Cohomological invariants of a variation of flat connection

Abstract

In this paper, we apply the theory of Chern-Cheeger-Simons to construct canonical invariants associated to a $r$-simplex whose points parametrize flat connections on a smooth manifold $X$. These invariants lie in degrees $(2p-r-1)$-cohomology with $C/Z$-coefficients, for $p> r\geq 1$. In turn, this corresponds to a homomorphism on the higher homology groups of the moduli space of flat connections, and taking values in $C/Z$-cohomology of the underlying smooth manifold $X$.