Higher homotopy and lattice gauge fields

Abstract

We present a general formalism for higher dimensional versions of lattice gauge fields based on higher strict homotopy groupoids. First, using the language of nonabelian Algebraic Topology, we define local lattice higher gauge fields. Then, we provide local-to-global principles for lattice higher gauge fields based on the HHSvK theorem. We prove that, under the correct assumptions, lattice higher gauge field as presented here, subsumes both the notion of extended lattice gauge field and other notions of higher lattice gauge field present in the literature.