Vertical flows and a general currential homotopy formula

Abstract

We generalize some of the results of Harvey, Lawson and Latschev about transgression formulas. The focus here is on flowing forms via vertical vector fields, especially Morse-Bott-Smale vector fields. We prove a very general transgression formula including also a version covering non-compact situations. Among applications, we completely answer a question of Quillen, construct the Maslov spark, give a very short proof of a refined Chern- Gauss-Bonnet theorem, and reprove some theorems of Nicolaescu and Getzler. A discussion about odd Chern-Weil theory is also included.