A pro-algebraic fundamental group for topological spaces

C. Deninger

Published 2020-05-28Version 1

Consider a connected topological space $X$ with a point $x \in X$ and let $K$ be a field with the discrete topology. We study the Tannakian category of finite dimensional (flat) vector bundles on $X$ and its Tannakian dual $\pi_K (X,x)$ with respect to the fibre functor in $x$. The maximal pro-\'etale quotient of $\pi_K (X,x)$ is the \'etale fundamental group of $X$ studied by Kucharczyk and Scholze. For well behaved topological spaces, $\pi_K (X,x)$ is the pro-algebraic completion of the ordinary fundamental group $\pi_1 (X,x)$. We obtain some structural results on $\pi_K (X,x)$ by studying (pseudo-)torsors attached to its quotients. This approach uses ideas of Nori in algebraic geometry and a result of Deligne on Tannakian categories. We also calculate $\pi_K (X,x)$ for some generalized solenoids.