text/intro.tex
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     3 \section{Introduction}
     3 \section{Introduction}
     4 
     4 
     5 We construct the ``blob complex'' $\bc_*(M; \cC)$ associated to an $n$-manifold $M$ and a ``linear $n$-category with strong duality'' $\cC$. This blob complex provides a simultaneous generalisation of several well-understood constructions:
     5 We construct the ``blob complex'' $\bc_*(M; \cC)$ associated to an $n$-manifold $M$ and a ``linear $n$-category with strong duality'' $\cC$. This blob complex provides a simultaneous generalisation of several well-understood constructions:
     6 \begin{itemize}
     6 \begin{itemize}
     7 \item The vector space $H_0(\bc_*(M; \cC))$ is isomorphic to the usual topological quantum field theory invariant of $M$ associated to $\cC$. (See \S \ref{sec:fields} \nn{more specific}.)
     7 \item The vector space $H_0(\bc_*(M; \cC))$ is isomorphic to the usual topological quantum field theory invariant of $M$ associated to $\cC$. (See \S \ref{sec:fields} \nn{more specific}.)
     8 \item When $n=1$, $\cC$ is just an associative algebroid, and $\bc_*(S^1; \cC)$ is quasi-isomorphic to the Hochschild complex $\HC_*(\cC)$. (See \S \ref{sec:hochschild}.)
     8 \item When $n=1$, $\cC$ is just a 1-category (e.g.\ an associative algebra), and $\bc_*(S^1; \cC)$ is quasi-isomorphic to the Hochschild complex $\HC_*(\cC)$. (See \S \ref{sec:hochschild}.)
     9 \item When $\cC$ is the polynomial algebra $k[t]$, thought of as an n-category (see \S \ref{sec:comm_alg}), we have 
     9 \item When $\cC$ is the polynomial algebra $k[t]$, thought of as an n-category (see \S \ref{sec:comm_alg}), we have 
    10 that $\bc_*(M; k[t])$ is homotopy equivalent to $C_*(\Sigma^\infty(M), k)$, the singular chains
    10 that $\bc_*(M; k[t])$ is homotopy equivalent to $C_*(\Sigma^\infty(M), k)$, the singular chains
    11 on the configurations space of unlabeled points in $M$.
    11 on the configurations space of unlabeled points in $M$.
    12 %$$H_*(\bc_*(M; k[t])) = H^{\text{sing}}_*(\Delta^\infty(M), k).$$ 
    12 %$$H_*(\bc_*(M; k[t])) = H^{\text{sing}}_*(\Delta^\infty(M), k).$$ 
    13 \end{itemize}
    13 \end{itemize}