pnas/pnas.tex
changeset 601 6bfa35fb758a
parent 600 e9032f8dee24
child 602 109ecc26c50d
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   387 
   387 
   388 \todo{
   388 \todo{
   389 Decide if we need a friendlier, skein-module version.
   389 Decide if we need a friendlier, skein-module version.
   390 }
   390 }
   391 
   391 
   392 \subsubsection{Examples}
   392 \subsection{Example (the fundamental $n$-groupoid)}
   393 
   393 We will define $\pi_{\le n}(T)$, the fundamental $n$-groupoid of a topological space $T$.
   394 \nn{can't figure out environment stuff; want no italics}
   394 When $X$ is a $k$-ball with $k<n$, define $\pi_{\le n}(T)(X)$
   395 
       
   396 \noindent
       
   397 Example. [Fundamental $n$-groupoid of a space]
       
   398 Let $T$ be a topological space.
       
   399 Define $\pi_{\le n}(T)(X)$, for $X$ a $k$-ball and $k<n$,
       
   400 to be the set of continuous maps from $X$ to $T$.
   395 to be the set of continuous maps from $X$ to $T$.
   401 If $X$ is an $n$-ball, define $\pi_{\le n}(T)(X)$ to be homotopy classes (rel boundary) of such maps.
   396 When $X$ is an $n$-ball, define $\pi_{\le n}(T)(X)$ to be homotopy classes (rel boundary) of such maps.
   402 Define boundary restrictions and gluing in the obvious way.
   397 Define boundary restrictions and gluing in the obvious way.
   403 If $\rho:E\to X$ is a pinched product and $f:X\to T$ is a $k$-morphism,
   398 If $\rho:E\to X$ is a pinched product and $f:X\to T$ is a $k$-morphism,
   404 define the product morphism $\rho^*(f)$ to be $f\circ\rho$.
   399 define the product morphism $\rho^*(f)$ to be $f\circ\rho$.
   405 
   400 
   406 We can also define an $A_\infty$ version $\pi_{\le n}^\infty(T)$ of the fundamental $n$-groupoid.
   401 We can also define an $A_\infty$ version $\pi_{\le n}^\infty(T)$ of the fundamental $n$-groupoid.
   407 Most of the definition is the same as above.
       
   408 For $X$ an $n$-ball define $\pi_{\le n}^\infty(T)(X)$ to be the space of all maps from $X$ to $T$
   402 For $X$ an $n$-ball define $\pi_{\le n}^\infty(T)(X)$ to be the space of all maps from $X$ to $T$
   409 (if we are enriching over spaces) or the singular chains on that space (if we are enriching over chain complexes).
   403 (if we are enriching over spaces) or the singular chains on that space (if we are enriching over chain complexes).
   410 
   404 
   411 
   405 
   412 \noindent
   406 \subsection{Example (string diagrams)}
   413 Example. [String diagrams]
   407 Fix a `traditional' $n$-category $C$ with strong duality (e.g.\ a pivotal 2-category).
   414 Fix a traditional $n$-category $C$ with strong duality (e.g.\ a pivotal 2-category).
       
   415 Let $X$ be a $k$-ball and define $\cS_C(X)$ to be the set of $C$ string diagrams drawn on $X$;
   408 Let $X$ be a $k$-ball and define $\cS_C(X)$ to be the set of $C$ string diagrams drawn on $X$;
   416 that is, certain cell complexes embedded in $X$, with the codimension-$j$ cells labeled by $j$-morphisms of $C$.
   409 that is, certain cell complexes embedded in $X$, with the codimension-$j$ cells labeled by $j$-morphisms of $C$.
   417 If $X$ is an $n$-ball, identify two such string diagrams if they evaluate to the same $n$-morphism of $C$.
   410 If $X$ is an $n$-ball, identify two such string diagrams if they evaluate to the same $n$-morphism of $C$.
   418 Boundary restrictions and gluing are again straightforward to define.
   411 Boundary restrictions and gluing are again straightforward to define.
   419 Define product morphisms via product cell decompositions.
   412 Define product morphisms via product cell decompositions.
   488 
   481 
   489 An explicit realization of the homotopy colimit is provided by the simplices of the functor $\psi_{\cC; W}$. That is, $$\clh{\cC}(W) = \DirectSum_{\bar{x}} \psi_{\cC; W}(x_0)[m],$$ where $\bar{x} = x_0 \leq \cdots \leq x_m$ is a simplex in $\cell(W)$. The differential acts on $(\bar{x},a)$ (here $a \in \psi_{\cC; W}(x_0)$) as
   482 An explicit realization of the homotopy colimit is provided by the simplices of the functor $\psi_{\cC; W}$. That is, $$\clh{\cC}(W) = \DirectSum_{\bar{x}} \psi_{\cC; W}(x_0)[m],$$ where $\bar{x} = x_0 \leq \cdots \leq x_m$ is a simplex in $\cell(W)$. The differential acts on $(\bar{x},a)$ (here $a \in \psi_{\cC; W}(x_0)$) as
   490 $$\bdy (\bar{x},a) = (\bar{x}, \bdy a) + (-1)^{\deg a} \left( (d_0 \bar{x}, g(a)) + \sum_{i=1}^m (-1)^i (d_i \bar{x}, a) \right)$$
   483 $$\bdy (\bar{x},a) = (\bar{x}, \bdy a) + (-1)^{\deg a} \left( (d_0 \bar{x}, g(a)) + \sum_{i=1}^m (-1)^i (d_i \bar{x}, a) \right)$$
   491 where $g$ is the gluing map from $x_0$ to $x_1$, and $d_i \bar{x}$ denotes the $i$-th face of the simplex $\bar{x}$.
   484 where $g$ is the gluing map from $x_0$ to $x_1$, and $d_i \bar{x}$ denotes the $i$-th face of the simplex $\bar{x}$.
   492 
   485 
   493 Alternatively, we can take advantage of the product structure on $\cell(W)$ to realize the homotopy colimit as the cone-product polyhedra of the functor $\psi_{\cC;W}$. (A cone-product polyhedra is obtained from a point by successively taking the cone or taking the product with another cone-product polyhedron; just as simplices correspond to linear graphs, cone-product polyheda correspond to directed trees.) A Eilenberg-Zilber subdivision argument shows this is the same as the usual realization.
   486 Alternatively, we can take advantage of the product structure on $\cell(W)$ to realize the homotopy colimit via the cone-product polyhedra in $\cell(W)$. A cone-product polyhedra is obtained from a point by successively taking the cone or taking the product with another cone-product polyhedron. Just as simplices correspond to linear graphs, cone-product polyheda correspond to directed trees: taking cone adds a new root before the existing root, and taking product identifies the roots of several trees. The `local homotopy colimit' is then defined according to the same formula as above, but with $x$ a cone-product polyhedron in $\cell(W)$.
       
   487 A Eilenberg-Zilber subdivision argument shows this is the same as the usual realization.
   494 
   488 
   495 When $\cC$ is a topological $n$-category,
   489 When $\cC$ is a topological $n$-category,
   496 the flexibility available in the construction of a homotopy colimit allows
   490 the flexibility available in the construction of a homotopy colimit allows
   497 us to give a much more explicit description of the blob complex which we'll write as $\bc_*(W; \cC)$.
   491 us to give a much more explicit description of the blob complex which we'll write as $\bc_*(W; \cC)$.
   498 
   492