject of BG is sent to the vector space V of the representation, and a group
element g ∈ G is sent to an isomorphism g : V / V of this vector space.
The axioms of a functor are precisely the axioms one demands for a represen-
tation. Furthermore, the representation is faithful, if and only if the functor
is faithful.

38
Definition 5.7. Let
ρ : BG / Vect(C)
be any representation of the Lie group G. A transport functor

tra : P1 (M) / Vect(C)

with BG-structure is called associated transport functor.

As an example, we consider the defining representation of the Lie group

U(n) on the vector space Cn , considered as a functor

ρn : BU(n) / Vect(Cnh ) (5.12)

to the category of n-dimensional hermitian vector spaces and isometries be-

tween those. Because we only include isometries in Vect(Cnh ), the functor ρn
is an equivalence of categories.
Similarly to Theorem 5.4, we find a geometric interpretation for associated
transport functors on M with BU(n)-structure, namely hermitian vector
bundles of rank n with (unitary) connection over M. We denote the category
of those vector bundles by VB(Cnh )∇ M . Let us just outline the very basics:
given such a vector bundle E, we associate a functor

traE : P1 (M) / Vect(Cnh ),

which sends a point x ∈ M to the vector space Ex , the fibre of E over x,

and a path γ : x / y to the parallel transport map τ : Ex / Ey , which is
linear and an isometry.
Theorem 5.8. The functor traE obtained from a hermitian vector bundle E
with connection over M is a transport functor on M with BU(n)-structure;
furthermore, the assignment E ✤ / traE yields a functor

VB(Cnh )∇
M
/ Trans1BU (n) (M, Vect(Cnh )), (5.13)

which is an equivalence of categories.

Proof. We proceed like in the first proof of Theorem 5.4. Here we use the
correspondence between hermitian vector bundles with connection and their
local data in Zπ1 (U(n))∞ , for contractible surjective submersions π. Under
this correspondence the functor (5.13) becomes naturally equivalent to the
composite
Ξ Recπ v∞
Zπ1 (U(n))∞ / Des1π (i)∞ / Triv1π (i)∞ / Trans1BU (n) (M, Vect(Cnh ))

39
which is, by Corollary 4.9, Theorem 2.9 and Proposition 3.14, an equivalence
of categories. 

F
Let us also consider the Lie groupoid GrU := n∈N BU(n), whose set of
objects is N (with the discrete smooth structure) and whose morphisms are
(
U(n) if n = m
MorGrU (n, m) =
∅ if n 6= m

so that Mor(GrU ) is a disjoint union of Lie groups. The functors ρn from

(5.12) induce a functor

ρU : GrU / Vect(Ch )

to the category of hermitian vector spaces (without a fixed dimension) and

isometries between those.
The category Vect(Ch ) in fact a monoidal category, and its monoidal
structure induces monoidal structures on the category VB(Ch )∇M of hermitian
vector bundles with connection over M as well as on the category of transport
functors Trans1GrU (M, Vect(Ch )), as outlined in Section 2.1. Since parallel
transport in vector bundles is compatible with tensor products, we have

Corollary 5.9. The functor

VB(Ch )∇
M
/ Trans1GrU (M, Vect(Ch ))

is a monoidal equivalence of monoidal categories.

In particular, we have the unit transport functor IC which sends every

point to the complex numbers C, and every path to the identity idC . The
following fact is easy to verify:

Lemma 5.10. Let tra : P1 (M) / Vect(Ch ) be a transport functor with

GrU -structure, corresponding to a hermitian vector bundle E with connection
over M. Then, there is a canonical bijection between morphisms

η : IC / tra

of transport functors with GrU -structure and smooth flat section of E.

40
5.4 Generalized Connections
In this section we consider functors

F : P1 (M) / BG.

By now, we can arrange such functors in three types:

1. We demand nothing of F : such functors are addressed as generalized

connections [AI92].

2. We demand that F is a transport functor with BG-structure: it corre-

sponds to an ordinary principal G-bundle with connection.

3. We demand that F is smooth in the sense of Definition 3.1: by Propo-

sition 4.7, one can replace such functors by 1-forms A ∈ Ω1 (M, g), so
that we can speak of a trivial G-bundle.

Note that for a functor F : P1 (M) / BG and the identity functor idBG on
BG the Wilson line

WxF,id BG
1 ,x2
: MorP1 (M ) (x1 , x2 ) / G

does not depend on choices of objects G1 , G2 and morphisms tk :

i(Gk ) / F (xk ) as in the general setup described in Section 3.2, since BG
has only one object and one can canonically choose tk = id. So, generalized
connections have a particularly good Wilson lines. Theorem 3.12 provides a
precise criterion to decide when a generalized connection is regular: if and
only if all its Wilson lines are smooth.

6 Groupoid Bundles with Connection

In all examples we have discussed so far the Lie groupoid Gr is of the form
BG, or a union of those. In this section we discuss transport functors with
Gr-structure for a general Lie groupoid Gr. We start with the local aspects of
such transport functors, and then discuss two examples of target categories.
Our main example is related to the notion of principal groupoid bundles
[MM03]. In contrast to the examples in Section 5, transport functors with Gr-
structure do not only reproduce the existing definition of a principal groupoid
bundle, but also reveal precisely what a connection on such a bundle must
be.

41
 We start with the local aspects of transport functors with Gr-structure
by considering smooth functors
F : P1 (X) / Gr. (6.1)
Our aim is to obtain a correspondence between such functors and certain
1-forms, generalizing the one derived in Section 4. If we denote the objects
of Gr by Gr0 and the morphisms by Gr1 , F defines in the first place a smooth
map f : X / Gr0 . Using the technique introduced in Section 4, we obtain
further a 1-form A on X with values in the vector bundle f ∗ id∗ T Gr1 over X.
Only the fact that F respects targets and sources imposes two new conditions:
f ∗ ds ◦ A = 0 and f ∗ dt ◦ A + df = 0.
Here we regard df as a 1-form on X with values in f ∗ T Gr0 , and ds and dt
are the differentials of the source and target maps.
Now we recall that the Lie algebroid E of Gr is the vector bundle
E := id∗ ker(ds)
over Gr0 where id : Gr0 / Gr1 is the identity embedding. The anchor is
the morphism a := dt : E / T Gr0 of vector bundles over Gr0 . Using this
terminology, we see that the smooth functor (6.1) defines a smooth map
f :X / Gr0 plus a 1-form A ∈ Ω1 (X, f ∗ E) such that f ∗ a ◦ A + df = 0.
In order to deal with smooth natural transformations, we introduce the
following notation. We denote by
c : Gr1 s ×t Gr1 / Gr1 : (h, g) ✤ / h◦g
the composition in the Lie groupoid Gr, and for g : x / y a morphism by
rg : s−1 (y) / s−1 (x) : h ✤ / h◦g
the composition by g from the right. Notice that c and rg are smooth maps.
It is straightforward to check that one has a well-defined map
ADg : Tg Γ1 ds ×a Es(g) Et(g)
/

which is defined by
ADg (X, Y ) := drg−1 |g (dc|g,ids(g) (X, Y )). (6.2)
For example, if Gr = BG for a Lie group G, the Lie algebroid is the trivial
bundle E = Γ0 × g, the composition c is the multiplication of G, and (6.2)
reduces to
ADg (X, Y ) = θ̄g (X) + Adg (Y ) ∈ g.

42
 Suppose now that
η:F +3 F′
is a smooth natural transformation between smooth functors F and F ′ which
correspond to pairs (f, A) and (f ′ , A′ ), respectively. It defines a smooth map
g:X / Gr1 such that

s◦g =f and t ◦ g = f ′. (6.3)

Generalizing Lemma 4.2, the naturality of η implies additionally

A′ + ADg (dg, −A) = 0. (6.4)

1
The structure obtained like this forms a category ZX (Gr) of Gr-
connections: its objects are pairs (f, A) of smooth functions f : X / Gr0
1 ∗ ∗
and 1-forms A ∈ Ω (X, f E) satisfying f dt ◦ A + df = 0, and its morphisms
are smooth maps g : X / Gr1 satisfying (6.3) and (6.4). The category
1
ZX (Gr) generalizes the category of G-connections from Definition 4.6 in the
1 1
sense that ZX (BG) = ZX (G) for G a Lie group. We obtain the following
generalization of Proposition 4.7.

Proposition 6.1. There is a canonical isomorphism of categories

Funct∞ (X, Gr) ∼ 1

= ZX (Gr).

We remark that examples of smooth of functors with values in a Lie

groupoid naturally appear in the discussion of transgression to loop spaces,
see Section 4 of the forthcoming paper [SW11].
Now we come to the global aspects of transport functors with Gr-
structure. We introduce the category of Gr-torsors as an interesting tar-
get category of such transport functors. A smooth Gr-manifold [MM03] is
a triple (P, λ, ρ) consisting a smooth manifold P , a surjective submersion
λ:P / Gr0 and a smooth map

ρ : P λ×t Gr1 / P

such that

1. ρ respects λ in the sense that λ(ρ(p, ϕ)) = s(ϕ) for all p ∈ P and
ϕ ∈ Gr1 with λ(p) = t(ϕ),

2. ρ respects the composition ◦ of morphisms of Gr.

43
A morphism between Gr-manifolds is a smooth map f : P / P ′ which
′ ′
respects λ, λ and ρ, ρ . A Gr-torsor is a Gr-manifold for which ρ acts in
a free and transitive way. Gr-torsors form a category denoted Gr-Tor. For
a fixed object X ∈ Obj(Gr), PX := t−1 (X) is a Gr-torsor with λ = s and
ρ = ◦. Furthermore, a morphism ϕ : X / Y in Gr defines a morphism
PX / PY of Gr-torsors. Together, this defines a functor

iGr : Gr / Gr-Tor. (6.5)

The functor (6.5) allows us to study transport functors

tra : P1 (M) / Gr-Tor

with Gr-structure. By a straightforward adaption of the Second Proof of

Theorem 5.4 one can construct the total space P of a fibre bundle over M
from the transition function g̃ : Y [2] / Gr1 of tra, in such a way that P is
fibrewise a Gr-torsor. More precisely, we reproduce the following definition.

Definition 6.2 ([MM03]). A principal Gr-bundle over M is a Gr-manifold

(P, λ, ρ) together with a smooth map p : P / M which is preserved by the
action, such that there exists a surjective submersion π : Y / M with a
smooth map f : Y / Gr1 and a morphism

φ : P ×M Y / Y f ×t Gr1

of Gr-manifolds that preserves the projections to Y .

Here we have used surjective submersions instead of open covers, like we

already did for principal bundles (see Section 5.1). Principal Gr-bundles over
M form a category denoted Gr-Bun∇ (M), whose morphisms are morphisms
of Gr-manifolds that preserve the projections to M.
The descent data of the transport functor tra not only consists of the
transition function g̃ but also of a smooth functor triv : P1 (Y ) / Gr. Now,
Proposition 6.1 predicts the notion of a connection 1-form on a principal
Gr-bundle:

Definition 6.3. Let Gr be a Lie groupoid and E be its Lie algebroid. A

connection on a principal Gr-bundle P is a 1-form ω ∈ Ω1 (P, λ∗ E) such that

λ∗ dt ◦ ω + dλ = 0 and p∗1 ω + ADg (dg, −ρ∗ ω) = 0,

where λ : P / Gr0 and ρ : P λ ×t Gr1 / P are the structure of the Gr-

manifold P , p1 and g are the projections to P and Gr1 , respectively.

44
 By construction, we have
Theorem 6.4. There is a canonical equivalence of categories
Gr-Bun∇ (M) ∼ = TransGr (M, Gr-Tor).
Indeed, choosing a local trivialization (Y, f, φ) of a principal Gr-bundle
P , one obtains a section s : Y / P : y ✤ / p(φ−1 (y, idf (y) )). This section
satisfies λ◦s = f , so that the pullback of a connection 1-form ω ∈ Ω1 (P, λ∗ E)
along s is a 1-form A := s∗ ω ∈ Ω1 (Y, f ∗ E). The first condition in Definition
6.3 implies that (A, f ) is an object in ZY1 (Gr), and thus by Proposition 6.1 a
smooth functor triv : P1 (Y ) / Gr. The second condition implies that the
[2]
transition function g̃ : Y / Gr defined by s(π1 (α)) = ρ(s(π2 (α)), g̃(α)) is
1
a morphism in ZY [2] (Gr) from π1∗ F to π2∗ F . All together, this is descent data
for a transport functor on M with Gr-structure.
We remark that this automatically induces a notion of parallel transport
for a connection A on a principal Gr-bundle P : let traP,A : P1 (M) / Gr-Tor
be the transport corresponding to (P, A) under the equivalence of Theorem
6.4. Then, the parallel transport of A along a path γ : x / y is the Gr-torsor
morphism
traP,A (γ) : Px / Py .

In the remainder of this section we discuss a class of groupoid bundles

with connection related to action groupoids. We recall that for V a complex
vector space with an action of a Lie group G, the action groupoid V//G has V
as its objects and G × V as its morphisms. The source map is the projection
to V , and the target map is the action ρ : G × V / V . Every action
groupoid V//G comes with a canonical functor
iV//G : V//G / Vect∗ (C)
to the category of pointed complex vector spaces, which sends an object
v ∈ V to the pointed vector space (V, v) and a morphism (v, g) to the linear
map ρ(g, −), which respects the base points.
Proposition 6.5. A transport functor tra : P1 (M) / Vect∗ (C) with V//G-
structure is a complex vector bundle over M with structure group G and a
smooth flat section.
Proof. We consider the strictly commutative diagram
iV//G
V//G / Vect∗ (C)
pr f
 
BG ρ
/ Vect(C)

45
of functors, in which f is the functor that forgets the base point, pr is the
functor which sends a morphism (g, v) in V//G to g, and ρ is the given repre-
sentation. The diagram shows that the composition

f ◦ tra : P1 (M) / Vect(C)

is a transport functor with BG-structure, and hence the claimed vector

bundle E by (a slight generalization of) Theorem 5.8. Remembering the
forgotten base point defines a natural transformation

η : IC / f ◦ tra.

If we regard the identity transport functor IC as a transport functor

with BG-structure, the natural transformation η becomes a morphism of
transport functors with BG-structure, and thus defines by Lemma 5.10 a
smooth flat section in E. 

7 Generalizations and further Topics

The concept of transport functors has generalizations in many aspects, some
of which we want to outline in this section.

7.1 Transport n-Functors

The motivation to write this article was to find a formulation of parallel trans-
port along curves, which can be generalized to higher dimensional parallel
transport. Transport functors have a natural generalization to transport n-
functors. In particular the case n = 2 promises relations between transport
2-functors and gerbes with connective structure [BS07], similar to the rela-
tion between transport 1-functors and bundles with connections presented in
Section 5. We address these issues in a further publication [SW13].
Let us briefly describe the generalization of the concept of transport func-
tors to transport n-functors. The first generalization is that of the path
groupoid P1 (M) to a path n-groupoid Pn (M). Here, n-groupoid means that
every k-morphism is an equivalence, i.e. invertible up to (k+1)-isomorphisms.
The set of objects is again the manifold M, the k-morphisms are smooth maps
[0, 1]k / M with sitting instants on each boundary of the k-cube, and the
top-level morphisms k = n are additionally taken up to thin homotopy in
the appropriate sense.

46
 We then consider n-functors

F : Pn (M) / T (7.1)

from the path n-groupoid Pn (M) to some target n-category T . Local triv-
ializations of such n-functors are considered with respect to an n-functor
i : Gr / T , where Gr is a Lie n-groupoid, and to a surjective submer-
sions π : Y / M. A π-local i-trivialization then consists of an n-functor
triv : Pn (Y ) / Gr and an equivalence

π∗
Pn (Y ) / Pn (M)
✈✈✈
✈✈✈✈
✈✈✈✈✈
triv t F (7.2)
✈✈
✈✈✈✈✈✈✈
 v~ ✈✈✈✈✈ 
Gr i
/T

of n-functors. Local trivializations lead to an n-category Desnπ (i) of descent

data, which are descent n-categories in the sense of [Str04], similar to Remark
2.10 for n = 1.
The category Desnπ (i) has a natural notion of smooth objects and smooth
k-morphisms. Then, n-functors (7.1) which allow local trivializations with
smooth descent data will be called transport n-functors, and form an n-
category TransnGr (M, T ).
In the case n = 1, the procedure described above reproduces the frame-
work of transport functors described in this article. The case n = 2 will
be considered in detail in two forthcoming papers. First we settle the local
aspects: we derive a correspondence between smooth 2-functors and differ-
ential 2-forms (Theorem 2.20 in [SW11]). Then we continue with the global
aspects in [SW13].
As a further example, we now describe the case n = 0. Note that a 0-
category is a set, a Lie 0-groupoid is a smooth manifold, and a 0-functor is a
map. To start with, we have the set P0 (M) = M, a set T , a smooth manifold
G and an injective map i : G / T . Now we consider maps F : M / T.
Following the general concept, such a map is π-locally i-trivializable, if there
exists a map triv : Y / G such that the diagram

π
Y / M

triv F
 
G i
/ T

47
is commutative. Maps F together with π-local i-trivializations form the set
Triv0π (i). The set Des0π (i) of descent data is just the set of maps triv : Y / G
satisfying the equation
π1∗ trivi = π2∗ trivi , (7.3)

where we have used the notation πk∗ trivi = i ◦ triv ◦ πk from Section 2. It is
easy to see that every π-local i-trivialization triv of a map F satisfies this
condition. This defines the map

Exπ : Triv0π (i) / Des0π (i).

Similar to Theorem 2.9 in the case n = 1, this is indeed a bijection: every

function triv : Y / G satisfying (7.3) with i injective factors through π.
Now it is easy to say when an element in Des0π (i) is called smooth: if and
only if the map triv : Y / G is smooth. Such maps form the set Des0 (i)∞ ,
π
which in turn defines the set Trans0G (M, T ) of transport 0-functors with G-
structure. Due to (7.3), there is a canonical bijection Des0π (i)∞ ∼
= C ∞ (M, G).
So, we have
Trans0 (M, T ) ∼
G = C ∞ (M, G),

in other words: transport 0-functors on M with G-structure are smooth

functions from M to G.

Let us revisit Definition 3.3 of the category Des1π (i)∞ of smooth descent
data, which now can equivalently be reformulated as follows:

Let Gr be a Lie groupoid and let i : Gr / T be a functor. An object

1
(triv, g) in Desπ (i) is called smooth, if the functor triv : P1 (Y ) / Gr
is smooth the sense of Definition 3.1, and if the natural equivalence
g : Y [2] / Mor(T ) is a transport 0-functor with Mor(T )-structure. A
morphism
h : (triv, g) / (triv′ , g ′)

between smooth objects is called smooth, if h : Y / Mor(T ) is a trans-

port 0-functor with Mor(T )-structure.

This gives an outlook how the definition of the n-category Desnπ (i)∞ of
smooth descent data will be for higher n: it will recursively use transport
(n − 1)-functors.

48
7.2 Curvature of Transport Functors
When we describe parallel transport in terms of functors, it is a natural
question how related notions like curvature can be seen in this formulation.
Interestingly, it turns out that the curvature of a transport functor is a trans-
port 2-functor. More generally, the curvature of a transport n-functor is a
transport (n + 1)-functor. This becomes evident with a view to Section 4,
where we have related smooth functors and differential 1-forms. In a similar
way, 2-functors can be related to 2-forms. A comprehensive discussion of the
curvature of transport functors is therefore beyond the scope of this article,
and has to be postponed until after the discussion of transport 2-functors
[SW13].
We shall briefly indicate the basic ideas. We recall from Section 2.1 when
a functor F : P1 (M) / T is flat: if it factors through the fundamental
groupoid Π1 (M), whose morphisms are smooth homotopy classes of paths in
M. In general, one can associate to a transport functor tra a 2-functor

curv(tra) : P2 (M) / Grpd

into the 2-category of groupoids. This 2-functor is particularly trivial if tra

is flat. Furthermore, the 2-functor curv(tra) is itself flat in the sense that it
factors through the fundamental 2-groupoid of M: this is nothing but the
Bianchi identity.
For smooth functors F : P1 (M) / BG, which corresponding by Propo-
sition 4.7 to 1-forms A ∈ Ω1 (M, g), it turns out that the 2-functor curv(F )
corresponds to a 2-form K ∈ Ω2 (M, g) which is related to A by the usual
equality K = dA + A ∧ A.

7.3 Alternatives to smooth Functors

The definition of transport functors concentrates on the smooth aspects of
parallel transport. As we have outlined in Appendix A.2, our definition of
smooth descent data Des1π (i)∞ can be regarded as the internalization of func-
tors and natural transformations in the category D ∞ of diffeological spaces
and diffeological maps.
Simply by choosing another ambient category C, we obtain possibly
weaker notions of parallel transport. Of particular interest is the situation
where the ambient category is the category Top of topological spaces and
continuous maps. Indicated by results of [Sta74], one would expect that re-
construction theorems as discussed in Section 2.3 should also exist for Top,
and also for transport n-functors for n > 1. Besides, parallel transport along

49
topological paths of bounded variation can be defined, and is of interest for
its own right, see, for example, [Bau05].

7.4 Anafunctors
The notion of smoothly locally trivializable functors is closely related to
the concept of anafunctors. Following [Mak96], an anafunctor F : A / B
between categories A and B is a category |F | together with a functor F̃ :
|F | / B and a surjective equivalence p : |F | / A, denoted as a diagram

F̃
|F | / B

p (7.4)

A

called a span. It has been shown in [Bar04] how to formulate the concept of
an anafunctor internally to any category C.
Note that an anafunctor in C gives rise to an ordinary functor A / B
in C, if the epimorphism p has a section. In the category of sets, C = Set,
every epimorphism has a section, if one assumes the axiom of choice (this is
what we do). The original motivation for introducing anafunctors was, how-
ever, to deal with situations where one does not assume the axiom of choice
[Mak96]. In the category C = C ∞ of smooth manifolds, surjective submer-
sions are particular epimorphisms, as they arise for example as projections
of smooth fibre bundles. Since not every bundle has a global smooth section,
an anafunctor in C ∞ does not produce a functor. The same applies to the
category C = D ∞ of diffeological spaces described in Appendix A.2.
Let us indicate how anafunctors arise from smoothly locally trivialized
functors. Let tra : P1 (M) / T be a transport functor with Gr-structure.
We choose a π-local i-trivialization (triv, t), whose descent data (triv, g) is
smooth. Consider the functor

R(triv,g) : P1π (M) / T

that we have defined in Section 2.3 from this descent data. By Definition
3.3 of smooth descent data, the functor triv : P1 (Y ) / Gr is smooth and
the natural equivalence g factors through a smooth natural equivalence g̃ :
Y / Mor(Gr). So, the functor R(triv,g) factors through Gr,

R(triv,g) = i ◦ A

50
for a functor A : P1π (M) / Gr. In fact, the category P π (M) can be consid-
1
ered as a category internal to D ∞ , so that the functor A is internal to D ∞
as described in Appendix A.2, Proposition A.7 ii). Hence the reconstructed
functor yields a span
A
P1π (M) / Gr

pπ


P1 (M),

internal to D ∞ , i.e. an anafunctor P1 (M) / Gr. Because the epimorphism

pπ is not invertible in D ∞ , we do not get an ordinary functor P1 (M) / Gr
∞ π
internal to D : the weak inverse functor s : P1 (M) / P (M) we have
1
∞
constructed in Section 2.3 is not internal to D .

Acknowledgements We thank Bruce Bartlett, Uwe Semmelmann, Jim

Stasheff and Danny Stevenson for helpful correspondences and Christoph
Schweigert for helpful discussions. U.S. thanks John Baez for many valu-
able suggestions and discussions. We acknowledge support from the Sonder-
forschungsbereich “Particles, Strings and the Early Universe - the Structure
of Matter and Space-Time”.

A More Background

A.1 The universal Path Pushout

Here we motivate Definition 2.11 of the groupoid P1π (M). Let π : Y / M be

a surjective submersion. A path pushout of π is a triple (A, b, ν) consisting
of a groupoid A, a functor b : P1 (Y ) / A and a natural equivalence ν :
π1∗ b / π ∗ b with
2
∗ ∗ ∗
π13 ν = π23 ν ◦ π12 ν.

A morphism
(R, µ) : (A, b, ν) / (A′ , b′ , ν ′ )

51
between path pushouts is a functor R : A / A′ and a natural equivalence
µ:R◦b / b′ such that

π1
P1 (Y [2] ) / P1 (Y )
ttt π1
π2 νttttttt P1 (Y [2] ) / P1 (Y )
t
tt b
tt
 u} ttttt  ❤ µ−1 ❤❤ b′ ttttt
t
P1 (Y ) b / A px = π2
tttν
′ b′ (A.1)
✔✔ ❋❋❋❋  u} ttttt 
✔µ✔✔✔ ❋❋R P1 (Y ) / A′ .
❋❋ b′
✔✔✔✔✔✔ ❋" 

b′ 0 A′

Among all path pushouts of π we distinguish some having a universal

property.
Definition A.1. A path pushout (A, b, ν) is universal, if, given any other
path pushout (T, F, g), there exists a morphism (R, µ) : (A, b, ν) / (T, F, g)
such that, given any other such morphism (R′ , µ′ ), there is a unique natural
equivalence r : R / R′ with

b b
P1 (Y ) ❤❤❤❤ A
❤/ P1 (Y ) ①①
/A
❤ µ′❤ ① ①
①
❤❤ ①①①①①
F
px ❤❤❤ R′ ks r R = ①①µ R (A.2)
①①①
① 
  ①
x①
1T F 1 T.

Now we show how two path pushouts having both the universal property,
are related.
Lemma A.2. Given two universal path pushouts (A, b, ν) and (A′ , b′ , ν ′ ) of
the same surjective submersion π : Y / M, there is an equivalence of cat-
egories a : A / A′ .

Proof. We use the universal properties of both triples applied to each

other. We obtain two choices of morphisms (R, µ) and (R̃, µ̃), namely
π1
P1 (Y [2] ) / P1 (Y )
t tt π1
π2 ν
ttttt P1 (Y [2] ) / P1 (Y )
tt
t b
 u} ttttt  µ−1 ❤❤ b′ ✉
✉✉✉✉✉
✉✉
P1 (Y ) b / A ow b π2
✉✉✉ν b
✔✔✔✔ ❊❊❊❊ ✍✍✍✍✍✍  v~ ✉✉✉✉✉  b
µ✔✔ ❊❊ µ′−1 and P1 (Y ) b /A
a ❊❊❊ ✍✍ ❈❈
✔ ✔✔✔ " ✍✍
 ❈❈ idA
′ ❈❈
r A ❄❄
b′ 0 ❈❈
′ rrrr ❄❄ ❈! 
rrrµ ❄❄ b 0A
t| r a′ ❄❄ 
b
1A

52
The unique natural transformation we get from the universal property is
here r : a′ ◦ a / idA . Doing the same thing in the other order, we obtain a
unique natural transformation r ′ : a ◦ a′ / idA′ . Hence a : A / A′ is an
equivalence of categories. 

We also need
Lemma A.3. Let (A, b, ν) be a universal path pushout of π, let (T, F, g)
and (T, F ′ , g ′) two other path pushouts and let h : F / F ′ be a natural
transformation with π2∗ h ◦ g = π1∗ h ◦ g ′ . For any choice of morphisms

(R, µ) : (A, b, ν) / (T, F, g) and (R′ , µ′ ) : (A, b, ν) / (T, F ′, g ′ )

there is a unique natural transformation r : R / R′ with µ • (idb ◦ r) = µ′.

Proof. Note that the natural equivalence h defines a morphism

(idT , h) : (T, F, g) / (T, F ′ , g ′)

of path pushouts. The composition (idT , h) ◦ (R, µ) gives a morphism

(R, h ◦ µ) : (A, b, ν) / (T ′ , F ′, g ′ ).

Since (R′ , µ′ ) is universal, we obtain a unique natural transformation

r:R / R′ . 

Now consider the groupoid P1π (M) from Definition 2.11, together with the
inclusion functor ι : P1 (Y ) / P π (M) and the identity id [2] : π ∗ ι / π∗ι
1 Y 1 2
[2] π
whose component at a point α ∈ Y is the morphism α in P1 (M). Its
commutative diagram follows from relations (1) and (2), depending on the
type of morphism you apply it to. Its cocycle condition follows from (3). So,
the triple (P1π (M), ι, idY [2] ) is a path pushout.
Lemma A.4. The triple (P1π (M), ι, idY [2] ) is universal.

Proof. Let (T, F, g) any path pushout. We construct the morphism

(R, µ) : (P1π (M), ι, idY [2] ) / (T, F, g)

as follows. The functor

R : P1π (M) / T
sends an object x ∈ Y to F (x), a morphism γ : x / y to F (γ) and a
morphism α to g(α). This definition is well-defined under the relations

53
among the morphisms: (1) is the commutative diagram for the natural
transformation g, (2) is the cocycle condition for g and (3) follows from
the latter since g is invertible. The natural equivalence µ : R ◦ ι / F is
the identity. By definition equation (A.1) is satisfied, so that (R, µ) is a
morphism of path pushouts. Now we assume that there is another morphism
(R′ , µ′ ). The component of the natural equivalence r : R / R′ at a point
′−1
x ∈ Y is µ (x), its naturality with respect to a morphisms γ : x / y is
′ [2]
then just the one of µ , and with respect to morphisms α ∈ Y comes from
condition (A.1) on morphisms of path pushouts. It also satisfies the equality
(A.2). Since this equation already determines r, it is unique. 

Notice that the construction of the functor R reproduces Definition

2.12. Let us finally apply Lemma A.3 to the universal path pushout
(P1π (M), ι, idY [2] ). Given the two functors F, F ′ : P1 (Y ) / T , the natu-
′
ral transformation h : F / F , and the universal morphisms (R, µ) and
′ ′
(R , µ ) as constructed in the proof of Lemma A.4, the natural transforma-
tion r : R / R′ has the component h(x) at x. This reproduces Definition
2.13.

A.2 Diffeological Spaces and smooth Functors

This section puts Definition 3.1 of a smooth functor into the wider perspective
of functors internal to some category C, here the category D ∞ of diffeolo-
gical spaces [Che77, Sou81]. Diffeological spaces generalize the concept of a
smooth manifold. While the set C ∞ (X, Y ) of smooth maps between smooth
manifolds X and Y does not form, in general, a smooth manifold itself, the
set D ∞ (X, Y ) of diffeological maps between diffeological spaces is again a
diffeological space in a canonical way. In other words, the category D ∞ of
diffeological spaces is closed.
Definition A.5. A diffeological space is a set X together with a collection
of plots: maps
c:U / X,

each of them defined on an open subset U ⊂ Rk for some k ∈ N0 , such that

a) for any plot c : U / X and any smooth function f : V / U also

c◦f :V / X
is a plot.
b) every constant map c : U / X is a plot.

54
 c) if f : U / X is a map defined on U ⊂ Rk and {Ui }i∈I is an open
cover of U for which all restrictions f |Ui are plots of X, then also f is
a plot.

A diffeological map between diffeological spaces X and Y is a map f : X / Y

such that for every plot c : U / X of X the map f ◦ c : U / Y is a plot
∞
of Y . The set of all diffeological maps is denoted by D (X, Y ).

In fact Chen originally used convex subsets U ⊂ Rk instead of open ones,

but this will not be of any importance for this article. For a comparison of
various concepts see [KM97]. The following examples of diffeological spaces
are important for us.

(1) First of all, every smooth manifold is a diffeological space, the plots
being all smooth maps defined on all open subset of all Rn . A map
between two manifolds is smooth if and only if it is diffeological.
(2) For diffeological spaces X and Y the space D ∞ (X, Y ) of all diffeological
maps from X to Y is a diffeological space in the following way: a map
c:U / D ∞ (X, Y )
is a plot if and only if for any plot c′ : V / X of X the composite
c×c′ / D ∞ (X, Y ) × X ev
U ×V / Y

is a plot of Y . Here, ev denotes the evaluation map ev(f, x) := f (x).

(3) Every subset Y of a diffeological space X is a diffeological space: its
plots are those plots of X whose image is contained in Y .
(4) For a diffeological space X, a set Y and a map p : X / Y , the set Y is
also a diffeological space: a map c : U / Y is a plot if and only if there
exists a cover of U by open sets Uα together with plots cα : Uα / X
of X such that c|Uα = p ◦ cα .
(5) Combining (1) and (2) we obtain the following important example: for
smooth manifolds X and Y the space C ∞ (X, Y ) of smooth maps from
X to Y is a diffeological space in the following way: a map
c:U / C ∞ (X, Y )
is a plot if and only if
c×idX ev
U ×X / C ∞ (X, Y ) × X / Y

55
 is a smooth map. This applies for instance to the free loop space
LM = C ∞ (S 1 , M).

(6) Combining (3) and (5), the based loop space Lx M and the path space
P M of a smooth manifold are diffeological spaces.

(7) Combining (4) and (6) applied to the projection pr : P M / P 1 M to

thin homotopy classes of paths, P 1 M is a diffeological space. In the
same way, the thin homotopy group π11 (M, x) is a diffeological space.

From Example (7) we see that diffeological spaces arise naturally in the
setup of transport functors introduced in this article.
Proposition A.6. During this article, we encountered two examples of dif-
feological maps:

i) A Wilson line

WxF,i
1 ,x2
: MorP1 (M ) (x1 , x2 ) / MorGr (G1 , G2 )

is smooth in the sense of Definition 3.10 if and only if it is diffeological.

ii) A group homomorphism H : π11 (M, x) / G is a holonomy map in the

sense of Definition 5.5, if and only if it is diffeological.

Diffeological spaces and diffeological maps form a category D ∞ in which

we can internalize categories and functors. Examples of such categories are:

• the path groupoid P1 (M): its set of objects is the smooth manifold
M, which is by example (1) a diffeological space. Its set of morphisms
P 1X is a diffeological space by example (7).

• the universal path pushout P1π (M) of a surjective submersion π :

Y / M: its set of objects is the smooth manifold Y , and hence a
diffeological space. A map

φ:U / Mor(P1π (M))

is a plot if and only if there is a collection of plots fi : U / P 1 Y and

a collection of smooth maps gi : U / Y [2] such that

gN (x) ◦ fN (x) · · · g2 (x) ◦ f2 (x) ◦ g1 (x) ◦ f1 (x) = φ(x).

We also have examples of functors internal to D ∞ :

56
Proposition A.7. During this article, we encountered two examples of func-
tors internal to D ∞ :

i) A functor F : P1 (M) / Gr is internal to D ∞ if and only if it is

smooth in the sense of Definition 3.1.

ii) For a smooth object (triv, g) in Des1π (i), the functor R(triv,g) factors
smoothly through i : Gr / T , i.e. there is a functor A : P π (M) / Gr
1
∞
internal to D such that i ◦ A = R(triv,g) .

B Postponed Proofs
B.1 Proof of Theorem 2.9
Here we prove that the functor

Exπ : Triv1π (i) / Des1π (i)

is an equivalence of categories. In Section 2.3 we have defined a reconstruc-

tion functor Recπ going in the opposite direction. Now we show that Recπ is
a weak inverse of Exπ and thus prove that both are equivalences of categories.
For this purpose, we show (a) the equation Exπ ◦ Recπ = idDes1π (i) and (b)
that there exists a natural equivalence

ζ : idTriv1π (i) / Recπ ◦ Exπ .

To see (a), let (triv, g) be an object in Des1π (i), and let Recπ (triv, g) =
s∗ R(triv,g) be the reconstructed functor, coming with the π-local i-
trivialization (triv, t) with t := g ◦ ι∗ λ. Extracting descent data as described
in Section 2.2, we find

(π2∗ t ◦ π1∗ t−1 )(α) = g((π2∗λ ◦ π1∗ λ−1 )(α)) = g(α)

so that Exπ (Recπ (triv, g)) = (triv, g). Similar, if h : (triv, g) / (triv′ , g ′ ) is
a morphism in Des1π (i), the reconstructed natural equivalence is Recπ (h) :=
s∗ Rh . Extracting descent data, we obtain for the component at a point x ∈ Y

(t′ ◦ π ∗ s∗ Rh ◦ t−1 )(x) = g ′(λ(x)) ◦ Rh (s(π(x))) ◦ g −1(λ(x))

= g ′(x, s(π(x))) ◦ h(s(π(x))) ◦ g −1(x, s(π(x)))
= h(x)

57
where we have used Definition 2.13 and the commutativity of diagram (2.2).
This shows that Exπ (Recπ (h)) = h.
To see (b), let F : P1 (M) / T be a functor with π-local i-trivialization
(triv, t). Let us first describe the functor

Recπ (Exπ (F )) : P1 (M) / T.

We extract descent data (triv, g) in Des1π (i) as described in Section 2.2 by

setting
g := π2∗ t ◦ π1∗ t−1 . (B.1)
Then, we have
Recπ (Exπ (F ))(x) = trivi (s(x))
for any point x ∈ M. A morphism γ : x / y is mapped by the functor s to
some finite composition

s(γ̄) = αn ◦ γn ◦ αn−1 ◦ ... ◦ γ2 ◦ α1 ◦ γ1 ◦ α0

of basic morphisms γi : xi / yi and αi ∈ Y [2] , so that we have

Recπ (Exπ (F ))(γ) = g(αn ) ◦ trivi (γn ) ◦ g(αn−1) ◦ ... ◦ trivi (γ1 ) ◦ g(α0 ). (B.2)

Now we are ready define the component of the natural equivalence ζ at

a functor F . This component is a morphism in Triv1π (i) and thus itself a
natural equivalence
ζ(F ) : F / Recπ (Exπ (F )).

We define the component of ζ(F ) at a point x ∈ M by

ζ(F )(x) := t(s(x)) : F (x) / trivi (s(x)). (B.3)

Now we check that this is natural in x: let γ : x / y be a morphism like the

above one. The diagram whose commutativity we have to show splits along
the decomposition (B.2) into diagrams of two types:

t(xi ) t(π1 (α))

F (π(xi )) / trivi (xi ) F (π(π1 (α))) / trivi (π1 (α))
π∗ γi trivi (γi ) and id g(γi )
   
F (π(yi )) / trivi (yi ) F (π(π2 (α))) / trivi (π2 (α)).
t(yi ) t(π2 (α))

Both diagrams are indeed commutative, the one on the left because t is
natural in y ∈ Y and the one on the right because of (B.1).

58
 It remains to show that ζ is natural in F , i.e. we have to prove the
commutativity of the naturality diagram
ζ(F )
F / Recπ (Exπ (F ))

α Recπ (Exπ (α)) (B.4)

 
F′ / Recπ (Exπ (F ′ ))
ζ(F ′ )

for any natural transformation α : F / F ′ . Recall that Exπ (α) is the

natural transformation

h := t ◦ π ∗ α ◦ t−1 : trivi / triv′i

and that Recπ (Exπ (α)) is the natural transformation whose component at a
point x ∈ M is the morphism

h(s(x)) : trivi (s(x)) / triv′i (s(x))

in T . Then, with definition (B.3), the commutativity of the naturality square

(B.4) becomes obvious.

B.2 Proof of Theorem 3.12

We show that a Wilson line Wxtra,i 1 ,x2
of a transport functor tra with Gr-
structure is smooth. Let c : U / P M be a map such that Γ(u, t) := c(u)(t)
is smooth, let π : Y / M be a surjective submersion, and let (triv, t) be a
π-local i-trivialization of the transport functor tra, for which Exπ (triv, t) is
smooth. Consider the pullback diagram
a
Γ−1 Y / Y

p π

 
U × [0, 1] Γ
/ M

with the surjective submersion p : Γ−1 Y / U × [0, 1]. We have to show that

Wxtra,i
1 ,x2
◦ pr ◦ c : U / G (B.5)

is a smooth map. This can be checked locally in a neighbourhood of a point

u ∈ U. Let tj ∈ I for j = 0, ..., n be numbers with tj−1 < tj for j = 1, ..., n,

59
and Vj open neighbourhoods of u chosen small enough to admit smooth local
sections
sj : Vj × [tj−1 , tj ] / Γ−1 Y .

Then, we restrict all these sections to the intersection V of all the Vj . Let
βj : tj−1 / tj be paths through I defining smooth maps

Γ̃j : V × I / Y : (v, t) ✤ / a(sj (V, βj (t))), (B.6)

which can be considered as maps c̃j : V / P Y . Additionally, we define the

smooth maps

α̃j : V / Y [2] : v ✤ / (Γ̃j−1 (v, 1), Γ̃j (v, 0)).

Note that for any v ∈ V , both pr(c̃j (v)) and α̃j (v) are morphisms in the
universal path pushout P1π (M), namely

pr(c̃j (v)) : Γ̃j (v, 0) / Γ̃j (v, 1) and α̃j (v) : Γ̃j−1 (v, 1) / Γ̃j (v, 0).

Taking their composition, we obtain a map

φ:V / Mor(P1π (M)) : v / c̃n (v) ◦ α̃j (v) ◦ ... ◦ α̃1 (v) ◦ c̃0 (v).

Now we claim two assertions for the composite

i−1 ◦ (R(triv,g) )1 ◦ φ : V / Mor(Gr) (B.7)

of φ with the functor R(triv,g) : P1π (M) / Mor(T ) we have defined in Section
2.3: first, it is smooth, and second, it coincides with the restriction of Wxtra,i
1 ,x2
◦
pr ◦ c to V , both assertions together prove the smoothness of (B.5). To show
the first assertion, note that (B.7) is the following assignment:

v✤ / triv(c̃j (v)) · g̃(α̃j (v)) · ... · g̃(α̃1 (v)) ◦ triv(c̃0 (v)). (B.8)

By definition, the descent data (triv, g) is smooth. Because triv is a smooth

functor, and the maps c̃j satisfy the relevant condition (B.6), every factor
triv ◦ c̃j : V / G is smooth. Furthermore, the maps g̃ : Y [2] / G are
smooth, so that also the remaining factors are smooth in v. To show the
second assertion, consider a point v ∈ V . If we choose in the definition
of the Wilson line Wxtra,i1 ,x2
the objects Gk := triv(x̃k ) and the isomorphisms
tk := t(x̃k ) for some lifts π(x̃k ) = xk , where t is the trivialization of tra from
the beginning of this section, we find

(Wxtra,i
1 ,x2
◦ pr ◦ c)(v) = tra(c(v)).

The right hand side coincides with the right hand side of (B.8).

60
 0 t
0
s0

s0 + s

Figure 1: The path τs0 (s, t).

B.3 Proof of Proposition 4.3

We are going to prove that the map kA : P X / G, defined by
kA (γ) := fγ ∗ A (0, 1)
for a path γ : [0, 1] / X depends only on the thin homotopy class of γ. Due
to the multiplicative property (4.5) of kA , it is enough to show kA (γ0−1 ◦γ1 ) = 1
for every thin homotopy equivalent paths γ0 and γ1 . For this purpose we
derive a relation to the pullback of the curvature K := dA + [A ∧ A] of the
1-form A along a homotopy between γ0 and γ1 . If this homotopy is thin, the
pullback vanishes.
Let us fix the following notation. Q := [0, 1] × [0, 1] is the unit square,
γ(a,b,c,d) : (a, b) / (c, d) is the straight path in Q, and

τs0 : Q / PQ
assigns for fixed s0 ∈ [0, 1] to a point (s, t) ∈ Q the closed path
τs0 (s, t) := γ(s0 ,t,s0,0) ◦ γ(s0 +s,t,s0 ,t) ◦ γ(s0 +s,0,s0+s,t) ◦ γ(s0 ,0,s0+s,0) ,
which goes counter-clockwise around the rectangle spanned by the points
(s0 , 0) and (s0 + s, t), see Figure 1. Now consider two paths γ0 , γ1 : x / y
in X. Without loss of generality we can assume that the paths γ(a,b,c,d) used
above have sitting instants, such that τs0 is smooth and
γ0 (γ(0,1,0,0) (t)) = γ0−1 (t) and γ1 (γ(0,1,1,1) (t)) = γ1 (t). (B.9)
Lemma B.1. Let h : Q / X be a smooth homotopy between the paths
γ0 , γ1 : x / y with h(0, t) = γ0 (t) and h(1, t) = γ1 (t). Then, the map

uA,s0 := kA ◦ h∗ ◦ τs0 : Q / G
is smooth and has the following properties

61
 (a) uA,0(1, 1) = kA (γ0−1 ◦ γ1 )

(b) uA,s0 (s, 1) = uA,s0 (s′ , 1) · uA,s0 +s′ (s − s′ , 1)

(c) with γs,t the path defined by γs,t(τ ) := h(s, τ t) and K := dA + [A ∧ A]

the curvature of A we have:
  
∂ ∂  −1 ∗ ∂ ∂
uA,s0  = −AdkA (γs ,t ) (h K)(s0 ,t) , (B.10)
∂s ∂t (0,t)
0 ∂s ∂t

Proof. Since h is constant for t = 0 and t = 1, (a) follows from (B.9).

The multiplicative property (4.5) of kA implies (b). To prove (c), we define
a further path γs0 ,s,t (τ ) := h(s0 + sτ, t) and write

uA,s0 (s, t) = fγs∗ ,t A (0, 1)−1 · fγs∗ ,s,t A (0, 1)−1 · fγs∗ +s,t A (0, 1) (B.11)
0 0 0

where fϕ : R × R / G are the smooth functions that correspond to the a 1-

1
form ϕ ∈ Ω (R, g) by Lemma 4.1 as the solution of initial value problems. By
a uniqueness argument one can show that fγs,t ∗ A (0, 1) = fγ ∗ A (0, t). Then, we
s,1
calculate with (B.11) and, for simplicity, in a faithful matrix representation
of G,
  
∂ −1 ∗ ∂
uA,s0 (s, t) = fγs∗ ,t A (0, 1) · (h A)(s0 ,t) · fγs∗0 ,s,t A (0, 1)−1
∂t 0 ∂t
 
∂ −1 −1 ∗ ∂
+ fγs∗ ,s,t A (0, 1) −fγs∗ ,s,t A (0, 1) · (h A)(s0 +s,t) · fγs∗ +s,t A (0, 1).
∂t 0 0 ∂t 0

To take the derivatives along s, we use fγs∗ ,s,t A (0, 1) = fγs0 ,1,t (0, s) and
0
fγs0 ,0,t (0, 1) = 1, both together show
  
∂  −1 ∗ ∂
fγs∗ ,s,t A (0, 1) = (h A)(s0 ,t) .
∂s 0 0
 ∂s

Finally,
     
∂ ∂  −1 ∗ ∂ ∗ ∂
uA,s0 
 = fγs∗ ,t A (0, 1) · (h A)(s0 ,t) · (h A)(s0 ,t)
∂s ∂t s=0
0 ∂t ∂s
     
∂ ∗ ∂ ∗ ∂ ∗ ∂
+ (h A)(s0 ,t) − (h A)(s0 ,t) · (h A)(s0 ,t)
∂t ∂s ∂s ∂t
  
∂  ∂
− (h∗ A)(s0 +s,t) · fγs∗ ,t A (0, 1).
∂s 0  ∂t 0

62
This yields the claimed equality. 

Notice that if h is a thin homotopy, h∗ K = 0, so that the right hand side

in (c) vanishes. Then we calculate at (0, 1)
 Z 1 
∂  ∂ ∂ 
uA,s0  = uA,s0  dt = 0.
∂s (0,1) 0 ∂s ∂t (0,t)

Using (b) we obtain the same result for all points (s0 , 1),
 
∂  ∂ 
uA,0
 = uA,0(s0 , 1) · uA,s0  = uA,0(s0 , 1) · 0 = 0.
∂s (s0 ,1) ∂s (0,1)

This means that the function uA,0(s, 1) is constant and thus determined by
its value at s = 0, namely
(a)
1 = uA,0(0, 1) = uA,0(1, 1) = kA (γ1−1 ◦ γ0 ) = kA (γ1 )−1 · kA (γ0 ).
This finishes the proof.

B.4 Proof of Proposition 4.7

We have to show that the functor P : ZX 1
(G)∞ / Funct∞ (P1 (X), BG) is
bijective on objects. For this purpose, we define an inverse map D that
assigns to any smooth functor F : P1 (X) / BG a g-valued 1-form D(F ),
such that P(D(F )) = F and such that D(P(A)) = A for any 1-form A ∈
Ω1 (X, g).
Let F : P1 (X) / BG be a smooth functor. We define the 1-form A :=
D(F ) at a point p ∈ X and for a tangent vector v ∈ Tp X in the following
way. Let γ : R / X be a smooth curve such that γ(0) = p and γ̇(0) = v.
We consider the map
fγ := F1 ◦ (γ∗ )1 : R × R / G. (B.12)
The evaluation ev ◦ ((γ∗ )1 × id) : U × [0, 1] / X with U = R × R is a
smooth map because γ is smooth. Hence, by Definition 3.1, fγ is smooth.
The properties of the functor F further imply the cocycle condition
fγ (y, z) · fγ (x, y) = fγ (x, z). (B.13)
By Lemma 4.1, the smooth map fγ : R × R / G corresponds to a g-valued
1-form Aγ on R. We define
 
∂
αF,γ (p, v) := Aγ |0 ∈ g. (B.14)
∂t

63
With a view to the definition (4.3) of Aγ , this is

d 
αF,γ (p, v) = − fγ (0, t) . (B.15)
dt t=0

Lemma B.2. αF,γ (p, v) is independent of the choice of the smooth curve γ.

Proof. We prove the following:  if γ0 , γ 1 : R / X are smooth curves

dγ1 (t)  dγ2 (t) 
such that γ0 (0) = γ1 (0) and dt  = dt  then it follows
0 0
 
d  d 
fγ (0, t) =  fγ1 (0, t).
dt 0 0 dt 0

Let U ⊂ X be a convex open chart neighborhood of x. Let ǫ > 0 be such

that (γ0∗ )1 (0, t)(x), (γ1∗ )1 (0, t)(x) ∈ U for all t ∈ [0, ǫ) and x ∈ [0, 1]. In the
chart, we can form the difference vector

d : [0, ǫ) × [0, 1] / Rn : (t, x) ✤ / (γ1∗ )1 (0, t)(x) − (γ0∗ )1 (0, t)(x).

We obtain a smooth map

h : [0, ǫ) × [0, 1] × [0, 1] / X : (t, α, x) ✤ / (γ0∗ )1 (0, t)(x) + αd(t, x)

and define by H(t, α)(x) := h(t, α, x) a smooth homotopy

H : [0, ǫ) × [0, 1] / PX

between (γ0∗ )1 (0, t) and (γ1∗ )1 (0, t).

d

The difference map satisfies d(0, x) = 0 and dt 0
d(t, x) = 0. By
Hadamard’s Lemma there exists a smooth map e : [0, ǫ) × [0, 1] / Rn such
2 2
that d(t, x) = t e(t, x). We consider Z := [0, ǫ) × [0, ǫ ) and the smooth maps

f : [0, ǫ) × [0, 1] / Z and p:Z / PX

defined by f (t, α) := (t, t2 α) and p(t, α)(x) := γ0 (t)(x) + αe(t, x). We have
H = p ◦ f . Now we compute via the chain rule
 
d  d 
F1 (H(t, α)) = J(F1 ◦ p)|f (0,α) ·  f (t, α) = J(F1 ◦ p)|(0,0) · (1, 0).
dt 0 dt 0
d

The left hand side is dt f (0, t), and the right hand side is independent of
0 γα
α. This shows the claim. 

64
 According to the result of Lemma B.2, we drop the index γ, and remain
with a map αF : T X / g defined canonically by the functor F . We show
next that αF is linear in v. For a multiple sv of v we can choose the curve γs
with γs (t) := γ(st). It is easy to see that then fγs (x, y) = fγ (sx, sy). Again
by the chain rule
d d
α(p, sv) = − fγs (0, t)|t=0 = − fγ (0, st)|t=0 = sαF (p, v).
dt dt
In the same way one can show that α(p, v + w) = α(p, v) + α(p, w).
Lemma B.3. The pointwise linear map αF : T X / g is smooth, and thus
1
defines a 1-form A ∈ Ω (X, g) by A|p (v) := αF (p, v).
Proof. If X is n-dimensional and φ : U / X is a coordinate chart with
an open subset U ⊂ Rn , the standard chart for the tangent bundle T X is
φ T X : U × Rn / T X : (u, v) ✤ / dφ|u (v).
We prove the smoothness of αF in the chart φT X , i.e. we show that
A ◦ φ T X : U × Rn / g
is smooth. For this purpose, we define the map
c : U × Rn × R / P X : (u, v, τ ) ✤ / (t ✤ / φ(u + β(tτ )v))
where β is some smoothing function, i.e. an orientation-preserving diffeomor-
phism of [0, 1] with sitting instants. Now, ev ◦ (c × id) is evidently smooth
in all parameters, and since F is a smooth functor,
fc := F1 ◦ pr ◦ c : U × Rn × R / G
is a smooth function. Note that γu,v (t) := c(u, v, t)(1) defines a smooth curve
in X with the properties
γu,v (0) = φ(u) and γ̇u,v = dφ|u (v), (B.16)
and which is in turn related to c by
(γu,v )∗ (0, t) = c(u, v, t). (B.17)
Using the path γu,v in the definition of the 1-form A, we find
(A ◦ φT X )(u, v) = αF (φ(u), dφ|u (v))

(B.16) d 
= − (F1 ◦ (γu,v )∗ )(0, t)
dt t=0

(B.17) d 
= − fc (u, v, t) .
dt t=0

65
The last expression is, in particular, smooth in u and v. 

Summarizing, we started with a given smooth functor F : P1 (X) / BG

1
and have derived a 1-form D(F ) := A ∈ Ω (X, g). Next we show that this
1-form is the preimage of F under the functor
1
P : ZX (G)∞ / Funct∞ (X, BG)
from Proposition 4.7, i.e. we show
P(A)(γ) = F (γ)
for any path γ ∈ P X. We recall that the functor P(A) was defined by
P(A)(γ) := fγ ∗ A (0, 1), where fγ ∗ A : R × R / G solves the differential equa-
tion   
d ∗ ∂
fγ ∗ A |(0,t) = −drfγ∗ A (0,t) |1 (γ A)t (B.18)
dt ∂t
with the initial value fγ ∗ A (0, 0) = 1. Now we use the construction of the 1-
form A from the given functor F . For the smooth function fγ : R × R / G
from (B.12) we obtain using γt (τ ) := γ(t + τ ) with p := γt (0) and v := γ̇t (0)
d d
fγ (t, t + τ )|τ =0 = fγ (0, τ )|τ =0
dτ dτ t  
(B.15) ∗ ∂
= −αF,γt (p, v) = −Ap (v) = −(γ A)t . (B.19)
∂t
Then we have
  
d (B.13) d (B.19) ∗ ∂
fγ (0, t) = fγ (t, τ )|τ =t · fγ (0, t) = −drfγ (0,t) |1 (γ A)t .
dt dτ ∂t
Hence, fγ solves the initial value problem (B.18). By uniqueness, fγ ∗ A = fγ
and finally
F (γ) = fγ (0, 1) = fγ ∗ A (0, 1) = P(A)(γ).

It remains to show that, conversely, for a given 1-form A ∈ Ω1 (X, g),

D(P(A)) = A.
We test the 1-form D(P(A)) at a point x ∈ X and a tangent vector v ∈ Tx X.
Let Γ : R / X be a curve in X with x = Γ(0) and v = Γ̇(0). If we further
denote γa := Γ∗ (0, a) we have
  
(B.15) ∂fγa  (B.12) ∂  ∂ 
− D(P(A))|x (v) =  =  P(A)(γa ) = fγ ∗ A (0, 1)
∂a (0,0) ∂a 0 ∂a 0 a
(B.20)

66
Here, fγa∗ A is the unique solution of the initial value problem (B.18) for the
given 1-form A and the curve γa . We calculate with the product rule
    
d  dfγa∗ A (0, τ ) 

d  dγa (τ ) 
=− Aγ (t) · fγ0∗ A (0, t)
da 0 dτ 
τ =t da 0 a dτ τ =t
  
dfγa∗ A (0, t) 

dγ0 (τ ) 
− Aγ0 (t) ·  .
dτ τ =t da 0

Since γ0 = idx , we have dγdτ 0 (τ ) 
 = 0 as well as fγ0∗ A (0, t) = 1. Hence,
τ =t
     
d  dfγa∗ A (0, τ )  d  dγa (τ ) 
= − Aγ (t)
da 0 dτ 
τ =t da 0 a dτ τ =t
  
1 dγh (τ ) 
= − lim Aγh (t) .
h→0 h dτ τ =t

Within the thin homotopy class of γa we find a representative that satisfies

γa (t) = Γ(aϕ(t)) with ϕ : [0, 1] / [0, 1] a surjective smooth map with sitting
instants. Using this representative we obtain
  
dγh (τ )  dΓ  dϕ(τ ) 
= ·h· .
dτ τ =t dτ τ =hϕ(t) dτ τ =t

Thus,
    !
d  dfγa∗ A (0, τ )  dϕ(τ )  dΓ 
= − lim · Aγh (t)
da 0 dτ 
τ =t
h→0 dτ τ =t dτ τ =hϕ(t)

dϕ(τ ) 
= − Ax (v).
dτ τ =t

Integrating t form 0 to 1 gives with ϕ(1) = 1


dfγa (1) 
= −Ax (v).
da 0

Substituting this in (B.20) we obtain the claimed result.

67
Table of Notations
P1π (M) the universal path pushout of a surjective submer- Page 13
sion π : Y / M.

Exπ the functor Exπ : Triv1π (i) / Des1π (i) which ex- Page 13
tracts descent data.
f∗ the functor f∗ : P1 (M) / P1 (N) of path groupoids Page 8
induced by a smooth map f : M / N.

Funct(S, T ) the category of functors between categories Sand T . Page 14

Funct∞ (P1 (X), Gr) Page 29

the category of smooth functors from P1 (X) to a Lie
groupoid Gr.
G-Tor the category of smooth principal G-spaces and Page 2
smooth equivariant maps.
Gr a Lie groupoid Page 26
i a functor i : Gr / T , which relates the typical fibre Page 26
Gr of a functor to the target category T .
C∞ the category of smooth manifolds and smooth maps Page 54
between those.
π11 (M, x) the thin homotopy group of the smooth manifold M Page 8
at the point x ∈ M.

pπ the projection functor pπ : P1π (M) / P1 (M). Page 16

PM the set of paths in M Page 6

P 1M the set of thin homotopy classes of paths in M Page 7

P1 (M) the path groupoid of the smooth manifold M. Page 8

Π1 (M) the fundamental groupoid of a smooth manifold M Page 9

Recπ the functor Recπ : Des1π (i) / Triv1 (i) which recon-
π Page 14
structs a functor from descent data.
s the section functor s : P1 (M) / P π (M) associated Page 13
1
to a surjective submersion π : Y / M.

68
BG the category with one object whose set of morphisms Page 28
is the Lie group G.
D∞ the category of smooth spaces Page 54
T the target category of transport functors – the fi- Page 26
bres of a bundle are objects in T , and the parallel
transport maps are morphisms in T .

Des1π (i) the category of descent data of π-locally i-trivialized Page 12

functors.
Des1π (i)∞ the category of smooth descent data of π-locally i- Page 20
trivialized functors
Trans1Gr (M, T ) Page 21
the category of transport functors with Gr- struc-
ture.
Triv1π (i) the category of functors F : P1 (M) / T together Page 11
with π-local i-trivializations
Triv1π (i)∞ the category of transport functors on M with Gr- Page 21
structure together with π-local i-trivializations.
Vect(Cnh ) the category of n-dimensional hermitian vector Page 39
spaces and isometries between those.

VB(Cnh )∇
M the category of hermitian vector bundles of rank n Page 39
with unitary connection over M.
1
ZX (G)∞ the category of differential cocycles on X with gauge Page 29
group G.

Zπ1 (G)∞ the category of differential cocycles of a surjective Page 30

submersion π with gauge group G.

69
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