Random Surfaces and Higher Algebra

Abstract: The space of surfaces $\mathbf{X}: [0,1]^2 \to \mathbb{R}^d$ is equipped with natural horizontal and vertical concatenation operations, and we study representations of surfaces which preserve this algebraic structure. The framework of higher category theory allows us to formalize this notion in terms of a functor between double groupoids. We construct such functors by generalizing the classical concept of the path-ordered exponential as a nonabelian path integral. This generalization yields a notion of nonabelian surface integration, and is known in higher gauge theory as surface holonomy (or higher parallel transport). We extend these constructions from smooth surfaces to bounded controlled $p$-variation surfaces in the Young regime, with $p < 2$. By focusing on surface holonomy valued in higher generalizations of the classical matrix groups, called matrix double groups, we obtain explicit computations for piecewise linear approximations. Furthermore, we generalize the nonabelian Stokes' and Fubini theorems to the Young regime. Finally, we use these matrix surface holonomy functors to construct characteristic functions for random surfaces such as fractional Brownian sheets with Hurst parameter $h> \frac{1}{2}$.