Groups of Flagged Homotopies and Higher Gauge Theory

Abstract

Groups $\Pi_k(X;\sigma)$ of "flagged homotopies" are introduced of which the usual (abelian for $k>1$) homotopy groups $\pi_k(X;p)$ is the limit case for flags $\sigma$ contracted to a point $p$. Calculus of exterior forms with values in algebra $A$ is developped of which the limit cases are differential forms calculus (for $A=\bb R$) and gauge theory (for 1-forms). Moduli space of integrable forms with respect to higher gauge transforms (cohomology with coefficients in $A$) is introduced with elements giving representations of $\Pi_k$ in $G=exp A$.