Holohonies for connections with values in $L_\infty$-algebras

Abstract

Given a flat connection $\alpha$ on a manifold $M$ with values in a filtered $L_\infty$-algebra $\mathfrak{g}$, we construct a morphism $\mathsf{hol}^{\infty}_\alpha \colon C_\bullet(M) \rightarrow \mathsf{B} \hat{\mathbb{U}}_\infty(\mathfrak{g})$, which generalizes the holonomy map associated to a flat connection with values in a Lie algebra. The construction is based on Gugenheim's $\mathsf{A}_{\infty}$-version of de Rham's theorem, which in turn is based on Chen's iterated integrals. Finally, we discuss examples related to the geometry of configuration spaces of points in Euclidean space $\mathbb{R}^d$, and to generalizations of the holonomy representations of braid groups.