Obstructions to homotopy equivalences

Abstract

An obstruction theory is developed to decide when an isomorphism of rational cohomology can be realized by a rational homotopy equivalence (either between rationally nilpotent spaces, or between commutative graded differential algebras). This is used to show that a cohomology isomorphism can be so realized whenever it can be realized over some field extension (a result obtained independently by Sullivan). In particular an algorithmic method is given to decide when a c.g.d.a. has the same homotopy type as its cohomology (the c.g.d.a. is called formal in this case). The chief technique is the construction of a canonically filtered model for a commutative graded differential algebra (over a field of characteristic zero) by perturbing the minimal model for the cohomology algebra. This filtered model is also used to give a simple construction of the Eilenberg-Moore spectral sequence arising from the bar construction. An example is given of a c.g.d.a. whose Eilenberg-Moore sequence collapses, yet which is not formal.