text/intro.tex
changeset 937 6cfc2dc6ec6e
parent 926 e8d2f9e0118b
child 962 87bfea2e3150
equal deleted inserted replaced
936:d73a88d78498 937:6cfc2dc6ec6e
   175 (i.e.\ TQFTs for which the cylinder 1-category associated to an
   175 (i.e.\ TQFTs for which the cylinder 1-category associated to an
   176 $n{-}1$-manifold $Y$ is semisimple for all $Y$).
   176 $n{-}1$-manifold $Y$ is semisimple for all $Y$).
   177 
   177 
   178 For non-semi-simple TQFTs, this approach is less satisfactory.
   178 For non-semi-simple TQFTs, this approach is less satisfactory.
   179 Our main motivating example (though we will not develop it in this paper)
   179 Our main motivating example (though we will not develop it in this paper)
   180 is the (decapitated) $4{+}1$-dimensional TQFT associated to Khovanov homology.
   180 is the $(4{+}\varepsilon)$-dimensional TQFT associated to Khovanov homology.
   181 It associates a bigraded vector space $A_{Kh}(W^4, L)$ to a 4-manifold $W$ together
   181 It associates a bigraded vector space $A_{Kh}(W^4, L)$ to a 4-manifold $W$ together
   182 with a link $L \subset \bd W$.
   182 with a link $L \subset \bd W$.
   183 The original Khovanov homology of a link in $S^3$ is recovered as $A_{Kh}(B^4, L)$.
   183 The original Khovanov homology of a link in $S^3$ is recovered as $A_{Kh}(B^4, L)$.
   184 %\todo{I'm tempted to replace $A_{Kh}$ with $\cl{Kh}$ throughout this page -S}
   184 %\todo{I'm tempted to replace $A_{Kh}$ with $\cl{Kh}$ throughout this page -S}
   185 
   185 
   207 choices we made along the way.
   207 choices we made along the way.
   208 This is probably not easy to do.
   208 This is probably not easy to do.
   209 
   209 
   210 Instead, we would prefer a definition for a derived version of $A_{Kh}(W^4, L)$
   210 Instead, we would prefer a definition for a derived version of $A_{Kh}(W^4, L)$
   211 which is manifestly invariant.
   211 which is manifestly invariant.
   212 (That is, a definition that does not
   212 In other words, we want a definition that does not
   213 involve choosing a decomposition of $W$.
   213 involve choosing a decomposition of $W$.
   214 After all, one of the virtues of our starting point --- TQFTs via field and local relations ---
   214 After all, one of the virtues of our starting point --- TQFTs via field and local relations ---
   215 is that it has just this sort of manifest invariance.)
   215 is that it has just this sort of manifest invariance.
   216 
   216 
   217 The solution is to replace $A_{Kh}(W^4, L)$, which is a quotient
   217 The solution is to replace $A_{Kh}(W^4, L)$, which is a quotient
   218 \[
   218 \[
   219  \text{linear combinations of fields} \;\big/\; \text{local relations} ,
   219  \text{linear combinations of fields} \;\big/\; \text{local relations} ,
   220 \]
   220 \]
   223 	\cdots\to \bc_2(W, L) \to \bc_1(W, L) \to \bc_0(W, L) .
   223 	\cdots\to \bc_2(W, L) \to \bc_1(W, L) \to \bc_0(W, L) .
   224 \]
   224 \]
   225 Here $\bc_0$ is linear combinations of fields on $W$,
   225 Here $\bc_0$ is linear combinations of fields on $W$,
   226 $\bc_1$ is linear combinations of local relations on $W$,
   226 $\bc_1$ is linear combinations of local relations on $W$,
   227 $\bc_2$ is linear combinations of relations amongst relations on $W$,
   227 $\bc_2$ is linear combinations of relations amongst relations on $W$,
   228 and so on. We now have a short exact sequence of chain complexes relating resolutions of the link $L$ 
   228 and so on. 
       
   229 We now have a long exact sequence of chain complexes relating resolutions of the link $L$ 
   229 (c.f. Lemma \ref{lem:hochschild-exact} which shows exactness 
   230 (c.f. Lemma \ref{lem:hochschild-exact} which shows exactness 
   230 with respect to boundary conditions in the context of Hochschild homology).
   231 with respect to boundary conditions in the context of Hochschild homology).
   231 
   232 
   232 
   233 
   233 \subsection{Formal properties}
   234 \subsection{Formal properties}
   423 \end{thm:product}
   424 \end{thm:product}
   424 The statement can be generalized to arbitrary fibre bundles, and indeed to arbitrary maps
   425 The statement can be generalized to arbitrary fibre bundles, and indeed to arbitrary maps
   425 (see \S \ref{ss:product-formula}).
   426 (see \S \ref{ss:product-formula}).
   426 
   427 
   427 Fix a disk-like $n$-category $\cC$, which we'll omit from the notation.
   428 Fix a disk-like $n$-category $\cC$, which we'll omit from the notation.
   428 Recall that for any $(n-1)$-manifold $Y$, the blob complex $\bc_*(Y)$ is naturally an $A_\infty$ 1-category.
   429 Recall that for any $(n{-}1)$-manifold $Y$, the blob complex $\bc_*(Y)$ is naturally an $A_\infty$ 1-category.
   429 (See Appendix \ref{sec:comparing-A-infty} for the translation between disk-like $A_\infty$ $1$-categories 
   430 (See Appendix \ref{sec:comparing-A-infty} for the translation between disk-like $A_\infty$ $1$-categories 
   430 and the usual algebraic notion of an $A_\infty$ category.)
   431 and the usual algebraic notion of an $A_\infty$ category.)
   431 
   432 
   432 \newtheorem*{thm:gluing}{Theorem \ref{thm:gluing}}
   433 \newtheorem*{thm:gluing}{Theorem \ref{thm:gluing}}
   433 
   434