text/ncat.tex
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   556 \end{axiom}
   556 \end{axiom}
   557 
   557 
   558 
   558 
   559 \medskip
   559 \medskip
   560 
   560 
   561 All of the axioms listed above hold for both ordinary $n$-categories and $A_\infty$ $n$-categories.
   561 
   562 The last axiom (below), concerning actions of 
   562 
   563 homeomorphisms in the top dimension $n$, distinguishes the two cases.
   563 
   564 
   564 %All of the axioms listed above hold for both ordinary $n$-categories and $A_\infty$ $n$-categories.
   565 We start with the ordinary $n$-category case.
   565 %The last axiom (below), concerning actions of 
       
   566 %homeomorphisms in the top dimension $n$, distinguishes the two cases.
       
   567 
       
   568 %We start with the ordinary $n$-category case.
       
   569 
       
   570 The next axiom says, roughly, that we have strict associativity in dimension $n$, 
       
   571 even we we reparameterize our $n$-balls.
   566 
   572 
   567 \begin{axiom}[\textup{\textbf{[preliminary]}} Isotopy invariance in dimension $n$]
   573 \begin{axiom}[\textup{\textbf{[preliminary]}} Isotopy invariance in dimension $n$]
   568 Let $X$ be an $n$-ball and $f: X\to X$ be a homeomorphism which restricts
   574 Let $X$ be an $n$-ball, $b \in \cC(X)$, and $f: X\to X$ be a homeomorphism which 
   569 to the identity on $\bd X$ and is isotopic (rel boundary) to the identity.
   575 acts trivially on the restriction $\bd b$ of $b$ to $\bd X$.
   570 Then $f$ acts trivially on $\cC(X)$; that is $f(a) = a$ for all $a\in \cC(X)$.
   576 (Keep in mind the important special case where $f$ restricted to $\bd X$ is the identity.)
       
   577 Suppose furthermore that $f$ is isotopic to the identity through homeomorphisms which
       
   578 trivially on $\bd b$.
       
   579 Then $f(b) = b$.
       
   580 In particular, homeomorphisms which are isotopic to the identity rel boundary act trivially on 
       
   581 all of $\cC(X)$.
   571 \end{axiom}
   582 \end{axiom}
   572 
   583 
   573 This axiom needs to be strengthened to force product morphisms to act as the identity.
   584 This axiom needs to be strengthened to force product morphisms to act as the identity.
   574 Let $X$ be an $n$-ball and $Y\sub\bd X$ be an $n{-}1$-ball.
   585 Let $X$ be an $n$-ball and $Y\sub\bd X$ be an $n{-}1$-ball.
   575 Let $J$ be a 1-ball (interval).
   586 Let $J$ be a 1-ball (interval).
   638 The revised axiom is
   649 The revised axiom is
   639 
   650 
   640 %\addtocounter{axiom}{-1}
   651 %\addtocounter{axiom}{-1}
   641 \begin{axiom}[\textup{\textbf{[ordinary  version]}} Extended isotopy invariance in dimension $n$.]
   652 \begin{axiom}[\textup{\textbf{[ordinary  version]}} Extended isotopy invariance in dimension $n$.]
   642 \label{axiom:extended-isotopies}
   653 \label{axiom:extended-isotopies}
   643 Let $X$ be an $n$-ball and $f: X\to X$ be a homeomorphism which restricts
   654 Let $X$ be an $n$-ball, $b \in \cC(X)$, and $f: X\to X$ be a homeomorphism which 
   644 to the identity on $\bd X$ and isotopic (rel boundary) to the identity.
   655 acts trivially on the restriction $\bd b$ of $b$ to $\bd X$.
   645 Then $f$ acts trivially on $\cC(X)$.
   656 Suppose furthermore that $f$ is isotopic to the identity through homeomorphisms which
       
   657 trivially on $\bd b$.
       
   658 Then $f(b) = b$.
   646 In addition, collar maps act trivially on $\cC(X)$.
   659 In addition, collar maps act trivially on $\cC(X)$.
   647 \end{axiom}
   660 \end{axiom}
   648 
   661 
   649 \smallskip
   662 \medskip
   650 
   663 
   651 For $A_\infty$ $n$-categories, we replace
   664 
   652 isotopy invariance with the requirement that families of homeomorphisms act.
   665 
   653 For the moment, assume that our $n$-morphisms are enriched over chain complexes.
       
   654 Let $\Homeo_\bd(X)$ denote homeomorphisms of $X$ which fix $\bd X$ and
       
   655 $C_*(\Homeo_\bd(X))$ denote the singular chains on this space.
       
   656 
   666 
   657 \nn{begin temp relocation}
   667 \nn{begin temp relocation}
   658 
   668 
   659 Most of the examples of $n$-categories we are interested in are enriched in the following sense.
   669 Most of the examples of $n$-categories we are interested in are enriched in the following sense.
   660 The various sets of $n$-morphisms $\cC(X; c)$, for all $n$-balls $X$ and
   670 The various sets of $n$-morphisms $\cC(X; c)$, for all $n$-balls $X$ and
   670 \nn{$k=n$ injectivity for a-inf (necessary?)}
   680 \nn{$k=n$ injectivity for a-inf (necessary?)}
   671 or if $k=n$ and we are in the $A_\infty$ case, 
   681 or if $k=n$ and we are in the $A_\infty$ case, 
   672 
   682 
   673 
   683 
   674 \nn{end temp relocation}
   684 \nn{end temp relocation}
       
   685 
       
   686 
       
   687 \smallskip
       
   688 
       
   689 For $A_\infty$ $n$-categories, we replace
       
   690 isotopy invariance with the requirement that families of homeomorphisms act.
       
   691 For the moment, assume that our $n$-morphisms are enriched over chain complexes.
       
   692 Let $\Homeo_\bd(X)$ denote homeomorphisms of $X$ which fix $\bd X$ and
       
   693 $C_*(\Homeo_\bd(X))$ denote the singular chains on this space.
       
   694 
       
   695 
   675 
   696 
   676 %\addtocounter{axiom}{-1}
   697 %\addtocounter{axiom}{-1}
   677 \begin{axiom}[\textup{\textbf{[$A_\infty$ version]}} Families of homeomorphisms act in dimension $n$.]
   698 \begin{axiom}[\textup{\textbf{[$A_\infty$ version]}} Families of homeomorphisms act in dimension $n$.]
   678 \label{axiom:families}
   699 \label{axiom:families}
   679 For each $n$-ball $X$ and each $c\in \cl{\cC}(\bd X)$ we have a map of chain complexes
   700 For each $n$-ball $X$ and each $c\in \cl{\cC}(\bd X)$ we have a map of chain complexes