Wolfe's theorem for weakly differentiable cochains

Abstract

A fundamental theorem of Wolfe isometrically identifies the space of flat differential forms of dimension $m$ in $\mathbb{R}^n$ with the space of flat $m$-cochains, that is, the dual space of flat chains of dimension $m$ in $\mathbb{R}^n$. The main purpose of the present paper is to generalize Wolfe's theorem to the setting of Sobolev differential forms and Sobolev cochains in $\mathbb{R}^n$. A suitable theory of Sobolev cochains has recently been initiated by the second and third author. It is based on the concept of upper norm and upper gradient of a cochain, introduced in analogy with Heinonen-Koskela's concept of upper gradient of a function.