Cohomology of Horizontal Forms

Abstract

The complex of s-horizontal forms of a smooth foliation F on a manifold M is proved to be exact for every s = 1, . . . , n = codim F, and the cohomology groups of the complex of its global sections, are introduced. They are then compared with other cohomology groups associated to a foliation, previously introduced. An explicit formula for an s-horizontal primitive of an s-horizontal closed form, is given. The problem of representing a de Rham cohomology class by means of a horizontal closed form is analysed. Applications of these cohomology groups are included and several specific examples of explicit computation of such groups-even for non-commutative structure groups-are also presented.