diff -r 7cb7de37cbf9 -r 121c580d5ef7 text/tqftreview.tex --- a/text/tqftreview.tex Tue Jun 01 21:44:09 2010 -0700 +++ b/text/tqftreview.tex Tue Jun 01 23:07:42 2010 -0700 @@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ \label{sec:fields} \label{sec:tqftsviafields} -In this section we review the construction of TQFTs from ``topological fields". -For more details see \cite{kw:tqft}. +In this section we review the notion of a ``system of fields and local relations". +For more details see \cite{kw:tqft}. From a system of fields and local relations we can readily construct TQFT invariants of manifolds. This is described in \S \ref{sec:constructing-a-TQFT}. A system of fields is very closely related to an $n$-category. In Example \ref{ex:traditional-n-categories(fields)}, which runs throughout this section, we sketch the construction of a system of fields from an $n$-category. We make this more precise for $n=1$ or $2$ in \S \ref{sec:example:traditional-n-categories(fields)}, and much later, after we've have given our own definition of a `topological $n$-category' in \S \ref{sec:ncats}, we explain precisely how to go back and forth between a topological $n$-category and a system of fields and local relations. We only consider compact manifolds, so if $Y \sub X$ is a closed codimension 0 submanifold of $X$, then $X \setmin Y$ implicitly means the closure @@ -21,18 +21,17 @@ oriented, topological, smooth, spin, etc. --- but for definiteness we will stick with unoriented PL.) -%Fix a top dimension $n$, and a symmetric monoidal category $\cS$ whose objects are sets. While reading the definition, you should just think about the case $\cS = \Set$ with cartesian product, until you reach the discussion of a \emph{linear system of fields} later in this section, where $\cS = \Vect$, and \S \ref{sec:homological-fields}, where $\cS = \Kom$. +Fix a symmetric monoidal category $\cS$ whose objects are sets. While reading the definition, you should just think about the cases $\cS = \Set$ or $\cS = \Vect$. A $n$-dimensional {\it system of fields} in $\cS$ is a collection of functors $\cC_k : \cM_k \to \Set$ for $0 \leq k \leq n$ together with some additional data and satisfying some additional conditions, all specified below. -Before finishing the definition of fields, we give two motivating examples -(actually, families of examples) of systems of fields. +Before finishing the definition of fields, we give two motivating examples of systems of fields. \begin{example} \label{ex:maps-to-a-space(fields)} -Fix a target space $B$, and let $\cC(X)$ be the set of continuous maps +Fix a target space $T$, and let $\cC(X)$ be the set of continuous maps from X to $B$. \end{example} @@ -42,7 +41,7 @@ the set of sub-cell-complexes of $X$ with codimension-$j$ cells labeled by $j$-morphisms of $C$. One can think of such sub-cell-complexes as dual to pasting diagrams for $C$. -This is described in more detail below. +This is described in more detail in \S \ref{sec:example:traditional-n-categories(fields)}. \end{example} Now for the rest of the definition of system of fields. @@ -144,6 +143,47 @@ \nn{remark that if top dimensional fields are not already linear then we will soon linearize them(?)} +For top dimensional ($n$-dimensional) manifolds, we're actually interested +in the linearized space of fields. +By default, define $\lf(X) = \c[\cC(X)]$; that is, $\lf(X)$ is +the vector space of finite +linear combinations of fields on $X$. +If $X$ has boundary, we of course fix a boundary condition: $\lf(X; a) = \c[\cC(X; a)]$. +Thus the restriction (to boundary) maps are well defined because we never +take linear combinations of fields with differing boundary conditions. + +In some cases we don't linearize the default way; instead we take the +spaces $\lf(X; a)$ to be part of the data for the system of fields. +In particular, for fields based on linear $n$-category pictures we linearize as follows. +Define $\lf(X; a) = \c[\cC(X; a)]/K$, where $K$ is the space generated by +obvious relations on 0-cell labels. +More specifically, let $L$ be a cell decomposition of $X$ +and let $p$ be a 0-cell of $L$. +Let $\alpha_c$ and $\alpha_d$ be two labelings of $L$ which are identical except that +$\alpha_c$ labels $p$ by $c$ and $\alpha_d$ labels $p$ by $d$. +Then the subspace $K$ is generated by things of the form +$\lambda \alpha_c + \alpha_d - \alpha_{\lambda c + d}$, where we leave it to the reader +to infer the meaning of $\alpha_{\lambda c + d}$. +Note that we are still assuming that $n$-categories have linear spaces of $n$-morphisms. + +\nn{Maybe comment further: if there's a natural basis of morphisms, then no need; +will do something similar below; in general, whenever a label lives in a linear +space we do something like this; ? say something about tensor +product of all the linear label spaces? Yes:} + +For top dimensional ($n$-dimensional) manifolds, we linearize as follows. +Define an ``almost-field" to be a field without labels on the 0-cells. +(Recall that 0-cells are labeled by $n$-morphisms.) +To each unlabeled 0-cell in an almost field there corresponds a (linear) $n$-morphism +space determined by the labeling of the link of the 0-cell. +(If the 0-cell were labeled, the label would live in this space.) +We associate to each almost-labeling the tensor product of these spaces (one for each 0-cell). +We now define $\lf(X; a)$ to be the direct sum over all almost labelings of the +above tensor products. + + +\subsection{Systems of fields from $n$-categories} +\label{sec:example:traditional-n-categories(fields)} We now describe in more detail systems of fields coming from sub-cell-complexes labeled by $n$-category morphisms. @@ -226,43 +266,6 @@ \medskip -For top dimensional ($n$-dimensional) manifolds, we're actually interested -in the linearized space of fields. -By default, define $\lf(X) = \c[\cC(X)]$; that is, $\lf(X)$ is -the vector space of finite -linear combinations of fields on $X$. -If $X$ has boundary, we of course fix a boundary condition: $\lf(X; a) = \c[\cC(X; a)]$. -Thus the restriction (to boundary) maps are well defined because we never -take linear combinations of fields with differing boundary conditions. - -In some cases we don't linearize the default way; instead we take the -spaces $\lf(X; a)$ to be part of the data for the system of fields. -In particular, for fields based on linear $n$-category pictures we linearize as follows. -Define $\lf(X; a) = \c[\cC(X; a)]/K$, where $K$ is the space generated by -obvious relations on 0-cell labels. -More specifically, let $L$ be a cell decomposition of $X$ -and let $p$ be a 0-cell of $L$. -Let $\alpha_c$ and $\alpha_d$ be two labelings of $L$ which are identical except that -$\alpha_c$ labels $p$ by $c$ and $\alpha_d$ labels $p$ by $d$. -Then the subspace $K$ is generated by things of the form -$\lambda \alpha_c + \alpha_d - \alpha_{\lambda c + d}$, where we leave it to the reader -to infer the meaning of $\alpha_{\lambda c + d}$. -Note that we are still assuming that $n$-categories have linear spaces of $n$-morphisms. - -\nn{Maybe comment further: if there's a natural basis of morphisms, then no need; -will do something similar below; in general, whenever a label lives in a linear -space we do something like this; ? say something about tensor -product of all the linear label spaces? Yes:} - -For top dimensional ($n$-dimensional) manifolds, we linearize as follows. -Define an ``almost-field" to be a field without labels on the 0-cells. -(Recall that 0-cells are labeled by $n$-morphisms.) -To each unlabeled 0-cell in an almost field there corresponds a (linear) $n$-morphism -space determined by the labeling of the link of the 0-cell. -(If the 0-cell were labeled, the label would live in this space.) -We associate to each almost-labeling the tensor product of these spaces (one for each 0-cell). -We now define $\lf(X; a)$ to be the direct sum over all almost labelings of the -above tensor products.