Evaluation maps and transfers for free loop spaces I

Abstract

We construct and study a functorial extension of the evaluation map $S^1 \times \mathcal{L} X \to X$ to transfers along finite covers. For finite covers of classifying spaces of finite groups, we provide algebraic formulas for this extension in terms of bisets. In the sequel, we show that this induces a natural evaluation map on the full subcategory of the homotopy category of spectra consisting of $p$-completed classifying spectra of finite groups.