Hopf Invariants in Real and Rational Homotopy Theory

Abstract: In this thesis we use the theory of algebraic operads to define a complete invariant of real and rational homotopy classes of maps of topological spaces and manifolds. More precisely let f,g : M -> N be two smooth maps between manifolds M and N. To construct the invariant, we define a homotopy Lie structure on the space of linear maps between the homology of M and the homotopy groups of N, and a map mc from the set of based maps from M to N, to the set of Maurer-Cartan elements in the convolution algebra between the homology and homotopy. Then we show that the maps f and g are real (rational) homotopic if and only if mc(f) is gauge equivalent to mc(g), in this homotopy Lie convolution algebra. In the last part we show that in the real case, the map mc can be computed by integrating certain differential forms over certain subspaces of M. We also give a method to determine in certain cases, if the Maurer-Cartan elements mc(f) and mc(g) are gauge equivalent or not.