A note on \(n\)-gerbes and transgressions (Q658572)

Summary: We provide an explicit interpretation of a class of \((q-1)\)-gerbes with multi-layered connections in terms of transgression of a fibrewise closed \(q\)-form on a fibration to a closed \((q+1)\)-form on the base manifold, with the basic example of the Euler class of an oriented vector bundle in mind (\(q \geq 0\)). Picken's and Ferreira-Gothen's \(n\)-gerbopoles are discussed from this point of view. Furthermore, string structures (à la Cocquereaux-Pilch and à la Spera-Wurzbacher) are briefly addressed and recast within the proposed framework.