diff -r d3b05641e7ca -r a96f3d2ef852 text/ncat.tex --- a/text/ncat.tex Sun Jul 04 23:32:48 2010 -0600 +++ b/text/ncat.tex Mon Jul 05 07:47:23 2010 -0600 @@ -663,11 +663,13 @@ We now describe several classes of examples of $n$-categories satisfying our axioms. +We typically specify only the morphisms; the rest of the data for the category +(restriction maps, gluing, product morphisms, action of homeomorphisms) is usually obvious. \begin{example}[Maps to a space] \rm \label{ex:maps-to-a-space}% -Fix a ``target space" $T$, any topological space. +Let $T$be a topological space. We define $\pi_{\leq n}(T)$, the fundamental $n$-category of $T$, as follows. For $X$ a $k$-ball with $k < n$, define $\pi_{\leq n}(T)(X)$ to be the set of all continuous maps from $X$ to $T$. @@ -676,10 +678,14 @@ (Note that homotopy invariance implies isotopy invariance.) For $a\in \cC(X)$ define the product morphism $a\times D \in \cC(X\times D)$ to be $a\circ\pi_X$, where $\pi_X : X\times D \to X$ is the projection. +\end{example} +\noop{ Recall we described a system of fields and local relations based on maps to $T$ in Example \ref{ex:maps-to-a-space(fields)} above. Constructing a system of fields from $\pi_{\leq n}(T)$ recovers that example. -\end{example} +\nn{shouldn't this go elsewhere? we haven't yet discussed constructing a system of fields from +an n-cat} +} \begin{example}[Maps to a space, with a fiber] \rm @@ -701,7 +707,8 @@ the $R$-module of finite linear combinations of continuous maps from $X\times F$ to $T$, modulo the relation that if $a$ is homotopic to $b$ (rel boundary) via a homotopy $h: X\times F\times I \to T$, then $a = \alpha(h)b$. -\nn{need to say something about fundamental classes, or choose $\alpha$ carefully} +(In order for this to be well-defined we must choose $\alpha$ to be zero on degenerate simplices. +Alternatively, we could equip the balls with fundamental classes.) \end{example} The next example is only intended to be illustrative, as we don't specify which definition of a ``traditional $n$-category" we intend. @@ -723,8 +730,12 @@ to be the set of all $C$-labeled embedded cell complexes of $X\times F$. Define $\cC(X; c)$, for $X$ an $n$-ball, to be the dual Hilbert space $A(X\times F; c)$. -\nn{refer elsewhere for details?} +(See Subsection \ref{sec:constructing-a-tqft}.) +\end{example} +\noop{ +\nn{shouldn't this go elsewhere? we haven't yet discussed constructing a system of fields from +an n-cat} Recall we described a system of fields and local relations based on a ``traditional $n$-category" $C$ in Example \ref{ex:traditional-n-categories(fields)} above. \nn{KW: We already refer to \S \ref{sec:fields} above} @@ -734,11 +745,8 @@ where the quotient is built in. but (string diagrams)/(relations) is isomorphic to (pasting diagrams composed of smaller string diagrams)/(relations)} -\end{example} +} -Finally, we describe a version of the bordism $n$-category suitable to our definitions. - -\nn{should also include example of ncats coming from TQFTs, or refer ahead to where we discuss that example} \newcommand{\Bord}{\operatorname{Bord}} \begin{example}[The bordism $n$-category, plain version] @@ -766,15 +774,19 @@ %We have two main examples of $A_\infty$ $n$-categories, coming from maps to a target space and from the blob complex. -\begin{example}[Chains of maps to a space] +\begin{example}[Chains (or space) of maps to a space] \rm \label{ex:chains-of-maps-to-a-space} We can modify Example \ref{ex:maps-to-a-space} above to define the fundamental $A_\infty$ $n$-category $\pi^\infty_{\le n}(T)$ of a topological space $T$. For a $k$-ball $X$, with $k < n$, the set $\pi^\infty_{\leq n}(T)(X)$ is just $\Maps(X \to T)$. Define $\pi^\infty_{\leq n}(T)(X; c)$ for an $n$-ball $X$ and $c \in \pi^\infty_{\leq n}(T)(\bdy X)$ to be the chain complex -$$C_*(\Maps_c(X\times F \to T)),$$ where $\Maps_c$ denotes continuous maps restricting to $c$ on the boundary, +\[ + C_*(\Maps_c(X\times F \to T)), +\] +where $\Maps_c$ denotes continuous maps restricting to $c$ on the boundary, and $C_*$ denotes singular chains. -\nn{maybe should also mention version where we enrich over spaces rather than chain complexes} +Alternatively, if we take the $n$-morphisms to be simply $\Maps_c(X\times F \to T)$, +we get an $A_\infty$ $n$-category enriched over spaces. \end{example} See also Theorem \ref{thm:map-recon} below, recovering $C_*(\Maps(M \to T))$ up to @@ -783,7 +795,7 @@ \begin{example}[Blob complexes of balls (with a fiber)] \rm \label{ex:blob-complexes-of-balls} -Fix an $n-k$-dimensional manifold $F$ and an $n$-dimensional system of fields $\cE$. +Fix an $n{-}k$-dimensional manifold $F$ and an $n$-dimensional system of fields $\cE$. We will define an $A_\infty$ $k$-category $\cC$. When $X$ is a $m$-ball, with $m