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# Parallel Transports in Webs

## 1 Introduction

In order to incorporate the full diffeomorphism invariance of general relativity into loop gravity, it is not sufficient to consider only piecewise analytic paths. Instead, at least, piecewise smooth and immersive paths have to be included. This, however, causes a bunch of technical difficulties that are usually related to the fact that two finite graphs need not be contained in a common larger finite graph. This desirable, but not given directedness is necessary to, in particular, make the measure theory well defined. Several attempts have been made to circumvent this problem. First, Baez and Sawin  introduced so-called webs. These are certain sets of piecewise smooth immersive paths that are “sufficiently” independent to allow for the definition of the Ashtekar-Lewandowski measure. Later, arbitrarily smooth paths have been shown tractable using hyphs . Nevertheless, there are still several difficulties even in the more restrictive case of smooth webs. One of them is related to the Lewandowski-Thiemann conjecture , which is important for the definition of diffeomorphism-invariant operators in loop quantum gravity. More precisely, since the averaging over the diffeomorphism group is well defined only on a certain subspace of cylindrical functions, it is important that diffeomorphism-invariant operators do indeed preserve that subspace. Lewandowski and Thiemann took the view that this is probably true and argued that to answer that question one should study how parallel transports in portions of webs behave. In the present article we are now going to state several results on this subject. In particular, we will be able to prove that in the case of semisimple structure groups (like $`SU(2)`$ or $`Sl(2,)`$ needed for gravity) there are always subpaths of a web that do not run through the base points of the web, but are already holonomically independent, i.e. parallel transports can be assigned to them completely independent of each other. However, one can see  that these results are – in contrast to the anticipation expressed in  – still not completely sufficient to prove the Lewandowski-Thiemann conjecture. Nevertheless, the methods developed here will be used to prove it in a subsequent article .

The present paper goes as follows: After some preliminaries we will introduce the terms “richness” and “splitting”. They will be used to encode the relative position of (parts of) webs – do they coincide, are they in a certain sense independent? Next, we will partially exploit an idea, already used in , to study under which circumstances groups can be generated by finite products of elements of certain subgroups. Together with some criteria for the holonomical independence of sets of paths, we will finally determine for every web explicitly what parallel transports regular connections may have. In particular, given a web of $`n`$ paths, one sees that the set of possible parallel transports forms a Lie subgroup of $`𝐆^n`$ for structure groups $`𝐆`$ that are compact Lie. This can be regarded as a proof that is independent from the argumentation in . But, our result is true even if $`𝐆`$ is an arbitrary product of semisimple and abelian, possibly noncompact Lie groups. Additionally, we will show that all parallel transports, occurring in a full web, can already be adopted along certain subpaths in a web that are nontrivial in the sense that they do not contain the base points of the web.

## 2 Preliminaries

Let us briefly fix the notations. Throughout the whole paper, $`𝐆`$ is some arbitrary group. Starting with Section 5 we assume additionally that $`𝐆`$ is a connected Lie group. Fix some arbitrary manifold $`M`$. Let $`𝒫`$ denote the set of all (finite) paths in $`M`$, i.e. the set of all piecewise smooth and immersive mappings from $`[0,1]`$ to $`M`$. $`𝒫`$ is a groupoid (after imposing the standard equivalence relation, i.e., saying that reparametrizations and insertions/deletions of retracings are irrelevant) . Sometimes we will speak about paths restricted to certain subintervals $`I`$ of $`[0,1]`$. By means of some affine map from $`I`$ to $`[0,1]`$ we may regard these restrictions naturally as paths again. The set of all smooth connections in some fixed principal fibre bundle $`\pi :PM`$ with structure group $`𝐆`$ is denoted by $`𝒜`$. Given some “ultralocal” trivialization $`\iota `$ of $`P`$, we can identify for every path $`\gamma 𝒫`$ and every connection $`A𝒜`$ the parallel transport w.r.t. to $`A`$ along $`\gamma `$ with an element $`h_A^\iota (\gamma )h_\gamma ^\iota (A)`$ of $`𝐆`$. Moreover, we define for every finite tuple $`𝜸=(\gamma _1,\mathrm{},\gamma _n)`$ of paths the set

$`𝒜_𝜸^\iota :=\{h_A^\iota (𝜸)A𝒜\}\{(h_A^\iota (\gamma _1),\mathrm{},h_A^\iota (\gamma _n))A𝒜\}𝐆^n`$

of all possible (tuples of) parallel transports along these paths. Recall that an ultralocal trivialization  is simply some collection of trivializations for each single fibre $`P_m`$ in $`P`$. Note that the assignment of $`mM`$ to that trivialization over $`m`$ – even locally – need not be smooth. Sometimes, however, we will drop the superscript $`\iota `$ to simplify notation. Then we assume we are given some arbitrary, but fixed trivialization. It is obvious that $`𝒜_𝜸^\iota `$ is independent of the chosen trivialization, in particular, if it equals the full $`𝐆^{\mathrm{\#}𝜸}`$.

## 3 Richness and Splittings

Let $`n_+`$ be some positive integer and let $`𝐆`$ be some group.

* We define

+ $`𝒱_n`$ to be the set of all $`n`$-tuples with entries equal to $`0`$ or $`1`$ only;
    + $`𝐆_v:=\{(g^{v_1},\mathrm{},g^{v_n})g𝐆\}𝐆^n`$ for every $`v𝒱_n`$; and
    + $`𝐆_V:=𝐆_{v^1}\mathrm{}𝐆_{v^k}`$ for every ordered111By an ordered subset of $`X`$ we mean an arbitrary tuple of elements in $`X`$ where every element in $`X`$ occurs at most once as a component of that tuple. However, we will use the standard terminology of sets if misunderstandings seem to be impossible. subset $`V=\{v^1,\mathrm{},v^k\}𝒱_n`$.

We have, e.g., $`𝐆_{(1,0,1,0)}=\{(g,1,g,1)g𝐆\}`$.

* For every $`n_+`$, every group (Lie group, algebraic group) $`𝐆`$ and every $`v𝒱_n`$, the set $`𝐆_v`$ is a subgroup (Lie subgroup, algebraic subgroup) of $`𝐆^n`$.

* Obviously, $`𝐆_v`$ is a subgroup of $`𝐆`$. If $`𝐆`$ is Lie, then it is additionally a submanifold, hence a Lie subgroup of $`𝐆^n`$. If $`𝐆`$ is algebraic, then $`𝐆_v`$ is Zariski-closed in $`𝐆`$, hence an algebraic subgroup. qed

### 3.1 Richness

* An ordered subset $`V𝒱_n`$ is called rich iff

+ for all $`1i,jn`$ with $`ij`$ there is an element $`vV`$ with $`v_iv_j`$ and
    + for all $`1in`$ there is an element $`wV`$ with $`w_i0`$.

For instance, let $`n=4`$. Then $`V:=\{(1,1,0,0),(1,0,1,0),(0,1,0,1),(0,0,1,1)\}`$ is rich, but $`\{(1,1,0,1),(1,0,1,1),(0,1,1,0)\}`$ is not, because it fails to fulfill the first richness condition for $`i=1`$ and $`j=4`$.

* Let $`n_+`$ and $`K\{1,\mathrm{},n\}`$.

+ For every $`v𝒱_n`$ the $`K`$-restriction $`R_K(v)𝒱_{n|K|}`$ of $`v`$ is defined to be the $`(n|K|)`$-tuple, that is generated from $`v`$ by canceling all components of $`v`$ at the positions listed in $`K`$.
    + For every $`V𝒱_n`$ the $`K`$-restriction of $`V`$ is given by

    $`R_K(V):=_{vV}\{R_K(v)\}.`$
    + For every nonempty $`V𝒱_n`$ the richness deficit $`\delta _V`$ of $`V`$ is given for $`V\{(0,\mathrm{},0)\}`$ by

    $`\delta _V:=\underset{K^{}\{1,\mathrm{},n\}}{\mathrm{min}}\{|K^{}|R_K^{}(V)\text{ is rich}\}`$

    and by $`\delta _V:=n`$ otherwise.

For example, we have $`R_{\{2,4\}}\left((1,0,1,0)\right)=(1,1)`$ and $`R_1\left((1,0,1,0)\right)=(0,1,0)`$. For convenience, we write $`R_k`$ instead of $`R_{\{k\}}`$ for $`1kn`$. Using the example above of a rich $`V`$, we get $`R_4(V)=\{(1,1,0),(1,0,1),(0,1,0),(0,0,1)\}`$. Note, finally, that $`\delta _V`$ is well defined. In fact, if $`V`$ is neither empty nor the zero tuple, it contains at least one nonzero tuple, say $`v`$ with $`v_i=1`$. There we have $`R_{\{1,\mathrm{},n\}\{i\}}(V)=\{(1)\}`$ which is rich.

* Let $`V𝒱_n`$ be nonempty.

+ If $`V`$ is rich, then $`R_K(V)`$ is rich for all $`K\{1,\mathrm{},n\}`$.
    + If $`(g_1,\mathrm{},g_{k1},g_{k+1},\mathrm{},g_n)[𝐆_{R_k(V)}]^q`$ for some $`q`$, then there is some $`g𝐆`$ with $`(g_1,\mathrm{},g_{k1},g,g_{k+1},\mathrm{},g_n)[𝐆_V]^q`$.
    + $`V`$ is rich iff $`\delta _V`$ is zero.

* Clear. qed

We remark that $`[𝐆_V]^q`$ denotes the $`q`$-fold multiplication $`𝐆_V\mathrm{}𝐆_V`$ of $`𝐆_V`$. In contrast, we use $`𝐆^n`$ as usual for the $`n`$-fold direct product $`𝐆\times \mathrm{}\times 𝐆`$ of $`𝐆`$.

### 3.2 Splittings

* + A subset $`V𝒱_n`$ is called $`n`$-splitting iff

    - $`_{vV}v=(1,\mathrm{},1)`$ and
        - $`(0,\mathrm{},0)V`$.
    + Let $`V`$ and $`V^{}`$ be $`n`$-splittings. $`V^{}`$ is called refinement of $`V`$ (shortly: $`V^{}V`$) iff every $`vV`$ can be written as a sum of elements in $`V^{}`$.

* Let $`V`$ be some $`n`$-splitting. Then we have:

+ $`𝐆_V=_{vV}𝐆_v`$ independently of the ordering in $`V`$;
    + $`𝐆_V`$ is a subgroup of $`𝐆^n`$, hence $`[𝐆_V]^2=𝐆_V`$;
    + $`𝐆_V^{}𝐆_V`$ for all $`n`$-splittings $`V^{}V`$.

* It is easy to see that $`𝐆_v^{}`$ and $`𝐆_{v^{\prime \prime }}`$ commute for all $`v^{},v^{\prime \prime }𝒱_n`$ with $`v^{}v^{\prime \prime }=(0,\mathrm{},0)`$ where the multiplication is pointwise. Moreover, we then have $`𝐆_{v^{}+v^{\prime \prime }}𝐆_v^{}𝐆_{v^{\prime \prime }}`$. Since, as follows directly from the definition, $`v^{}v^{\prime \prime }=(0,\mathrm{},0)`$ for all different elements $`v^{}`$ and $`v^{\prime \prime }`$ in an $`n`$-splitting, $`_{vV}𝐆_v`$ does not depend on the ordering. Now, $`𝐆_V=_{vV}𝐆_v`$ by definition. From $`(𝐆_v)^1=𝐆_v=𝐆_v𝐆_v`$ for all $`v𝒱_n`$, we get the group property of $`𝐆_V`$ and hence $`[𝐆_V]^2=𝐆_V`$. Additionally, if $`V^{}V`$, then every $`vV`$ is a sum of certain elements in $`V^{}`$. Consequently, each $`𝐆_v`$ is contained in $`𝐆_V^{}`$, whence $`𝐆_V[𝐆_V^{}]^{\mathrm{\#}V}=𝐆_V^{}`$. qed

* Let $`n_+`$ be some positive integer, $`S`$ be some set and $`\stackrel{}{s}`$ be some $`n`$-tuple of elements of $`S`$. Then the splitting $`V(\stackrel{}{s})`$ for $`\stackrel{}{s}`$ is given by

$`V(\stackrel{}{s}):=\{v𝒱_nv_i=1=v_j\text{ }\text{ }s_i=s_j\}\{(0,\mathrm{},0)\}.`$

For example, the splitting for $`\stackrel{}{s}=(s_1,s_2,s_3,s_2)`$ is $`V(\stackrel{}{s})=\{(1,0,0,0),(0,1,0,1),(0,0,1,0)\}`$.

* For every $`n`$, $`S`$ and $`\stackrel{}{s}`$ as given in Definition Definition 3.5, $`V(\stackrel{}{s})`$ is a $`n`$-splitting.

* Let $`1in`$ and $`v,v^{}V(\stackrel{}{s})`$ with $`v_i=v_i^{}=1`$. Then $`v_j=1`$ iff $`s_i=s_j`$. However, the same is true for $`v_j^{}`$. Hence, $`v=v^{}`$. Since there is at least one $`v𝒱_n`$ with $`v_i=1`$, we get the assertion. qed

* Let $`𝒇=(f_1,\mathrm{},f_n)`$ be some tuple of continuous functions $`f_i:XY`$, where $`X`$ and $`Y`$ are topological spaces and $`Y`$ is assumed Hausdorff.

Then for every $`x_0X`$ there is some neighbourhood $`UX`$ of $`x_0`$, such that $`V(𝒇(x_0))V(𝒇(x))`$ for all $`xU`$.

* + By the continuity and the finiteness of $`𝒇`$, there is for every fixed $`x_0X`$ some open $`UX`$ containing $`x_0`$, such that $`f_i(x_0)f_j(x_0)`$ implies $`f_i(x)f_j(x)`$ for all $`xU`$. Note that $`Y`$ is Hausdorff.
    + Set for every two $`n`$-splittings $`V,V^{}`$

    $`\kappa _V^{}(v):=\{v^{}V^{}k:v_k=1=v_k^{}\}.`$

    Then we have $`v_{v^{}\kappa _V^{}(v)}v^{}`$ (with $``$ defined by $``$ on all components). In fact, if $`v_l=0`$, the assertion $`v_l_{v^{}\kappa _V^{}(v)}v_l^{}`$ is trivial. On the other hand, for $`v_l=1`$ there is some $`\widehat{v}^{}V^{}`$ with $`\widehat{v}_l^{}=1`$, i.e. $`\widehat{v}^{}\kappa _V^{}(v)`$, hence $`v_l=1_{v^{}\kappa _V^{}(v)}v_l^{}`$.
    + Observe now, that $`\kappa _{V(𝒇(x))}(v)\kappa _{V(𝒇(x))}(\widehat{v})\mathrm{}`$ with $`xU`$ and $`v,\widehat{v}V(𝒇(x_0))`$ implies $`v=\widehat{v}`$. In fact, it implies the existence of some $`v^{}`$ in that intersection and some $`k,l`$ with $`v_k^{}=1=v_k`$ and $`v_l^{}=1=\widehat{v}_l`$. Consequently, $`v_k^{}=1=v_l^{}`$, hence $`f_k(x)=f_l(x)`$, thus $`f_k(x_0)=f_l(x_0)`$ by $`xU`$. Therefore, $`v_k=1=v_l`$ and $`\widehat{v}_k=1=\widehat{v}_l`$ by $`v,\widehat{v}V(𝒇(x_0))`$. This implies $`v=\widehat{v}`$.
    + Altogether we get for every $`xU`$

    $`\begin{array}{ccc}\hfill (1,\mathrm{},1)& =& _{vV(𝒇(x_0))}v\text{ }\text{(Splitting property)}\hfill \\ & & _{vV(𝒇(x_0))}_{v^{}\kappa _{V(𝒇(x))}(v)}v^{}\text{ }\text{(}v_{v^{}\kappa _{V(𝒇(x))}(v)}v^{}\text{)}\hfill \\ & & _{v^{}V(𝒇(x))}v^{}\text{ }\text{(Disjointness of the sets }\kappa _{V(𝒇(x))}(v)\text{)}\hfill \\ & =& (1,\mathrm{},1)\text{ }\text{(Splitting property)}\hfill \end{array}`$

    and, therefore, $`v=_{v^{}\kappa _{V(𝒇(x))}(v)}v^{}`$ with $`\kappa _{V(𝒇(x))}(v)V(𝒇(x))`$ by definition for every $`vV(𝒇(x_0))`$. qed

## 4 Generation of Subgroups

Even if some smooth paths are independent, i.e. they are webs or hyphs, two or more of them may share full segments. Consequently, the parallel transports along these segments are identical. Using the terminology of the previous section, we see that these parallel transports have now values in some subset $`𝐆_V`$ of $`𝐆^n`$, where $`V`$ encodes which segments coincide. In order to prepare the study of the behaviour of the parallel transports along the full paths, we will now present some results on products of sets of type $`𝐆_V`$.

### 4.1 Semisimple Groups

Before stating the first theorem of this paper, let us recall the definition of the commutator length .

* Let $`𝐆`$ be a group that coincides with its commutator subgroup.

+ The commutator length $`\mathrm{cl}_𝐆(g)`$ of an element $`g𝐆`$ is defined to be the minimal number of commutators in $`𝐆`$ whose product equals $`g`$.
    + The commutator length $`\mathrm{cl}(𝐆)`$ of $`𝐆`$ is defined to be $`sup_{g𝐆}\mathrm{cl}_𝐆(g)`$.

We remark that $`\mathrm{cl}(𝐆)=1`$ for all connected semisimple Lie groups that are complex or compact . This means, every element in $`𝐆`$ can then be written as a commutator of two elements in $`𝐆`$.

* Let $`𝐆`$ be a group that equals its commutator subgroup and let $`n`$ be some positive integer. Then we have $`𝐆^n=_q[𝐆_V]^q`$ for any rich ordered subset $`V`$ of $`𝒱_n`$.

If, moreover, $`𝐆`$ has finite commutator length, then there is a positive integer $`q(n)`$ such that $`[𝐆_V]^{q(n)}=𝐆^n`$ for any rich ordered subset $`V`$ of $`𝒱_n`$.

Note that $`q(n)`$ does not depend on the ordering or the number of elements in $`V`$.

The following proof will exploit an idea presented in  for Lie algebras, but now we transfer it to the level of abstract groups.

* Let us first prove $`𝐆^n=_q[𝐆_V]^q`$.

+ The case $`n=1`$ is trivial.
    + Let us consider the case $`n=2`$. By the first richness condition, $`V`$ has to contain at least one of the elements $`(0,1)`$ and $`(1,0)`$. W.l.o.g. we have $`(0,1)V`$. Then by the second richness condition, $`(1,0)`$ or $`(1,1)`$ is in $`V`$. However, we see immediately that both for $`i`$ equal $`0`$ and $`1`$ we have $`𝐆^2=𝐆_{(0,1)}𝐆_{(1,i)}𝐆_V𝐆^2`$ if we assume that $`(0,1)`$ occurs in $`V`$ before $`(1,i)`$ does. Completely analogously we have $`𝐆^2=𝐆_{(1,i)}𝐆_{(0,1)}=𝐆_V`$ in the opposite case. Hence, the assertion follows from $`𝐆^2=𝐆_V_q[𝐆_V]^q𝐆^2`$.
    + We proceed by induction. Assume we have proven the assertion for a certain $`n2`$. Let $`(g_1,\mathrm{},g_n,g_{n+1})`$ be some element in $`𝐆^{n+1}`$.

    First, we generate the components $`1`$ to $`n`$. For this, let $`W`$ be the ($`n+1`$)-restriction $`R_{n+1}(V)`$ of $`V`$. By Lemma Lemma 3.2, $`W`$ is rich, hence – by induction hypothesis – we have $`(g_1,\mathrm{},g_n)[𝐆_W]^q`$ for some $`q`$. Again by Lemma Lemma 3.2, there is some $`g𝐆`$ with $`(g_1,\mathrm{},g_n,g)[𝐆_V]^q`$.

    Second, we generate the last component. Since $`𝐆`$ equals its own commutator subgroup, we have some finite number $`S`$ and finitely many $`g_s^{},g_s^{\prime \prime }𝐆`$ with

    $`\begin{array}{ccc}\hfill {\displaystyle \underset{s=1}{\overset{S}{}}}g_s^{}g_s^{\prime \prime }(g_s^{})^1(g_s^{\prime \prime })^1& =& g^1g_{n+1}.\hfill \end{array}`$

    Moreover, as shown above, there are certain $`g_{1,s}^{}`$ and $`g_{2,s}^{\prime \prime }`$ in $`𝐆`$, such that

    $`\begin{array}{ccc}\hfill (g_{1,s}^{},1,1,\mathrm{},1,g_s^{})[𝐆_V]^q^{}& \text{ and }& (1,g_{2,s}^{\prime \prime },1,\mathrm{},1,g_s^{\prime \prime })[𝐆_V]^{q^{\prime \prime }}\hfill \end{array}`$

    for some $`q^{},q^{\prime \prime }`$.

    Finally, we get

    $`\begin{array}{ccc}\hfill (g_1,\mathrm{},g_n,g_{n+1})& =& (g_1,\mathrm{},g_n,g)(1,\mathrm{},1,g^1g_{n+1})\hfill \\ & =& (g_1,\mathrm{},g_n,g)\hfill \\ & & {\displaystyle \underset{s=1}{\overset{S}{}}}((g_{1,s}^{},1,1,\mathrm{},1,g_s^{})(1,g_{2,s}^{\prime \prime },1,\mathrm{},1,g_s^{\prime \prime })\hfill \\ & & (g_{1,s}^{},1,1,\mathrm{},1,g_s^{})^1(1,g_{2,s}^{\prime \prime },1,\mathrm{},1,g_s^{\prime \prime })^1)\hfill \\ & & [𝐆_V]^{(q+2(q^{}+q^{\prime \prime })S)}.\hfill \end{array}`$

    Consequently, $`𝐆^{n+1}_q[𝐆_V]^q`$. The opposite inclusion is trivial.

If, additionally, $`𝐆`$ has finite commutator length, the proof is analogous. Just observe that then we may choose $`q,q^{},q^{\prime \prime }q(n)`$ and $`S\mathrm{cl}(𝐆)`$ in the induction step. Setting $`q(1):=1`$, $`q(2):=1`$ and $`q(n+1):=(1+4\mathrm{cl}(𝐆))q(n)`$, we get $`𝐆^{n+1}=[𝐆_V]^{q(n+1)}`$. qed

Directly from the proof we get a (very weak) upper bound for $`q(n)`$.

* We can choose $`q(n)\left(1+4\mathrm{cl}(𝐆)\right)^{n2}`$ for $`n2`$, provided $`𝐆`$ has finite commutator length.

Moreover, we have

* With the assumptions of Theorem Theorem 4.1, we have for every nonempty ordered subset $`V`$ of $`𝒱_n`$ and for every $`𝐆`$ having finite commutator length:

+ $`[𝐆_V]^{q(n\delta _V)}`$ is a subgroup of $`𝐆^n`$ isomorphic to $`𝐆^{n\delta _V}`$;
    + $`[𝐆_V]^{q(n\delta _V)}`$ equals $`𝐆^n`$ iff $`V`$ is rich or $`𝐆`$ is trivial;
    + $`[𝐆_V]^q=[𝐆_V]^{q(n\delta _V)}`$ for all $`qq(n\delta _V)`$.

* We may assume $`V\{(0,\mathrm{},0)\}`$. Otherwise, the statements are obvious setting $`q(0):=1`$.

The basic idea is to extract from $`V`$ the independent and nontrivial components. For this, we divide the set of indices into equivalence classes, whereas $`i`$ and $`j`$ are said to be equivalent iff for every element of $`V`$ its $`i`$\- and $`j`$-component coincide. Now, we define for every $`vV`$ a tuple $`w`$ just by dropping all the components that are $`0`$ for all $`vV`$ or that correspond to indices that are not minimal in their equivalence class. By construction, the set $`W`$ of all $`w`$ given this way is rich and the number of components the elements of $`W`$ have, is $`n\delta _V=:n^{}`$.222On the one hand, $`\delta _Vnn^{}`$ by richness of $`W`$. On the other hand, it is easy to see that every restriction $`W^{}`$ of $`V`$ having elements with more components than those in $`W`$, is not rich, hence $`\delta _Vnn^{}`$. In fact, it has to contain still equivalent, but different components or components that are always zero.

By Theorem Theorem 4.1, we have $`[𝐆_W]^{q(n^{})}=𝐆^n^{}`$. By construction, we see that $`[𝐆_V]^{q(n^{})}`$ consists precisely of all elements in $`𝐆^n`$ that are constant on the equivalence classes above or that are the identity if they belong to the equivalence class built by the components being $`0`$ for all $`vV`$. Thus, $`[𝐆_V]^{q(n^{})}`$ is indeed a subgroup of $`𝐆^n`$.

By the group property of $`[𝐆_V]^{q(n^{})}`$, we have the second inclusion relation in $`[𝐆_V]^{q(n^{})}[𝐆_V]^q=[𝐆_V]^{q(n^{})}[𝐆_V]^{(qq(n^{}))}[𝐆_V]^{q(n^{})}`$ for all $`qq(n^{})`$. Finally, we see from the construction of $`W`$ that $`[𝐆_V]^{q(n^{})}[𝐆_W]^{q(n^{})}=𝐆^n^{}`$.

The statement on the equality of $`[𝐆_V]^{q(n\delta _V)}`$ and $`𝐆^n`$ is clear now. qed

* The statements of Corollary Corollary 4.3 are also true both in the category of Lie groups and that of algebraic groups.

* By the construction in the corollary above, we see immediately that $`[𝐆_V]^{q(n^{})}`$ is a submanifold of $`𝐆^n`$ for Lie groups and is closed in $`𝐆^n`$ for algebraic groups. qed

### 4.2 Abelian Groups

Theorem Theorem 4.1 is no longer true if we drop, e.g., the “semisimplicity” condition. For connected and compact $`𝐆`$ it can be shown that for

$`V:=\{(1,1,0,0),(1,0,1,0),(0,1,0,1),(0,0,1,1)\}`$

we have $`[𝐆_V]^q=𝐆^4`$ iff $`𝐆`$ is semisimple. (The idea for the proof can be already found in .) This example (see Figure 1 on page 1) corresponds to the web introduced by Baez and Sawin  that has been used widely to discuss problems arising in the theory of webs.

However, at least for abelian groups we have a rather explicit description of $`𝐆_V`$:

* Let $`𝐆`$ be some abelian group and let $`n`$ be some positive integer. Then $`𝐆_V`$ is a subgroup of $`𝐆^n`$ for all nonempty ordered subsets $`V`$ of $`𝒱_n`$ and we have

$`𝐆_V=𝐆\text{span}_{}(V)=𝐆^{\text{span}_{}(V)}.`$

This statement is also true in the category of real and complex Lie groups.

* This is a simple consequence of the fact that abelian groups are just $``$-modules. qed

Note, however, that the equality of $`𝐆_V`$ and $`𝐆^n`$ does not only depend on $`V`$, but also on $`𝐆`$. In fact, consider the example $`n=4`$ and

$`V=\{(1,1,0,0),(1,0,1,0),(1,0,0,1),(0,1,1,0),(0,1,0,1),(0,0,1,1)\}.`$

One checks immediately that

$`\text{span}_{}(V)=\{(z_1,z_2,z_3,z_4)^4z_1+z_2+z_3+z_40mod2\}.`$

Consequently, we have $`(_2)_V(_2)^4`$, but $`(_3)_V=(_3)^4`$. However, given a Lie group over $``$ (or $``$) the situation is much nicer because of

* For every positive integer $`n`$ and every ordered subset $`V`$ of $`𝒱_n`$ we have

$`\begin{array}{ccc}\hfill _V& =& \text{span}_{}V\hfill \\ \hfill (U(1))_V& =& (\text{span}_{}V)/^n.\hfill \end{array}`$

In particular, we have $`𝐆_V=𝐆^n`$ iff $`\text{span}_{}V=^n`$ for $`𝐆=,U(1)`$.

For the example $`V=\{(1,1,0,0),(1,0,1,0),(0,1,0,1),(0,0,1,1)\}`$ from the beginning of this subsection and $`𝐆=`$, we have $`\text{span}_{}V=\{(x_1,x_2,x_3,x_4)x_1x_2x_3+x_4=0\}^4`$. In particular, $`dim𝐆_V=3`$, but $`n=4`$.

### 4.3 More General Groups

If we would restrict ourselves to the case of (connected) compact Lie groups, we can always write $`𝐆`$ as $`(𝐆_{\text{ss}}\times U(1)^r)/𝐍`$, where $`𝐆_{\text{ss}}`$ is some semisimple compact Lie group, $`r`$ is some natural number and $`𝐍`$ is some discrete central subgroup of $`𝐆_{\text{ss}}\times U(1)^r`$. We know already the properties of $`𝐆_V`$ for the semisimple and the $`U(1)`$ case. Therefore it is natural to investigate, how the subsets generated by $`V`$ in a product group are related to the corresponding subsets in the single groups and for the factorized version as well. This question will be answered by the following propositions. However, before we can state them, we have to introduce some (sloppy) notation. For $`i=1,\mathrm{},k`$ let $`𝐆_i`$ be some group and $`U_i`$ be some subset of $`(𝐆_i)^n`$ with a certain fixed $`n`$. Then we can naturally identify

$`U_1\times \mathrm{}\times U_k\left\{((g_{11},\mathrm{},g_{1n}),\mathrm{},(g_{k1},\mathrm{},g_{kn}))\right\}(𝐆_1)^n\times \mathrm{}\times (𝐆_k)^n`$

with the subset

$`\left\{\right((g_{11},\mathrm{},g_{k1}),\mathrm{},(g_{1n},\mathrm{},g_{kn}))\}`$

of $`(𝐆_1\times \mathrm{}\times 𝐆_k)^n`$. Somewhat sloppily we denote this subset also by $`U_1\times \mathrm{}\times U_k`$. One sees immediately that properties being a subgroup, being a submanifold etc. are invariant under this identification – its just an isomorphism. Using this we have

* Let $`𝐆_1,\mathrm{},𝐆_k`$ be some groups, $`n`$ be a positive integer and $`V`$ be some ordered subset of $`𝒱_n`$.

Then we have $`(𝐆_1\times \mathrm{}\times 𝐆_k)_V=(𝐆_1)_V\times \mathrm{}\times (𝐆_k)_V`$.

* This is trivial, since the index $`V`$ just indicates a certain product of elements without mixing any components. qed

* Let $`𝐆`$ be a group and $`𝐍`$ be a normal subgroup of $`𝐆`$. Moreover, let $`n`$ be some positive integer and $`V`$ be some ordered subset of $`𝒱_n`$.

Then $`(𝐆/𝐍)_V=𝐆_V/𝐍^n`$, which is a subgroup of $`(𝐆/𝐍)^n𝐆^n/𝐍^n`$.

* Clear. qed

Altogether we have

* Let $`𝐆_{\text{ss}}`$ be some group that equals its commutator subgroup and has finite commutator length. Let $`𝐆_{\text{ab}}`$ be some abelian group. Moreover, let $`𝐍`$ be some normal subgroup of $`𝐆_{\text{ss}}\times 𝐆_{\text{ab}}`$. Define $`𝐆:=(𝐆_{\text{ss}}\times 𝐆_{\text{ab}})/𝐍`$.

Then there is a function $`q:_+`$, such that $`[𝐆_V]^{q(n\delta _V)}`$ is a subgroup of $`𝐆^n`$ for any nonempty ordered subset $`V`$ of $`𝒱_n`$ and for every positive integer $`n`$. For rich $`V`$ we even have

$`[𝐆_V]^{q(n)}=\left((𝐆_{\text{ss}})^n\times (𝐆_{\text{ab}})_V\right)/𝐍^n.`$

* Choose $`q(n)`$ according to Theorem Theorem 4.1 and Corollary Corollary 4.3. By the assertions above, we know that

$`[𝐆_V]^{q(n\delta _V)}=\left([(𝐆_{\text{ss}})_V]^{q(n\delta _V)}\times [(𝐆_{\text{ab}})_V]^{q(n\delta _V)}\right)/𝐍^n`$

which is a subgroup of $`𝐆^n`$. Additionally we used the group property of $`(𝐆_{\text{ab}})_V`$ to get $`[(𝐆_{\text{ab}})_V]^{q(n)}=(𝐆_{\text{ab}})_V`$. Moreover, the assertion for rich $`V`$ follows directly from Theorem Theorem 4.1. qed

* The statements of Proposition Proposition 4.7, Proposition Proposition 4.8 and Theorem Theorem 4.9 (both for discrete $`𝐍`$) are true in the category of $`𝕂`$-Lie groups as well. Here, $`𝕂`$ is $``$ or $``$. If, moreover, $`𝐆_{\text{ab}}`$ is connected, then we have

$`\begin{array}{ccc}\hfill \text{codim}_{𝐆^n}[𝐆_V]^{q(n\delta _V)}& =& \delta _Vdim𝐆_{\text{ss}}+\text{codim}_^n\text{span}_{}Vdim𝐆_{\text{ab}}\hfill \\ & =& \delta _Vdim𝐆_{\text{ss}}+(ndim\text{span}_{}V)dim𝐆_{\text{ab}}\hfill \end{array}`$

for all nonempty subsets $`V`$ of $`𝒱_n`$.

* The transferability of the assertions above to the category of Lie groups is clear. (Note that the discreteness of $`𝐍`$ guarantees that the groups $`𝐆^n`$ and $`𝐆^n/𝐍^n`$ are locally diffeomorphic.) The codimension formula again is a consequence of the preceding statements. Observe that every connected abelian Lie group over $`𝕂`$ is isomorphic to some $`^r\times U(1)^s`$. Here, of course, $`r+s`$ is even for $`𝕂=`$, such that $`^r\times U(1)^s`$ can be regarded naturally as a complex Lie group. qed

### 4.4 Application to Reductive Groups

* For every positive integer $`n`$, every nonempty subset $`V`$ of $`𝒱_n`$ and every connected reductive linear algebraic group $`𝐆`$ over $``$ or $``$, the smallest subgroup generated by $`𝐆_V`$ is a Lie subgroup of $`𝐆^n`$. This smallest subgroup is given by $`[𝐆_V]^q`$ with $`q`$ being any integer $`qq(n\delta _V)`$. It equals $`𝐆^n`$ iff $`V`$ is a generating system for $`^n`$, or $`𝐆`$ is semisimple with rich $`V`$.

Note that every (real or complex) linear algebraic group has also a Lie group structure. In what follows, we will always assume to use this Lie structure when speaking about linear algebraic groups. Therefore, we may consider, e.g., Lie subgroups of linear algebraic groups, as we did in the proposition above.

* + Recall that every connected reductive linear algebraic group is the direct product of a connected semisimple Lie group and a connected abelian Lie group modulo some discrete central subgroup. Additionally, every connected semisimple Lie group coincides with its commutator subgroup. If it is even linear, then it has finite center  and, therefore , finite commutator length. Consequently, we are here precisely in the setting of Theorem Theorem 4.9 and Corollary Corollary 4.10.
    + Since the smallest subgroup of $`𝐆^n`$ containing $`𝐆_V`$ has to contain every $`[𝐆_V]^q`$ with $`q`$, it has to contain $`[𝐆_V]^{q(n\delta _V)}`$, which, however, is already a Lie subgroup containing $`𝐆_V`$. Hence, $`[𝐆_V]^{q(n\delta _V)}`$ is precisely that smallest subgroup generated by $`𝐆_V`$. Corollary Corollary 4.10 yields the assertion. Since $`\text{span}_{}V=^n`$ implies that $`V`$ is rich, the condition for $`[𝐆_V]^{q(n\delta _V)}=𝐆^n`$ is clear as well. qed

Finally, we remark that every compact Lie group is a reductive linear algebraic group.

## 5 Holonomical Independence

The aim of the present section is to investigate in detail which parallel transports may be assigned by smooth connections to certain sets of paths. From now on, $`𝐆`$ is a (real or complex) Lie group.

* Let $`𝜸=(\gamma _1,\mathrm{},\gamma _n)𝒫`$ be some tuple of paths and let $`\iota `$ be some ultralocal trivialization. Then $`𝜸`$ is called

+ holonomically isolated iff

    - the paths in $`𝜸`$ are non-selfintersecting,
        - $`\left(𝜸(0)𝜸(1)\right)\text{int}𝜸=\mathrm{}`$ and
        - for every closed subset $`K`$ of $`M`$ with $`K\text{int}𝜸=\mathrm{}`$, for every $`A𝒜`$ and every $`(g_1,\mathrm{},g_n)𝒜_𝜸^\iota 𝐆^n`$ there is an $`A^{}𝒜`$ such that

        * $`h_{\gamma _i}^\iota (A^{})=g_i`$ for $`i=1,\mathrm{},n`$ and
            * $`A^{}`$ and $`A`$ coincide on $`K`$;
    + holonomically independent iff for every $`(g_1,\mathrm{},g_n)𝐆^n`$ there is some $`A𝒜`$, such that $`h_{\gamma _i}^\iota (A)=g_i`$ for all $`i=1,\mathrm{},n`$;
    + strongly holonomically independent iff it is holonomically independent and holonomically isolated.

Note that $`\text{int}𝜸`$ is defined by $`𝜸((0,1)):=_i\gamma _i((0,1))`$, which is generally not the interior of the image $`\text{im }𝜸:=_i\gamma _i([0,1])`$ of $`𝜸`$. Analogously, $`𝜸(0)`$ and $`𝜸(1)`$ are here the sets formed by the components of the tuples $`(\gamma _1(0),\mathrm{},\gamma _n(0))`$ and $`(\gamma _1(1),\mathrm{},\gamma _n(1))`$, respectively.

We have obviously

* The notions of Definition Definition 5.1 do not depend on the chosen trivialization $`\iota `$.

Before we come to the next statements, let us first discuss the relevance of the preceding definition comparing, for simplicity, the “normal” holonomy independence and the strong holonomy independence. In the case of the weaker, i.e. normal independence, it cannot a priori be excluded that products of independent sets of paths are not independent, even if they are non-overlapping outside their endpoints: Let $`\stackrel{}{g}:=(g_1,\mathrm{},g_n)𝐆^n`$ and let $`𝜸`$ and $`𝜹`$ be given. Moreover, let $`\stackrel{}{g}=\stackrel{}{g}^{}\stackrel{}{g}^{\prime \prime }`$. Now, it is, by independence, possible to find some $`A^{}`$ with $`h_𝜸(A^{})=\stackrel{}{g}^{}`$ and some $`A^{\prime \prime }`$ with $`h_𝜹(A^{\prime \prime })=\stackrel{}{g}^{\prime \prime }`$, but this does not directly imply the existence of some $`A^{\prime \prime \prime }`$ with $`h_{𝜸𝜹}(A^{\prime \prime \prime })=\stackrel{}{g}^{}\stackrel{}{g}^{\prime \prime }`$, maybe just by setting $`A^{\prime \prime \prime }|_{\text{im }𝜸}=A^{}`$ and $`A^{\prime \prime \prime }|_{\text{im }𝜹}=A^{\prime \prime }`$. To make this possible, i.e., to get a smooth $`A^{\prime \prime \prime }`$, one has to control at least the interface between $`𝜸`$ and $`𝜹`$ what precisely is done for the strong form of holonomy independence. Here we explicitly demand that the independence condition does not touch the values of the connections at the endpoints of the paths. Making this heuristic discussion more precise will be the goal of the next few claims.

* Let $`𝜸^1,\mathrm{},𝜸^J`$ be finitely many holonomically isolated tuples of paths and set333Here, the “union” of tuples is given in the natural way: Simply list all components of all the $`𝜸^j`$. To be extremely precise: $`𝜸=(\gamma _1^1,\mathrm{},\gamma _{N_1}^1,\mathrm{}\mathrm{},\gamma _1^J,\mathrm{},\gamma _{N_J}^J)`$ if $`𝜸^j=(\gamma _1^j,\mathrm{},\gamma _{N_j}^j)`$ for all $`j`$. $`𝜸:=_j𝜸^j`$. Assume, moreover, $`\text{im }𝜸^j\text{int}𝜸^j^{}`$ is empty unless $`j=j^{}`$. Then we have:

+ $`𝜸`$ is holonomically isolated with $`𝒜_𝜸^\iota =\mathbf{\times }_j𝒜_{𝜸^j}^\iota `$ for every trivialization $`\iota `$.
    + $`𝜸`$ is strongly holonomically independent, if each $`𝜸^j`$ is.

Note that if, additionally, all $`𝒜_{𝜸^j}^\iota `$ are independent of the trivialization $`\iota `$, then $`𝒜_𝜸^\iota `$ is so as well.

* + $`𝜸`$ is holonomically isolated.

    The non-selfintersection property is obvious.

    Next, we have $`(𝜸^j(0)𝜸^j(1))\text{int}𝜸^j^{}\text{im }𝜸^j\text{int}𝜸^j^{}=\mathrm{}`$ for $`jj^{}`$, hence

    $`\begin{array}{ccc}\hfill \left(𝜸(0)𝜸(1)\right)\text{int}𝜸& =& _j_j^{}\left(𝜸^j(0)𝜸^j(1)\right)\text{int}𝜸^j^{}\hfill \\ & =& _j\left(𝜸^j(0)𝜸^j(1)\right)\text{int}𝜸^j\hfill \\ & =& \mathrm{}\hfill \end{array}`$

    by the isolation property of every $`𝜸^j`$.

    The third condition can be proven inductively. For this, let there be given some closed $`KM\text{int}𝜸`$, some $`A𝒜`$ and some $`g_i^j𝐆`$ corresponding to the paths $`\gamma _i^j𝜸`$, such that $`\stackrel{}{g}\mathbf{\times }_j𝒜_{𝜸^j}`$. (We fixed some trivialization $`\iota `$, but drop here the corresponding superscripts for $`𝒜_{\mathrm{}}`$ and $`h_A`$.) We set $`A_0:=A`$ and choose some $`A_j𝒜`$ for $`j=1,\mathrm{},J`$ such that $`h_{A_j}(\gamma _i^j)=g_i^j`$ for all $`i`$ and that $`A_j`$ and $`A_{j1}`$ coincide on $`K_{j^{}j}\text{im }𝜸^j^{}`$. The last union is compact and, by assumption, disjoint to $`\text{int}𝜸^j`$. Now let $`A^{}:=A_J`$. Since, of course, $`𝒜_𝜸\mathbf{\times }_j𝒜_{𝜸^j}`$, we see that $`A^{}`$ has the desired properties for $`𝜸`$ to be holonomically isolated. But, moreover, the construction showed also that $`\mathbf{\times }_j𝒜_{𝜸^j}𝒜_𝜸`$, hence their equality.
    + The statement for the strong holonomy independence is now clear. qed

* Let $`A𝒜`$ be some smooth connection and $`𝜸=(\gamma _1,\mathrm{},\gamma _n)`$ be some tuple of non-selfintersecting paths. We assume that every $`\gamma _i`$ has an open neighbourhood $`U_iM`$ that contains $`\gamma _i`$ as an embedding. Moreover, let all the $`U_i`$ be mutually disjoint.

Then $`𝜸`$ is strongly holonomically independent.

* Let $`K`$ be closed with $`K\text{int}𝜸=\mathrm{}`$. Thus, $`MK`$ is an open neighbourhood for $`\text{int}𝜸`$. Hence, every $`U_i^{}:=U_i(MK)`$ contains $`\gamma _i|_{(0,1)}`$ as an embedding. Moreover, $`U_i^{}`$ and $`U_j^{}`$ are disjoint for $`ij`$.

Let now $`A𝒜`$ and choose some ultralocal trivialization $`\iota `$. Then in the case of compact $`𝐆`$ it is well known that for every $`\stackrel{}{g}𝐆^n`$ there is some $`A^{}𝒜`$ with $`h_A^{}^\iota (𝜸)=\stackrel{}{g}`$, such that $`A^{}`$ and $`A`$ coincide outside $`_iU_i^{}`$. The proof in the general case including non-compact $`𝐆`$ is not really more difficult. For completeness it is given in Appendix A. Moreover, by $`_iU_i^{}=_i(U_i(MK))MK`$, the two connections $`A`$ and $`A^{}`$ coincide at least on $`K`$, whence $`𝜸`$ is holonomically isolated. The holonomical independence is now obvious. qed

* Let $`𝜸`$ be some finite tuple of non-selfintersecting paths in $`M`$, whereas the image of $`𝜸`$ is contained in some open set $`U`$, such that $`P`$ restricted to $`\pi ^1(U)`$ is trivial. Additionally, assume $`\left(𝜸(0)𝜸(1)\right)\text{int}𝜸=\mathrm{}`$. Moreover, let $`I=[I_{},I_+]`$ be some closed interval in $`[0,1]`$ such that $`𝜸([0,I_{}])`$, $`𝜸(\text{int}I)`$ and $`𝜸([I_+,1])`$ are mutually disjoint. Assume finally that $`𝜸|_I`$ is holonomically isolated and $`𝒜_𝜸^\iota 𝒜_{𝜸|_I}^\iota `$ in some ultralocal trivialization $`\iota `$ that is smooth on $`U`$. Then we have:

+ $`𝒜_𝜸^\iota =𝒜_{𝜸|_I}^\iota `$.
    + If $`𝒜_{𝜸|_I}^\iota `$ is a subgroup of $`𝐆^n`$, then $`𝜸`$ is holonomically isolated.

* + $`𝒜_𝜸^\iota =𝒜_{𝜸|_I}^\iota `$

    Since $`\text{im }𝜸`$ is contained in $`U`$ and there is some trivialization $`\iota `$ that is smooth on $`U`$, there is a connection $`A_0𝒜`$ with trivial parallel transports w.r.t. $`\iota `$ along $`𝜸`$. Since $`𝜸|_I`$ is holonomically isolated and since $`𝜸(\text{int}I)\text{int}𝜸|_I`$ and the compact set $`𝜸([0,1]\text{int}I)`$ are disjoint, we have for every $`\stackrel{}{g}𝒜_{𝜸|_I}^\iota `$ some connection whose parallel transports on $`𝜸|_I`$ equal $`\stackrel{}{g}`$ and on $`𝜸|_{[0,I_{}]}`$ and $`𝜸|_{[I_+,1]}`$ equal those of $`A_0`$ being trivial. Consequently, $`𝒜_{𝜸|_I}^\iota 𝒜_𝜸^\iota 𝒜_{𝜸|_I}^\iota `$.
    + $`𝜸`$ is holonomically isolated.

    Before we start, we define $`𝜸_{}`$ by $`𝜸|_{[0,I_{}]}`$ and $`𝜸_+`$ by $`𝜸|_{[I_+,1]}`$.

    - $`h_A^\iota (𝜸_{})𝒜_{𝜸|_I}^\iota `$ for all $`A𝒜`$

        Let $`A`$ be some smooth connection. Since, by assumption, the compact sets $`\text{im }𝜸_{}`$ and $`\text{im }𝜸_+`$ are disjoint, there is a smooth function $`f`$ being $`1`$ on $`\text{im }𝜸_+`$ with $`\text{supp }fU\text{im }𝜸_{}`$. Define $`A^{}`$ by $`(1f)A`$ on $`U`$ (w.r.t. the fixed trivialization $`\iota `$ on $`U`$) and by $`A`$ outside. Of course, this is a connection with $`h_A^{}^\iota (𝜸_{})=h_A^\iota (𝜸_{})`$ and $`h_A^{}^\iota (𝜸_+)=(e_𝐆,\mathrm{},e_𝐆)`$. Consequently, $`h_A^{}^\iota (𝜸)=h_A^{}^\iota (𝜸_{})h_A^{}^\iota (𝜸|_I)`$, hence $`h_A^\iota (𝜸_{})=h_A^{}^\iota (𝜸_{})=h_A^{}^\iota (𝜸)h_A^{}^\iota (𝜸|_I)^1𝒜_{𝜸|_I}^\iota `$ by the group property of $`𝒜_{𝜸|_I}^\iota `$ and $`𝒜_𝜸^\iota =𝒜_{𝜸|_I}^\iota `$.
        - $`h_A^\iota (𝜸_+)𝒜_{𝜸|_I}^\iota `$ for all $`A𝒜`$

        This is shown completely analogously to $`h_A^\iota (𝜸_{})𝒜_{𝜸|_I}^\iota `$.
        - $`h_A^\iota (𝜸_{})^1𝒜_𝜸^\iota h_A^\iota (𝜸_+)^1𝒜_{𝜸|_I}^\iota `$ for all $`A𝒜`$

        Using $`𝒜_𝜸^\iota =𝒜_{𝜸|_I}^\iota `$ and the group property of $`𝒜_{𝜸|_I}^\iota `$ again, we get the desired relation.
        - Isolation property of $`𝜸`$

        Let $`KM`$ be closed with $`K\text{int}𝜸=\mathrm{}`$. Define $`K^{}:=K\text{im }𝜸_{}\text{im }𝜸_+`$. Obviously, $`K^{}`$ is closed. Let now $`xK^{}\text{int}𝜸|_I`$. Since, by assumption, $`K\text{int}𝜸=\mathrm{}`$, we have $`x𝜸([0,1]\text{int}I)`$. This is a contradiction to $`𝜸(\text{int}I)𝜸([0,1]\text{int}I)=\mathrm{}`$. Hence, $`K^{}\text{int}𝜸|_I=\mathrm{}`$.

        Let now $`A𝒜`$ and $`\stackrel{}{g}:=(g_1,\mathrm{},g_n)𝒜_𝜸^\iota `$. Then, since – as shown above – $`h_A^\iota (𝜸_{})^1𝒜_𝜸^\iota h_A^\iota (𝜸_+)^1𝒜_{𝜸|_I}^\iota `$ and since $`𝜸|_I`$ is assumed holonomically isolated, there is some $`A^{\prime \prime }𝒜`$, such that

        * $`h_{A^{\prime \prime }}^\iota (𝜸|_I)=h_A^\iota (𝜸|_{[0,I_{}]})^1\stackrel{}{g}h_A^\iota (𝜸|_{[I_+,1]})^1`$ and
            * $`A^{\prime \prime }`$ and $`A`$ coincide on $`K^{}`$.

        Consequently, $`h_𝜸^\iota (A^{\prime \prime })=\stackrel{}{g}`$ as well as $`A^{\prime \prime }`$ and $`A`$ coincide on $`KK^{}`$. qed

## 6 Regularity and Consistent Parametrization

In this section we get closer to the case of webs. First we recall (and slightly extend) the notions of consistent parametrization and regularity . The latter one means, in particular, that, given a set of paths, around regular points there are no intersections between different paths, unless they are locally identical. The former one means that intersections of paths are allowed only at those points where the paths under consideration have identical parameter values. Afterwards we introduce the type of points w.r.t. certain paths in generalization of the similar notion settled by Baez and Sawin .

* An $`n`$-tuple $`𝜸=(\gamma _1,\mathrm{},\gamma _n)`$ of paths is called consistently parametrized iff we have for all $`i,j=1,\mathrm{},n`$

$`\gamma _i(t^{})=\gamma _j(t^{\prime \prime })t^{}=t^{\prime \prime }.`$

* Let $`𝜸`$ be some $`n`$-tuple of paths.

+ A point $`xM`$ is called $`𝜸`$-regular iff $`x`$ is not the image of an endpoint or nondifferentiable point of $`𝜸`$ and there is a neighbourhood of $`x`$ whose intersection with $`\text{im }𝜸`$ is an embedded interval.
    + $`\tau [0,1]`$ is called $`𝜸`$-regular iff $`\gamma (\tau )`$ is $`𝜸`$-regular for all $`\gamma 𝜸`$.

We have immediately

* For every consistently parametrized $`n`$-tuple $`𝜸`$ of paths in $`M`$, the set of $`𝜸`$-regular parameter values is open in $`[0,1]`$.

* Let $`𝜸=(\gamma _1,\mathrm{},\gamma _n)`$ be some $`n`$-tuple of paths.

+ For every $`xM`$ we define the $`𝜸`$-type $`v(x)𝒱_n`$ of $`x`$ by

    $`v(x)_i:=\{\begin{array}{cc}1\hfill & \text{if }x\text{im }\gamma _i\hfill \\ 0\hfill & \text{if }x\text{im }\gamma _i\hfill \end{array}.`$
    + For every consistently parametrized $`𝜸`$ we define

    $`V_𝜸:=_{\tau [0,1]\text{}\tau \text{ }𝜸\text{-regular}}V(𝜸(\tau )).`$

For consistently parametrized $`𝜸`$, obviously, $`V(𝜸(\tau ))`$ is the set of all $`𝜸`$-types in $`𝜸(\tau )`$. Note, moreover, that in general the set $`V_𝜸`$ of types in $`𝜸`$ and the splitting $`V(𝜸)`$ for $`𝜸`$ do not coincide. For instance, we have in the case of Figure 1

$`\begin{array}{ccc}\hfill V_𝜸& =& \{(1,1,0,0),(1,0,1,0),(0,1,0,1),(0,0,1,1)\},\hfill \\ \hfill V(𝜸)& =& \{(1,0,0,0),(0,1,0,0),(0,0,1,0),(0,0,0,1)\}.\hfill \end{array}`$

In a certain sense, $`V_𝜸`$ is finer. $`V(𝜸)`$ only looks whether two whole paths are equal or not. $`V_𝜸`$ looks closer at the image points of $`𝜸`$.

Let us now study first consequences of the just introduced notions for parallel transports.

* Let $`𝜸`$ be some consistently parametrized tuple of paths in $`M`$. Assume that $`\text{im }𝜸`$ is contained in some open $`U`$, such that $`P(M,𝐆)`$ is trivial when restricted to the preimage of $`U`$. Additionally, let $`I[0,1]`$ be some interval whose endpoints are $`𝜸`$-regular. Then we have $`𝒜_{𝜸|_I}^\iota 𝒜_𝜸^\iota `$ for all ultralocal trivializations $`\iota `$ that are smooth on $`U`$.

* Let $`\stackrel{}{g}𝒜_{𝜸|_I}^\iota `$, i.e. there is some smooth $`A𝒜`$, such that $`h_A^\iota (𝜸|_I)=\stackrel{}{g}`$.

Next, let $`I=[I_{},I_+]`$. Since the set of $`𝜸`$-regular parameter values is open in $`(0,1)`$, there is some $`\epsilon >0`$ such that $`[I_{}2\epsilon ,I_{}]`$ and $`[I_+,I_++2\epsilon ]`$ are $`𝜸`$-regular intervals. Set $`J_\lambda :=[I_{}(\lambda +1)\epsilon ,I_{}\lambda \epsilon ]`$ and $`J_{+\lambda }:=[I_++\lambda \epsilon ,I_++(\lambda +1)\epsilon ]`$ for $`\lambda 0`$. Finally, we set $`J_{\mathrm{}}:=[0,I_{}2\epsilon ]`$ and $`J_+\mathrm{}:=[I_++2\epsilon ,1]`$.

Because $`𝜸`$ is consistently parametrized and $`𝜸`$ is continuous, the sets $`𝜸(J_{\mathrm{}})`$, $`𝜸(I)`$ and $`𝜸(J_+\mathrm{})`$ are disjoint and compact. Consequently, there is some smooth function $`f`$ on $`M`$ that has support on $`U𝜸(I)`$ and equals $`1`$ on $`𝜸(J_{\mathrm{}})𝜸(J_+\mathrm{})`$. We now define some connection $`A^{}`$ by $`(1f)A`$ on $`U`$ and by $`A`$ outside of $`U`$. Obviously, $`A^{}𝒜`$.

Observe now, that, by regularity, two paths in $`𝜸`$ coincide on $`J_{\pm 0}`$ iff they coincide on $`J_{\pm 1}`$. Moreover, they coincide iff their images have just a common point. Set $`𝜹=\{\delta _1,\mathrm{},\delta _l\}:=𝜸|_{\text{int}J_1}𝜸|_{\text{int}J_{+1}}`$, considered as sets. Choose now some disjoint open sets $`V_j`$ in $`U`$ that are disjoint to $`𝜸\left([0,1](\text{int}J_1\text{int}J_{+1})\right)`$, such that there are certain closed intervals $`I_j`$ in $`J_1`$ or $`J_{+1}`$, respectively, such that $`V_j`$ is a neighbourhood for $`\delta _j(I_j)`$ and that $`\text{im }\delta _j|_{I_j}V_j`$ is embedded into $`V_j`$. Then, by Proposition Proposition A.1 there is some smooth connection $`A^{\prime \prime }𝒜`$, such that

+ $`h_{A^{\prime \prime }}^\iota (𝜸|_{J_1})=h_A^{}^\iota (𝜸|_{J_0})^1`$;
    + $`h_{A^{\prime \prime }}^\iota (𝜸|_{J_{+1}})=h_A^{}^\iota (𝜸|_{J_{+0}})^1`$;
    + $`A^{}`$ and $`A^{\prime \prime }`$ coincide outside $`V_j`$.

Altogether, we have

$`\begin{array}{ccc}\hfill h_{A^{\prime \prime }}^\iota (𝜸)& =& h_{A^{\prime \prime }}^\iota (𝜸|_J_{\mathrm{}})h_{A^{\prime \prime }}^\iota (𝜸|_{J_1})h_{A^{\prime \prime }}^\iota (𝜸|_{J_0})h_{A^{\prime \prime }}^\iota (𝜸|_I)\hfill \\ & & h_{A^{\prime \prime }}^\iota (𝜸|_{J_{+0}})h_{A^{\prime \prime }}^\iota (𝜸|_{J_{+1}})h_{A^{\prime \prime }}^\iota (𝜸|_{J_+\mathrm{}})\hfill \\ & =& h_A^{}^\iota (𝜸|_J_{\mathrm{}})h_A^{}^\iota (𝜸|_{J_0})^1h_A^{}^\iota (𝜸|_{J_0})h_A^{}^\iota (𝜸|_I)\hfill \\ & & h_A^{}^\iota (𝜸|_{J_{+0}})h_A^{}^\iota (𝜸|_{J_{+0}})^1h_A^{}^\iota (𝜸|_{J_+\mathrm{}})\hfill \\ & =& h_A^\iota (𝜸|_I)\hfill \\ & =& \stackrel{}{g}.\hfill \end{array}`$

Consequently, $`\stackrel{}{g}𝒜_𝜸^\iota `$. qed

* Let $`𝜸:=(\gamma _1,\mathrm{},\gamma _n)`$ be some consistently parametrized tuple of paths in $`M`$. Assume that $`\text{im }𝜸`$ is contained in some open $`U`$, such that $`P(M,𝐆)`$ is trivial if restricted to the preimage of $`U`$. Moreover, let $`(\tau _k)`$ be some finite, strictly increasing sequence of $`𝜸`$-regular parameter values in $`[0,1]`$. Then we have, if $`\iota `$ is any ultralocal trivialization being smooth on $`U`$:

+ If $`𝒜_𝜸^\iota `$ is a subgroup of $`𝐆^n`$ and equals $`_k𝐆_{V(𝜸(\tau _k))}`$, then $`𝜸`$ is holonomically isolated.
    + $`𝒜_𝜸^\iota `$ contains $`_k𝐆_{V(𝜸(\tau _k))}`$.

* Let us fix for all $`k`$ some $`\tau _k^{}`$ and $`\tau _k^+`$ with $`0<\tau _k^{}<\tau _k<\tau _k^+<1`$, such that every $`\tau [\tau _k^{},\tau _k^+]=:I_k`$ is $`𝜸`$-regular.444Remember that $`0`$ and $`1`$ are not $`𝜸`$-regular. Moreover we demand $`\tau _{k1}^+<\tau _k^{}`$ for all $`k1`$. Such $`\tau _k^\pm `$ always exist by the regularity of $`\tau _k`$. Again by regularity we have $`\gamma _i(\tau )=\gamma _j(\tau )`$ with $`\tau I_k`$ iff $`\gamma _i(\tau _k)=\gamma _j(\tau _k)`$, i.e., the restrictions of two paths to $`I_k`$ are identical iff their images are non-empty. This implies $`V(𝜸(\tau ))=V(𝜸(\tau _k))`$ (possibly up to the ordering) for all $`\tau I_k`$, hence $`𝐆_{V(𝜸(\tau ))}=𝐆_{V(𝜸(\tau _k))}`$ by Lemma Lemma 3.3. Additionally, we define $`I:=_kI_k`$ and $`J:=_{k1}[t_{k1}^+,t_k^{}]`$, i.e., $`J`$ contains all (closures of) intervals between the $`I_k`$s. Moreover, set $`J_0:=[0,t_1^{}]`$ and $`J_1:=[t_{k_{\mathrm{max}}}^+,1]`$. Finally, we define the interval $`L:=IJ=[t_1^{},t_{k_{\mathrm{max}}}^+]`$.

Let now $`𝜹^k`$ be the set of all $`\gamma _i|_{I_k}`$, $`i=1,\mathrm{},n`$, and $`𝜹:=_k𝜹^k`$. Then $`\text{im }\delta `$ is compact for every $`\delta 𝜹`$, and $`(\text{im }\delta ^{})(\text{im }\delta ^{\prime \prime })`$ is non-empty iff $`\delta ^{}=\delta ^{\prime \prime }`$ for $`\delta ^{},\delta ^{\prime \prime }𝜹`$. Since every $`\delta 𝜹`$ is strongly holonomically independent by Proposition Proposition A.1, their union $`𝜹`$ is so by Lemma Lemma 5.2.

Now we are prepared for the proofs of the assertions in the proposition:

+ Assume $`_k𝐆_{V(𝜸(\tau _k))}=𝒜_𝜸^\iota `$ being a subgroup of $`𝐆^n`$.

    By consistent parametrization, the first two conditions for $`𝜸|_L`$ to be holonomically isolated are fulfilled. To prove the third one, let $`K`$ be some closed subset of $`M`$ with $`K\text{int}𝜸|_L=\mathrm{}`$ and let $`A𝒜`$ be arbitrary. Since $`𝜸(J)\text{int}𝜸|_L`$ is compact, there is some smooth function $`f`$ on $`M`$ being $`1`$ on $`𝜸(J)`$ with $`\text{supp }fU(MK)`$, hence $`f=0`$ on $`K`$. We define $`A_f`$ to be the connection that coincides on $`U`$ with $`(1f)A`$ and equals $`A`$ outside.

    Since $`I_k`$ is always $`𝜸`$-regular, Lemma Lemma 6.2 yields $`𝒜_{𝜸|_L}^\iota 𝒜_𝜸^\iota =_k𝐆_{V(𝜸(\tau _k))}`$. Then for every $`(g_1,\mathrm{},g_n)_k𝐆_{V(𝜸(\tau _k))}𝒜_{𝜸|_L}^\iota `$ we have certain $`(g_{1,k},\mathrm{},g_{n,k})`$ in $`𝐆_{V(𝜸(\tau _k))}`$ with $`(g_1,\mathrm{},g_n)=_k(g_{1,k},\mathrm{},g_{n,k})`$. Since $`𝜹`$ is strongly holonomically independent and $`\text{int}𝜹_k\text{int}𝜸|_{I_k}`$, there is some $`A^{}𝒜`$ such that, in particular,

    - $`h_\delta ^\iota (A^{})=g_{i,k}`$ for all $`i,k`$ and $`\delta 𝜹`$ with $`\delta =\gamma _i|_{I_k}`$;
        - $`A^{}`$ and $`A_f`$ coincide on $`K𝜸(J)`$.

    $`h_\delta ^\iota (A^{})`$ is indeed well defined, because $`\gamma _i^{}|_{I_k^{}}=\delta =\gamma _i|_{I_k}`$ implies $`k^{}=k`$, hence $`\gamma _i^{}(\tau _k)=\gamma _i(\tau _k)`$ and thus $`g_{i^{},k^{}}g_{i^{},k}=g_{i,k}`$ by the definition of $`𝐆_{V(𝜸(\tau _k))}`$.

    Since $`A_f`$ is zero on $`𝜸(J)`$, the parallel transports along all subpaths of $`\gamma _i`$ for the parameter intervals $`[\tau _{k1}^+,\tau _k^{}]`$ with $`k1`$ are $`e_𝐆`$. Hence, by construction,

    $`h_{\gamma _i|_L}^\iota (A^{})=_kh_{\gamma _i|_{I_k}}^\iota (A^{})=_kg_{i,k}=g_i`$

    for all $`i`$. Consequently, we see first that $`𝒜_{𝜸|_L}^\iota =_k𝐆_{V(𝜸(\tau _k))}=𝒜_𝜸^\iota `$, and second that $`𝜸|_L`$ is holonomically isolated.

    Hence, $`𝜸`$ is holonomically isolated by Lemma Lemma 5.4.
    + Now we show $`_k𝐆_{V(𝜸(\tau _k))}𝒜_𝜸^\iota `$.

    In contrast to the step above, we now choose some smooth function $`f`$ on $`M`$ being $`1`$ on the full $`\text{im }𝜸`$ with $`\text{supp }fU`$. Analogously defining $`A_f`$ and choosing $`A^{}`$ we get for every $`(g_1,\mathrm{},g_n)_k𝐆_{V(𝜸(\tau _k))}`$ some $`A^{}𝒜`$ with $`h_{\gamma _i}^\iota (A^{})=g_i`$, because now $`A^{}`$ is trivial on $`𝜸(J_0JJ_1)`$. qed

## 7 Parallel Transports Along Webs

We now recall the definition of tassels and webs owing to Baez and Sawin .

* + A finite ordered set $`T=\{c_1,\mathrm{},c_n\}`$ of paths is called tassel based on $`p\text{im }T`$ iff the following conditions are met:

    - $`\text{im }T`$ lies in a contractible open subset of $`M`$.
        - $`T`$ can be consistently parametrized in such a way that $`c_i(0)=p`$ is the left endpoint of every path $`c_i`$.
        - Two paths in $`T`$ that intersect at a point other than $`p`$ intersect at a point other than $`p`$ in every neighborhood of $`p`$.
        - For every neighbourhood $`U`$ of $`p`$, any $`T`$-type which occurs at some regular point in $`\text{im }T`$ occurs at some regular point in $`U\text{im }T`$.
        - No two paths in $`T`$ have the same image.
    + A finite collection $`w=w^1\mathrm{}w^k`$ of tassels is called web iff for all $`ij`$ the following conditions are met:

    - Any path in the tassel $`w^i`$ intersects any path in $`w^j`$, if at all, only at their endpoints.
        - There is a neighborhood of each such intersection point whose intersection with $`\text{im }(w^iw^j)`$ is an embedded interval.
        - $`\text{im }w^i`$ does not contain the base of $`w^j`$.

Next, we list some important properties of webs that can be derived immediately from statements in .

* For every web $`w`$ the set $`[0,1]_{\mathrm{reg}}`$ of $`w`$-regular parameter values is open and dense in $`[0,1]`$. Moreover, the function $`V(w()):[0,1]_{\mathrm{reg}}𝒱_{\mathrm{\#}w}`$, assigning to every $`w`$-regular $`\tau `$ its splitting, is locally constant.

* A slight modification of the proof of Lemma 1 in  yields that for every $`c_jw`$ the set of all $`\tau `$ in $`[0,1]`$ with $`w`$-regular $`c_j(\tau )`$ is open and dense in $`[0,1]`$. Since the intersection of finitely many open and dense subsets is again open and dense555Let $`X_1,X_2`$ be open and dense subsets in some topological space $`X`$. Then, of course, $`X_1X_2`$ is open again. Assume $`X_1X_2`$ were not dense in $`X`$. Then there is some $`xX`$ and some open neighbourhood $`U`$ of $`x`$ in $`X`$, such that $`U(X_1X_2)=\mathrm{}`$. Since $`X_1`$ is dense, there is some $`x_1UX_1`$. Since $`X_2`$ is dense, the open neighbourhood $`UX_1`$ of $`x_1`$ must contain some $`x_2X_2`$. Consequently, $`x_2UX_1X_2=\mathrm{}`$. Contradiction. The case of finitely many $`X_i`$ is now clear., $`[0,1]_{\mathrm{reg}}`$ is open and dense in $`[0,1]`$. The second assertion is obvious. qed

* For every web $`w`$ the set $`V_w`$ of $`w`$-types occurring in $`w`$ is rich.

* Since $`w=\{c_1,\mathrm{},c_n\}`$ is a web, for $`ij`$ there is some $`\tau [0,1]`$ with $`c_i(\tau )c_j(\tau )`$. By Proposition Proposition 7.1, there is even a regular $`\tau `$ with this property, thus $`v(c_i(\tau ))V_w`$. By the consistent parametrization we have $`v(c_i(\tau ))_i=10=v(c_i(\tau ))_j`$, i.e., the first richness condition is fulfilled. The second is trivial. qed

For the following lemma, we still have to define the set

$`\begin{array}{ccc}\hfill 𝒱(w)& :=& {\displaystyle \underset{\tau (0,1]}{}}{\displaystyle \underset{\sigma [0,\tau ]_{\mathrm{reg}}}{}}\left\{V(w(\sigma ))\right\}\hfill \end{array}`$

of all those (“regular”) splittings $`V(w(\sigma ))`$ that appear in every neighbourhood of $`0`$. Here, $`I_{\mathrm{reg}}`$ denotes the set of $`w`$-regular elements in an arbitrary interval $`I[0,1]`$.

* Let $`w`$ be a web. Then for all $`vV_w`$ there is some $`V𝒱(w)`$ with $`vV`$. In particular, $`𝒱(w)`$ is nonempty (if $`w`$ is nonempty).

* For every $`vV_w`$, by definition of a web, there is a sequence $`\tau _i0`$ in $`[0,1]_{\mathrm{reg}}`$ with $`vV(w(\tau _i))𝒱_{\mathrm{\#}w}`$ for all $`i`$. Since $`𝒱_{\mathrm{\#}w}`$ is finite, there is some $`V𝒱_{\mathrm{\#}w}`$ and some infinite subsequence $`\tau _i^{}0`$ with $`V=V(w(\tau _i^{}))v`$ for all $`i^{}`$. By definition, $`V𝒱(w)`$. qed

* $`_{V𝒱(w)}V`$ equals $`V_w`$ for every web $`w`$ and is rich.

Let us now state the main result of our article.

* Let $`𝐆`$ be a connected reductive (real or complex) linear algebraic group and let $`T`$ be some tassel. Then for every $`t(0,1]`$ there is some $`t^{}(0,t]`$, such that for every $`0\tau t^{}`$ and every ultralocal trivialization $`\iota `$

+ $`T|_{[\tau ,t]}`$ is holonomically isolated;
    + $`𝒜_{T|_{[\tau ,t]}}^\iota `$ is a Lie subgroup of $`𝐆^n`$ and equals $`[𝐆_V]^{q(\mathrm{\#}T)}`$.

Recall that every linear algebraic group is a Lie group and that, in particular, every compact Lie group is a reductive linear algebraic group. Hence, the assertion of the theorem above holds for all connected compact Lie groups $`𝐆`$.

A part of the following proof is owing to .

* + Choice of $`t^{}`$

    Denote the paths in $`T`$ by $`c_1,\mathrm{},c_n`$ and fix some ultralocal trivialization $`\iota `$ being smooth on some open neighbourhood of $`\text{im }T`$. Fix, additionally, some ordering of $`V:=V_T`$. Since for every $`vV`$ there is some $`V^{}𝒱(T)`$ with $`vV^{}`$, there is some finite sequence $`V^{(s)}`$ in $`𝒱(T)`$ with $`_{s=1}^S𝐆_{V^{(s)}}𝐆_V`$. Let now $`(V^{(s)})_{s=1}^{Sq(n)}𝒱_n`$ be the $`q(n)`$-times repeated sequence of these elements in $`𝒱(T)`$ and set $`t_{Sq(n)+1}:=t`$. Starting with $`s=Sq(n)`$, we choose inductively some $`T`$-regular $`t_s(0,t_{s+1})`$, such that $`V(T(t_s))=V^{(s)}`$. By definition of $`𝒱(T)`$, such a $`t_s`$ always exist. Finally, we choose some regular $`t^{}<t_1`$.
    + $`_{s=1}^{Sq(n)}𝐆_{V^{(s)}}=[𝐆_V]^{q(n)}`$

    Let $`vV^{(s)}𝒱(T)`$ for some $`s`$. Then $`vV`$, i.e. $`𝐆_v[𝐆_V]^{q(n)}`$. By the group property of the right-hand side, we have $`_{s=1}^{Sq(n)}𝐆_{V^{(s)}}[𝐆_V]^{q(n)}`$. The opposite relation comes from $`_{s=1}^S𝐆_{V^{(s)}}𝐆_V`$ together with the definition of $`(V^{(s)})`$ as a $`q(n)`$-fold repetition of the first $`S`$ sets.
    + $`𝒜_{T|_{[\tau ,t]}}^\iota [𝐆_V]^{q(n)}`$ for $`\tau t^{}`$

    By the very definition of a tassel, $`T|_{[\tau ,t]}`$ fulfills the requirements of Proposition Proposition 6.3. Moreover, $`(t_s)_{s=1}^{Sq(n)}`$ is a strictly increasing sequence of $`T`$-regular values in $`[\tau ,t]`$. Hence, by the construction of this sequence and by the previous item, we have $`𝒜_{T|_{[\tau ,t]}}^\iota [𝐆_V]^{q(n)}`$.
    + $`[𝐆_V]^{q(n)}`$ is a Lie subgroup of $`𝐆^n`$

    According to Lemma Lemma 7.2, the set of types in every tassel is rich. Proposition Proposition 4.11 guarantees now that $`[𝐆_V]^{q(n)}`$ is even a Lie subgroup of $`𝐆^n`$.
    + $`𝒜_{T|_I}^\iota [𝐆_V]^{q(n)}`$ for every nontrivial interval $`I[0,t]`$, where $`T|_I`$ consists of smooth immersive paths only

    We have to prove that $`h_A^\iota (T|_I)[𝐆_V]^{q(n)}`$ for all $`A𝒜`$. For this, consider the map

    $`\begin{array}{cccc}H:& I\times I& & 𝐆^n.\\ & (\tau _1,\tau _2)& & h_A^\iota (T|_{[\mathrm{min}I,\tau _1]})^1h_A^\iota (T|_{[\mathrm{min}I,\tau _2]})\end{array}`$

    Since $`A`$ and $`\iota `$ are smooth on $`U`$ containing $`\text{im }T`$, the map $`H`$ is smooth. Moreover, if $`(\tau _1,\tau _2)`$ (or $`(\tau _2,\tau _1)`$) is some interval of $`T`$-regular parameters only (which implies that every element in it has the same type, say, $`v`$), then $`H(\tau _1,\tau _2)𝐆_v`$, hence $`\dot{H}(\tau _1,\tau _2)𝐆_v`$ where the dot means differentiation w.r.t. the $`\tau _2`$-coordinate. On the other hand, $`\dot{H}(\tau _1,\tau _1)`$ equals (up to the sign) $`A|_{T(\tau _1)}(\dot{T})`$, where $`\dot{T}`$ is the $`n`$-tuple of tangential vectors on $`T`$ and $`A|_{T(\tau _1)}`$ is given naturally.

    Since we know that $`[𝐆_V]^{q(n)}`$ is a Lie group and since, as one sees immediately, $`𝐆_v`$ is Lie subgroup of $`[𝐆_V]^{q(n)}`$, the Lie algebra $`𝐆_v`$ is a Lie subalgebra of $`([𝐆_V]^{q(n)})`$. Consequently, $`A|_{T()}(\dot{T})`$ can be regarded as a smooth function from $`I`$ to $`𝐆^n`$ with values in $`([𝐆_V]^{q(n)})`$ – at least for those parameter values that are $`T`$-regular. However, since the set of $`T`$-regular points is open and dense in $`I`$ and $`A`$ is smooth, $`A|_{T()}(\dot{T})`$ values in $`([𝐆_V]^{q(n)})`$ everywhere. Since $`h_A^\iota (T|_I)`$ is simply the path-ordered exponential of $`A|_{T()}(\dot{T})`$ integrated along $`I`$, it is contained in $`[𝐆_V]^{q(n)}`$.
    + $`𝒜_{T|_{[\tau ,t]}}^\iota [𝐆_V]^{q(n)}`$ for $`\tau t^{}`$

    Since we consider piecewise smooth and immersive paths from the very beginning, there are at most finitely many non-differentiability points in any finite set of paths. Hence, we can decompose $`[\tau ,t]`$ into a finite set $`I_k`$ of intervals, such that $`T|_{[\tau ,t]}=T|_{I_k}`$, where each $`T|_{I_k}`$ consists of smooth and immersive paths only. Since $`h_A^\iota (T|_{[\tau ,t]})`$ is now the product of these $`h_A^\iota (T|_{I_k})`$, we get the assertion by the previous step and the group property of $`[𝐆_V]^{q(n)}`$.
    + $`T|_{[\tau ,t]}`$ is holonomically isolated

    This follows from Proposition Proposition 6.3, because

    $`𝒜_{T|_{[\tau ,t]}}^\iota =[𝐆_V]^{q(n)}=_{s=1}^{Sq(n)}𝐆_{V^{(s)}}`$

    and $`[𝐆_V]^{q(n)}`$ is a subgroup of $`𝐆^n`$.
    + $`𝒜_{T|_{[\tau ,t]}}^\iota `$ is independent of the ultralocal trivialization

    Let now $`\iota ^{}`$ be an arbitrary ultralocal trivialization. Then $`\iota `$ and $`\iota ^{}`$ are related by a generalized gauge transform666A generalized gauge transform is a function from $`M`$ to $`𝐆`$.. Consequently, we have

    $`𝒜_{T|_{[\tau ,t]}}^\iota ^{}=(\stackrel{}{g}_{T(\tau )})^1𝒜_{T|_{[\tau ,t]}}^\iota \stackrel{}{g}_{T(t)}`$

    for some $`\stackrel{}{g}_{T(\tau )},\stackrel{}{g}_{T(t)}𝐆^n`$. Since gauge transformations depend only on the endpoints of paths, equal endpoints lead to equal components in these two elements of $`𝐆^n`$. Hence, we have $`\stackrel{}{g}_{T(\tau )}𝐆_{V(T(\tau ))}`$ and $`\stackrel{}{g}_{T(t)}𝐆_{V(T(t))}`$.

    By Proposition Proposition 3.5 we get $`V(T(\tau ))V(T(\tau ^{}))`$ and $`V(T(t))V(T(t^{\prime \prime }))`$ for some $`T`$-regular $`\tau ^{},t^{\prime \prime }[\tau ,t]`$. Thus, $`𝐆_{V(T(\tau ))}𝐆_{V(T(\tau ^{}))}`$ and $`𝐆_{V(T(t))}𝐆_{V(T(t^{\prime \prime }))}`$, whence $`𝐆_{V(T(\tau ))}`$ and $`𝐆_{V(T(t))}`$ are contained in $`𝐆_V`$. Since $`[𝐆_V]^{q(n)}`$ is a group, we have

    $`𝒜_{T|_{[\tau ,t]}}^\iota ^{}=(\stackrel{}{g}_{T(\tau )})^1𝒜_{T|_{[\tau ,t]}}^\iota \stackrel{}{g}_{T(t)}=(\stackrel{}{g}_{T(\tau )})^1[𝐆_V]^{q(n)}\stackrel{}{g}_{T(t)}=[𝐆_V]^{q(n)}.`$

    qed

* Let $`𝐆`$ be as in Theorem Theorem 7.5. Then for every web $`w`$ and every $`t(0,1]`$ there is some $`t^{}(0,t]`$, such that for every $`0\tau t^{}`$

+ $`w|_{[\tau ,t]}`$ is holonomically isolated;
    + $`𝒜_{w|_{[\tau ,t]}}`$ is a Lie subgroup of $`𝐆^n`$ with

    $`𝒜_{w|_{[\tau ,t]}}=\mathbf{\times }_i𝒜_{T_i|_{[\tau ,t]}}=\mathbf{\times }_i[𝐆_{V_{T_i}}]^{q(\mathrm{\#}T_i)}`$

    independent of the chosen ultralocal trivialization.

Here, $`w=T_1\mathrm{}T_W`$ is a decomposition of $`w`$ into tassels $`T_i`$.

* This is an immediate consequence of the Theorem above and Lemma Lemma 5.2, since two tassels share at most the endpoints of their paths with parameter value $`1`$. qed

Setting $`t`$ to $`1`$ and $`\tau `$ to $`0`$, we get with the same notations

* Let $`𝐆`$ be as in Theorem Theorem 7.5. Then every web $`w`$ is holonomically isolated with $`𝒜_w=\mathbf{\times }_i[𝐆_{V_w}]^{q(\mathrm{\#}w)}`$ being a Lie subgroup of $`𝐆^{\mathrm{\#}w}`$. This again is independent of the chosen trivialization.

* Every $`vV_i:=V_{T_i}`$ can be interpreted as some $`\widehat{v}V_w`$ simply by adding zeros at all components that do not correspond to paths in $`T_i`$. Since the only intersection points for tassels are at parameter value $`1`$ being not $`w`$-regular, each $`\widehat{v}V_w`$, on the other hand, corresponds to precisely one $`i`$ and one $`vV_i`$. We have now

$`\begin{array}{ccc}\hfill 𝐆_{\widehat{v}}& =& \{(e_𝐆,\mathrm{},e_𝐆)\}\times \mathrm{}\times \{(e_𝐆,\mathrm{},e_𝐆)\}\times 𝐆_v\times \hfill \\ & & \times \{(e_𝐆,\mathrm{},e_𝐆)\}\times \mathrm{}\times \{(e_𝐆,\mathrm{},e_𝐆)\}\hfill \end{array}`$

with $`𝐆_v`$ at component $`i`$. Consequently, giving $`V_w`$ the ordering induced by the sequence of orderings in $`V_1,\mathrm{},V_n`$, we have $`\mathbf{\times }_i𝐆_{V_i}=𝐆_{V_w}`$. Moreover, since elements of $`V_w`$ lead to commuting $`𝐆_{\widehat{v}}`$s, if they correspond to different tassels, we have $`\mathbf{\times }_i[𝐆_{V_i}]^q=[𝐆_{V_w}]^q`$ for all $`q`$. By $`\mathrm{\#}w\mathrm{\#}T_i`$ for all $`i`$, we get $`q(\mathrm{\#}w)q(\mathrm{\#}T_i)`$ and thus

$`𝒜_{w|_{[\tau ,t]}}=\mathbf{\times }_i[𝐆_{V_i}]^{q(\mathrm{\#}T_i)}=\mathbf{\times }_i[𝐆_{V_i}]^{q(\mathrm{\#}w)}=[𝐆_{V_w}]^{q(\mathrm{\#}w)}`$

by the group property of each $`[𝐆_{V_i}]^{q(\mathrm{\#}T_i)}`$. qed

Using Theorem Theorem 4.1 we get

* Let $`𝐆`$ be as in Theorem Theorem 7.5.

If $`𝐆`$ is semisimple, then every web is strongly holonomically independent.

These two corollaries yield, moreover, a new proof for the denseness results of smooth connections as a subset of generalized connections, differing from that presented in  and now including also a huge class of non-compact structure groups:

* Assume $`𝐆`$ as in Theorem Theorem 7.5 and let $`dimM2`$.

Then, in the category of piecewise smooth and immersive paths, $`𝒜`$ is dense in $`\overline{𝒜}`$ iff $`𝐆`$ is semisimple.

Here, $`\overline{𝒜}=\text{Hom}(𝒫,𝐆)`$ is the set of all generalized connections . Note that this definition is (for non-semisimple $`𝐆`$) different from the definition by $`\underset{}{\mathrm{lim}}_w𝒜_w`$ in  that uses $`𝒜_w`$ instead of $`\overline{𝒜}_w=𝐆^{\mathrm{\#}w}`$.

* Recall  that $`𝒜`$ is dense in $`\overline{𝒜}`$ if $`𝒜_w=𝐆^{\mathrm{\#}w}`$ for all webs $`w`$. This is given for connected semisimple $`𝐆`$ according to Corollary Corollary 7.8. On the other hand, recall that $`𝒜`$ is not dense in $`\overline{𝒜}`$ if $`𝒜_w`$ is not dense in $`𝐆^{\mathrm{\#}w}`$ for some web $`w`$. However, by Proposition Proposition 4.11, this is the case if $`𝐆`$ is not semisimple: Observe first that there is always a web having type $`V`$ with $`dim\text{span}_{}V<\mathrm{\#}w`$ (e.g., the web given in ; or see Figure 1 on page 1) and second that a Lie subgroup of non-zero codimension is never a dense subgroup. qed

Finally, we remark that Corollary Corollary 7.7 above completes a purely algebraic verification of the statement by Baez and Sawin in  that for connected and compact groups the parallel transports along a tassel form a Lie subgroup of $`𝐆^{\mathrm{\#}T}`$. Here, however, the assumptions have been significantly weakened: $`𝐆`$ can now be any connected reductive linear algebraic group. This includes, in particular, all classical semisimple Lie groups – be they compact or not. Therefore, our results may be extended also to, e.g., $`𝐆=Sl(2,)`$ being relevant for the non-compactified version of loop quantum gravity. Already in the compact case, the assumption of the Lie subgroup property was crucial to initiate a theory of well-defined generalized measures . Although a measure theory in the non-compact case is still more or less on a speculative level, our results together with those in  may give some hope that, after these problems are solved for piecewise analytic paths, the measure theory can even be extended to the smooth category.

## 8 Acknowledgements

I am very grateful to Jerzy Lewandowski, Andrzej Okołów and Matthias Schmidt for fruitful discussions. Moreover, I thank John Baez and Stephen Sawin for clarifying some point in their paper . Finally, I am very grateful that this work has been supported by the Reimar-Lüst-Stipendium of the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft and in part by NSF grant PHY-0090091.

## Appendix

## Appendix A Holonomy Independence in the General Case

* Let $`𝐆`$ be some connected Lie group and let $`𝜸=\{\gamma _1,\mathrm{},\gamma _n\}`$ be some finite set of non-selfintersecting paths in the manifold $`M`$. Suppose that for every $`\gamma _i𝜸`$ there is a closed interval $`I_i[0,1]`$ and some open neighbourhood $`U_i`$ of $`\gamma _i(I_i)`$ such that $`\text{im }\gamma _iU_iU_i`$ is an embedding. Assume that all $`U_i`$ can be chosen mutually disjoint.

Then for every ultralocal trivialization $`\iota `$, for every $`A𝒜`$ and for all $`g_1,\mathrm{},g_n𝐆`$ there is some $`A^{}𝒜`$ such that

+ $`h_{\gamma _i}^\iota (A^{})=g_i`$ for all $`i`$;
    + $`A`$ and $`A^{}`$ coincide outside $`_nU_n`$.

* Observe first that by induction we may assume $`n=1`$. Moreover, if the statement of the proposition is true for one trivialization, it is true for every trivialization. By the local triviality of the principal fibre bundle $`P(M,G)`$, we may assume that $`P`$ is trivial over $`U:=U_1`$ and that $`\gamma `$ is smooth on $`I:=I_1`$ (otherwise, shrink $`U`$ and $`I`$, if necessary). Hence, we may fix some ultralocal trivialization $`\iota `$ being smooth on $`U`$. In the following, however, we will simply write $`h_A`$ instead of $`h_A^\iota `$.

We now proceed in two steps. First we modify $`A`$ such that it becomes “zero” in $`\gamma (I)`$ and second we modify it there to get the desired parallel transports.

+ First, since $`M`$ is a manifold, there is some smooth function $`f`$ on $`M`$ being $`1`$ on $`\gamma (I)`$ with $`\text{supp }fU`$. We define $`A_f`$ to be equal $`(1f)A`$ on $`U`$ w.r.t. $`\iota `$ and equal $`A`$ outside. It is clear that $`A_f`$ is again a smooth connection. To furnish the first part, we define $`g^{}:=h_{A_f}([0,\tau ^{}])^1gh_{A_f}([\tau ^+,1])^1`$.
    + Recall that $`g^{}`$ – as every element in a connected Lie group $`𝐆`$ – can be written as a product $`g_1\mathrm{}g_l`$ of finitely many $`g_j\mathrm{exp}(𝔤)`$, where $`𝔤`$ denotes the Lie algebra to $`𝐆`$, i.e., $`g_j=\mathrm{exp}(B_j)`$ with $`B_j𝔤`$. Divide now $`I`$ into $`2l1`$ intervals $`I_1,I_{1\frac{1}{2}},I_2,\mathrm{},I_l`$ by inserting $`2l2`$ points and choose for all integer $`j`$ some open neighbourhood $`V_jU`$ of some interior point in $`I_j`$, such that all these neighbourhoods are mutually disjoint and $`V_j\text{im }\gamma \gamma (I_j)`$. Choose finally (again for integer $`j`$) some smooth sections $`f_j:MT^{}M`$ with $`\text{supp }f_jV_j`$ and fulfilling $`_{I_j}f_j(\gamma (t))_\mu \dot{\gamma }^\mu (t)\text{d}t=1`$. Now we define $`A^{}`$ to be equal $`A_f+_jf_jB_j`$ on $`_jV_jU`$ and equal $`A_f`$ outside. It is clear that $`A^{}`$ is again a smooth connection coinciding with $`A`$ outside $`U`$. Since $`A^{}`$ equals $`f_jB_j`$ on $`V_j`$ and since $`B_j`$ is a constant, we have for integer $`j`$

    $`h_A^{}(\gamma |_{I_j})=\mathrm{exp}\left(_{I_j}f_j(\gamma (t))_\mu B_j\dot{\gamma }^\mu (t)\text{d}t\right)=\mathrm{exp}(B_j)=g_j`$

    and thus

    $`\begin{array}{ccc}\hfill h_A^{}(\gamma )& =& h_A^{}(\gamma |_{[0,\tau ^{}]})\left(_{j=1\text{}2j}^lh_A^{}(\gamma |_{I_j})\right)h_A^{}(\gamma |_{[\tau ^+,1]})\hfill \\ & =& h_{A_f}(\gamma |_{[0,\tau ^{}]})\left(_{j=1}^lg_j\right)h_{A_f}(\gamma |_{[\tau ^+,1]})\hfill \\ & =& h_{A_f}(\gamma |_{[0,\tau ^{}]})g^{}h_{A_f}(\gamma |_{[\tau ^+,1]})\hfill \\ & =& g.\hfill \end{array}`$

    qed