Invariant Differential Forms on Complexes of Graphs and Feynman Integrals

We study differential forms on an algebraic compactification of a moduli space of metric graphs. Canonical examples of such forms are obtained by pulling back invariant differentials along a tropical Torelli map. The invariant differential forms in question generate the stable real cohomology of the general linear group, as shown by Borel. By integrating such invariant forms over the space of metrics on a graph, we define canonical period integrals associated to graphs, which we prove are always finite and take the form of generalised Feynman integrals. Furthermore, canonical integrals can be used to detect the non-vanishing of homology classes in the commutative graph complex. This theory leads to insights about the structure of the cohomology of the commutative graph complex, and new connections between graph complexes, motivic Galois groups and quantum field theory.

Multi-directed Graph Complexes and Quasi-isomorphisms Between Them II: Sourced Graphs

We prove that the projection from graph complex with at least one source to oriented graph complex is a quasi-isomorphism, showing that homology of the “sourced” graph complex is also equal to the homology of standard Kontsevich’s graph complex. This result may have applications in theory of multi-vector fields $T_{\textrm{poly}}^{\geq 1}$ of degree at least one, and to the hairy graph complex that computes the rational homotopy of the space of long knots. The result is generalized to multi-directed graph complexes, showing that all such graph complexes are quasi-isomorphic. These complexes play a key role in the deformation theory of multi-oriented props recently invented by Sergei Merkulov. We also develop a theory of graph complexes with arbitrary edge types.