Questions tagged [derived-categories]

For questions about the derived categories of various abelian categories and questions regarding the derived category construction itself.

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7 answers
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Heuristic behind the Fourier-Mukai transform

What is the heuristic idea behind the Fourier-Mukai transform? What is the connection to the classical Fourier transform? Moreover, could someone recommend a concise introduction to the subject?
Csar Lozano Huerta's user avatar
63 votes
5 answers
9k views

Intuition about the cotangent complex?

Does anyone have an answer to the question "What does the cotangent complex measure?" Algebraic intuitions (like "homology measures how far a sequence is from being exact") are as welcome as ...
Peter Arndt's user avatar
45 votes
8 answers
10k views

A down-to-earth introduction to the uses of derived categories

When I was learning about spectral sequences, one of the most helpful sources I found was Ravi Vakil's notes here. These notes are very down-to-earth and give a kind of minimum knowledge needed about ...
41 votes
7 answers
4k views

Simplicial objects

How should one think about simplicial objects in a category versus actual objects in that category? For example, both for intuition and for practical purposes, what's the difference between a [...
Kevin H. Lin's user avatar
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21 votes
2 answers
2k views

Applications of derived categories to "Traditional Algebraic Geometry"

I would like to know how derived categories (in particular, derived categories of coherent sheaves) can give results about "Traditional Algebraic Geometry". I am mostly interested in classical ...
15 votes
4 answers
2k views

What is the relation between the Lie bracket on $TX$ as commutator and that coming from the Atiyah class?

Let X be a complex manifold and $TX$ its tangent bundle. The Atiyah class $\alpha(E)\in \text{Ext}^1(E\otimes TX, E)$ for a vector bundle $E$ is defined to be the obstruction to the global existence ...
Zhaoting Wei's user avatar
  • 8,707
10 votes
2 answers
2k views

Derived category of varieties and derived category of quiver algebras

I have heard that derived category of coherent sheaves $\mathrm{Coh}(X)$ on any Fano varieties $X$ may be realized as derived category $\mathrm{Coh}(\mathrm{Rep}(Q,W))$ of representation of quiver $Q$ ...
Pooya's user avatar
  • 103
7 votes
2 answers
485 views

Equivalence between a derived subcategory and a subcategory of the derived category

Let $\mathcal{A}$ be a subcategory of $\mathcal{C}$. Let $D(\mathcal{A})$ and $D(\mathcal{C})$ be the associated derived categories. We can define $D_\mathcal{A}(\mathcal{C}) = \{X \in \mathcal{C}\...
GraduateStudent's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
1k views

Derived Nakayama for complete modules

I have encountered the following "Nakayama Lemma" recently: Let $A$ be a ring and $I$ some finitely generated ideal. Let $\mathcal C_\bullet$ be a chain complex of $I$-(derived) complete $A$-...
slinshady's user avatar
  • 309
3 votes
0 answers
254 views

(Middling) good morphisms of triangles

Neeman in his article "Some new axioms for triangulated categories" calls a morphism of distinguished triangles $$\require{AMScd} \begin{CD} X @>>> Y @>>> Z @>>> X [1] \\ @...
AAA's user avatar
  • 181
50 votes
5 answers
5k views

What (if anything) unifies stable homotopy theory and Grothendieck's six functors formalism?

I know of two very general frameworks for describing generalizations of what a "cohomology theory" should be: Grothendieck's "six functors", and the theory of spectra. In the former, one assigns to ...
Dan Petersen's user avatar
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41 votes
2 answers
8k views

How do I know the derived category is NOT abelian?

I have heard the claim that the derived category of an abelian category is in general additive but not abelian. If this is true there should be some toy example of a (co)kernel that should be there ...
Harold Williams's user avatar
35 votes
3 answers
6k views

What is a triangle?

So I've been reading about derived categories recently (mostly via Hartshorne's Residues and Duality and some online notes), and while talking with some other people, I've realized that I'm finding it ...
Will Chen's user avatar
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25 votes
4 answers
4k views

determinant of a perfect complex

Say $K_\bullet$ is a bounded complex of vector bundles. I seem to want the determinant of $K_\bullet$ to be the alternating tensor product of the terms of the complex: $\det(K) = \bigotimes_n \det(...
Jonathan Wise's user avatar
25 votes
2 answers
1k views

Complete the following sequence: point, triangle, octahedron, . . . in a dg-category

Let $\mathcal C$ be a pre-triangulated dg-category (or a stable $\infty$-category, if you wish). An object $X$ in $\mathcal C$ gives a "point": $$X$$ A morphism $X\xrightarrow f Y$ in $\mathcal C$ ...
John Pardon's user avatar
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22 votes
4 answers
4k views

Examples for Decomposition Theorem

There's an important piece of geometric knowledge usually quoted as Beilinson-Bernstein-Deligne. Here's a refresher: by $IC$ one means the intersection complex, which is just $\mathbb Q$ for a smooth ...
Ilya Nikokoshev's user avatar
20 votes
2 answers
4k views

The derived category of the heart of a t-structure

Suppose $\mathcal{D}$ is a triangulated category and that we are given a $t$-structure $(\mathcal{D}^{\leq 0},\mathcal{D}^{\geq 0})$ on $\mathcal{D}$. The heart of the $t$-structure, $\mathcal{A}=\...
user4601931's user avatar
20 votes
1 answer
954 views

Example of an additive functor admitting no right derived functor

I asked the same question a week ago on Mathematics Stackexchange but got no answer. What would be a simple example of an additive functor $F:\mathcal C\to\mathcal C'$ of abelian categories such that ...
Pierre-Yves Gaillard's user avatar
19 votes
2 answers
3k views

Derived functors vs universal delta functors

I would like to understand the relationship between the derived category definition of a right derived functor $Rf$ (which involves an initial natural transformation $n: Qf \rightarrow (Rf)Q$, where $...
Andrew Critch's user avatar
17 votes
1 answer
798 views

Determinantal identities for perfect complexes

Let $S$ be a noetherian scheme. Let $V,W$ be vector bundles on $S$. There is a canonical isomorphism of line bundles $$ {\rm det}(V\otimes W)\cong{\rm det}(V)^{\otimes{\rm rk}(W)}\otimes{\rm det}(W)^{\...
Damian Rössler's user avatar
15 votes
5 answers
6k views

Sheaves without global sections

The line bundle $O(-1)$ on a projective space or $O(-\rho)$ on a flag variety has a property that all its cohomology vanish. Is there a story behind such sheaves? Here are more precise questions. Let ...
Bugs Bunny's user avatar
  • 12.1k
14 votes
4 answers
4k views

group of Yoneda extensions and the EXT groups defined via derived category

Given an abelian category C, we can form the Yoneda extensions $YExt^i(X,Y)$ to the equivalent classes of $i$-extensions of X by Y. Given any abelian category C, we can always formulate the derived ...
Heer's user avatar
  • 997
12 votes
1 answer
2k views

Derived categories of singular varieties

Given my limited knowledge on derived categories, all the results on derived categories of complex of bounded sheaves are build upon smooth varieties, and people literally avoid singular case (as in ...
Li Yutong's user avatar
  • 3,362
10 votes
1 answer
983 views

Characterization of schemes whose dualizing complex is perfect

I'm wondering if there is a characterization of schemes over a a field $k$ whose dualizing complex is a perfect complex in terms of singularities. E.g. on a proper Cohen-Macauley scheme over a field, ...
Yuhao Huang's user avatar
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10 votes
1 answer
388 views

Derived equivalences of Dyck paths

Call two Dyck paths $D_1$ and $D_2$ derived equivalent in case their corresponding Nakayama algebras are derived equivalent (The Dyck path of a Nakayama algebra with a linear quiver is just the top ...
Mare's user avatar
  • 26k
10 votes
1 answer
715 views

Why does passage to DG categories cure non-locality of derived categories?

In the famous book 'Residues and duality', the author notes that one of the principal difficulties in constructing the exceptional inverse image functor $f^{!}$ is that the derived category of ...
user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
828 views

$\infty$-categorical understanding of Bridgeland stability?

On triangulated categories we have a notion of Bridgeland stability conditions. Is there any known notion of "derived stability conditions" on a stable $\infty$-category $C$ such that they become ...
dumb's user avatar
  • 103
10 votes
1 answer
1k views

Computations in condensed mathematics, page 32-34

I started reading the Lectures on Condensed Mathematics. I am looking at the material at page 32-34. I have three fundamental computation questions: At the last line of pg 32 - it seems to imply that ...
Bryan Shih's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
1k views

How to write down the determinant of a quasi-isomorphism?

This question about the determinant of a perfect complex reminded me of an old question that I had. The construction of the determinant (as in MR1914072 or MR0437541) is a difficult piece of ...
jlk's user avatar
  • 3,254
8 votes
1 answer
1k views

Progress on Bondal–Orlov derived equivalence conjecture

In their 1995 paper, Bondal and Orlov posed the following conjecture: If two smooth $n$-dimensional varieties $X$ and $Y$ are related by a flop, then their bounded derived categories of coherent ...
mathphys's user avatar
  • 305
8 votes
1 answer
780 views

A Naive Question on Mixed Motives and Mixed Hodge Structures

As a physicist, I have some naive questions about mixed motives and its mixed Hodge structure (MHS) realization. Any references, comments, answers will be appreciated! The category of mixed motives ...
Wenzhe's user avatar
  • 2,961
8 votes
2 answers
701 views

Derived functors out of an unbounded derived $\infty$-category

Let $\mathcal A$ be an abelian category. In this lecture, Thomas Nikolaus Defines the unbounded derived category $\mathcal D(\mathcal A)$ as $\mathcal K(\mathcal A)[W^{-1}]$, where $\mathcal K(\...
Tomo's user avatar
  • 1,167
8 votes
2 answers
812 views

Is the derived category of local systems equivalent to the derived category of sheaves of vector spaces with local system cohomology?

Let $k$ be a field and $X$ a topological space. Write $\mathrm{Sh}(X)$ for the category of sheaves of vector spaces on $X$, and $\mathrm{Loc}(X)$ for the subcategory of local systems of finite ...
Patrick Elliott's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
279 views

Injective model structure on sheaves of bounded complexes of $A$-modules

The following might be very well known for people who works with model categories, but I do not find the answer. Let $A$-be a ring. Denote $\mathbf{Ch}_+(A)$ the category of positive degree cochain ...
Tintin's user avatar
  • 2,741
7 votes
1 answer
1k views

Can we define the tensor product in the derived category $D^b_{\text{coh}}(X)$ just from $D^b_{\text{coh}}(X)$ in certain cases?

This question arise from the comparision of the reconstruction theorems of Bondal-Orlov and Balmer and is inspired by Shizhuo Zhang's mathoverflow question: How to unify various reconstruction ...
Zhaoting Wei's user avatar
  • 8,707
7 votes
1 answer
456 views

$\infty$-local systems

Let $X$ be a "nice" topological space, $R$ a ring. I believe that there is an equivalence of $\infty$-categories betweeen: the full subcategory of $D(X,R)$ (derived category of sheaves of $...
Dan Petersen's user avatar
  • 39.3k
7 votes
0 answers
136 views

When is an algebra derived indecomposable?

Call a finite dimensional (acyclic) quiver $K$-algebra A derived indecomposable in case $A$ is not derived equivalent to an algebra of the form $B \otimes_K C$. For example when the number of simples ...
Mare's user avatar
  • 26k
6 votes
0 answers
313 views

How do I find abelian subcategories of periodic triangulated categories?

If $T$ is a triangulated category, then the formalism of $t$-structures gives a way to find abelian subcategories inside. You're supposed to find two strictly full subcategories, $T^{\le 0}, T^{\ge 0}...
Vivek Shende's user avatar
  • 8,643
6 votes
2 answers
1k views

Equivalence of derived categories which is not Fourier-Mukai

D. Orlov proved that any equivalence of bounded derived categories F:Db(X) -> Db(Y) is a Fourier-Mukai transform, when X and Y are smooth projective varieties. Is there any example of such equivalence,...
Andrei Halanay's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
216 views

When is derived category of ringed space perfectly generated?

Let $(X,\mathcal{O})$ be a ringed space. Also assume that $X$ is nice, e.g. locally compact, Hausdorff, some type of finite dimension, ... We can then consider $\mathcal{D}(\mathcal{O}\text{-}Mod)$. ...
Rene Recktenwald's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
1k views

Unbounded complexes, resolutions and computation of derived functors

Hey guys, let $F: \mathcal{A} \rightarrow \mathcal{B}$ be a left exact functor between abelian categories with enough injectives, let $K \in Kom(\mathcal{A})$ be an unbounded complex, I've heard that ...
Mario Carrasco's user avatar
6 votes
0 answers
496 views

N-periodic derived categories

I have some seemingly basic questions about $N$-periodic derived categories to which I have not found answers in any of the usual places. Let $R$ be a ring, and let $D(R)_{\mathbb Z/N\mathbb Z}$ ...
John Pardon's user avatar
  • 18.3k
5 votes
2 answers
3k views

Why is the derived tensor product only defined for bounded above derived categories?

In "Residues and Duality" by Hartshorne, the derived tensor $\otimes$ only defined for the bounded above categories (see Chapter II, section 4, p.93), that is one has $$\otimes: D^{-}(X) \...
Li Yutong's user avatar
  • 3,362
5 votes
0 answers
74 views

Is the derived category of sheaves localised at pointwise homotopy equivalences locally small?

In order to define the cup and cross products in sheaf cohomology, Iversen makes computations in an intermediate derived category. If $K(X;k)$ is the triangulated category of cochain complexes of ...
FShrike's user avatar
  • 681
5 votes
1 answer
867 views

Different definitions of derived functors

In principle one uses the notion of derived category, and the other doesn't. Suppose $F: \mathcal A \to \mathcal B$ is a left exact (additive) functor between abelian categories, and suppose the ...
Hang's user avatar
  • 2,719
5 votes
1 answer
222 views

Non-uniqueness of $C$ with $f_!(C) = f_*(1_{\mathcal{C}})$

$\newcommand{\Cc}{\mathcal{C}}$ $\newcommand{\Dd}{\mathcal{D}}$ $\newcommand{\Z}{\mathbb{Z}}$ $\newcommand{\Q}{\mathbb{Q}}$ $\newcommand{\tensor}{\otimes}$ $\newcommand{\colim}{\rm colim}$ $\...
Bastiaan Cnossen's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
357 views

Does formation of the derived $\infty$-category preserve pushouts?

Let $B\leftarrow A\to C$ be a diagram of commutative rings, and let $\mathcal{D}(A)$ be the derived $\infty$-category of $A$-modules (as in Lurie's "Higher Algebra"). Then is there an ...
Stahl's user avatar
  • 1,089
4 votes
2 answers
278 views

Vanishing natural transformation and strong generator

Let $X$ be a smooth projective variety (over the field of complex numbers). Let $T$ be strong generator of $D^b(X)$ : this means that every object in $D^b(X)$ can be obtained in a given finite number ...
Libli's user avatar
  • 7,200
4 votes
0 answers
409 views

Derived category of a fiber product

Let $X = Y \times_Z W$, where $X,Y,Z,W$ are Noetherian schemes, and consider the pullback diagram associated to $X, Y, Z, W$. We have a diagram $$ \require{AMScd} \begin{CD} D(Z) @>>> D(Y)\\ @...
Federico Barbacovi's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
362 views

Representing $j_*\mathcal{O}_U$ as filtered colimit of perfect complexes

Let $X$ be a quasi-compact and quasi-separated scheme, and $U\subseteq X$ be a quasi-compact open subscheme. Then we can consider $Rj_*\mathcal{O}_U$ the (derived) pushforward of the structure sheaf ...
Denis Nardin's user avatar
  • 16.2k