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I've noticed that for every natural number $n\in\mathbb{N}$, there is a finite Heyting algebra with cardinality $C(n)$, where $C(n)$ is the $n$th Catalan number, $$1,1,2,5,14,42,132,\ldots$$ I'm looking for a reference, if this fact is known (to be known).

Below I will explain where the Heyting algebra structure comes from, in case it helps. When $n=0$ or $n=1$, we have $C(n)=1$, and there is a unique Heyting algebra structure on a set with one element, so suppose $n\geq 2$.

For any $m\in\mathbb{N}$, let $[m]:=\{0,1,\ldots,m\}$ and for any $0\leq a\leq b\leq m$, write $[a,b]$ for the subinterval $\{a,a+1,\ldots,b\}\subseteq[m]$. These subintervals form a poset, which we consider as a topological space with the Alexandrov topology: points are subintervals $[a,b]$ and open sets are down-closed subsets. Write $\Omega[m]$ for the poset of open sets in this space, so it has the structure of a Heyting algebra. It remains to show that the cardinality of $\Omega[m]$ is $C(m+2)$.

It is well-known that the Catalan number $C(n)$ counts the Dyck paths of length $2n$. These are paths in a triangle of dots (see below for $n=5$), starting at the southwest point, ending at the northeast point, where each edge in the path moves one unit either northward or eastward.

Position the elments of $[m]$ in the $(m+2)$-triangle, as shown here in the case $m=3$: $$ \begin{array}{ccccccccccc} \bullet&&\bullet&&\bullet&&\bullet&&\bullet&&\bullet\\ &&&&&&&3\\ \bullet&&\bullet&&\bullet&&\bullet&&\bullet\\ &&&&&2\\ \bullet&&\bullet&&\bullet&&\bullet\\ &&&1\\ \bullet&&\bullet&&\bullet\\ &0\\ \bullet&&\bullet\\ \\ \bullet\\\\ \end{array} $$ In this setup, a Dyck path $p$ of length $m+2$ can be identified with a downclosed subset, $S(p)\in\Omega[m]$. For example, the Dyck path $p_0$ shown below $$ \begin{array}{ccccccccccc} \bullet&&\bullet&&\bullet&&\bullet&-&\bullet&-&\bullet\\ &&&&&&|&3\\ \bullet&&\bullet&-&\bullet&-&\bullet&&\bullet\\ &&|&&&2\\ \bullet&&\bullet&&\bullet&&\bullet\\ &&|&1\\ \bullet&&\bullet&&\bullet\\ &0&|\\ \bullet&-&\bullet\\ |\\ \bullet\\\\ \end{array} $$ represents the set $S(p_0)=\mathord{\downarrow}[1,2]\cup\mathord{\downarrow}[3]$.

In fact, all these Heyting algebras $\Omega[m]$ fit together in a single topos, as we now explain. Consider the additive monoid of natural numbers as a category $BN$ with one object. Let $\mathbf{Int}:=\mathrm{Tw}(BN)$ be the twisted arrow category, and consider the presheaf topos $\mathrm{Psh}(\mathbf{Int})$. The subobject classifier for this topos is a functor $$\Omega'\colon\mathbf{Int}^\mathrm{op}\to\mathbf{Set}.$$ so for each object $n\in\mathbb{N}=\mathrm{Ob}(\mathbf{Int})$, we have a set $\Omega'(n)$. Moreover this set carries the structure of a Heyting algebra. Finally, $\Omega'(n)$ has a well-known description in terms of sieves, i.e. subfunctors of the representable functor $\mathbf{Int}(-,n)$. Unwrapping the definition, these are exactly the open sets of $[n]$. In other words, we have a bijection $\Omega'(n)\cong\Omega[n]$.

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  • $\begingroup$ Interesting! Aren't presheaves over $\mathbf{Int}$ something like set-theoretical operads? (They supposedly correspond to sequences $\left(S_0, S_1, S_2, \ldots\right)$ equipped with a map $S_n \to S_m$ for any quadruple $\left(a,n,b,m\right) \in \mathbb{N}^4$ satisfying $a+n+b=m$.) That said, there is no guarantee I haven't gotten the directions of the arrows wrong, nor that the axioms are the right ones... $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 17, 2017 at 17:17
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    $\begingroup$ I don't see how these are sufficient to provide an operad structure. You need, for any $n,k_1,\ldots,k_n$ a function $$S_n\times S_{k_1}\times\cdots\times S_{k_n}\longrightarrow S_K$$ where $K=k_1+\cdots+k_n$. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 17, 2017 at 18:10
  • $\begingroup$ Does anyone know how "Dyck" is supposed to be pronounced? For example, does it rhyme with "Rick" or "Like" or "Meek"? $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 17, 2017 at 18:13
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    $\begingroup$ It rhymes with "Rick" (at least this is how every mathematician I have encountered pronounces the name). $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 17, 2017 at 18:16
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    $\begingroup$ ... Homotopy of Operads & Grothendieck-Teichmüller Groups, volume 1, math.univ-lille1.fr/~fresse/OperadHomotopyBook/#Manuscripts . Note that I am talking of "planar" (a.k.a. non-symmetric) operads. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 17, 2017 at 18:44

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I found a reference: "Dyck algebras, interval temporal logic and posets of intervals", which discusses these Heyting algebras (though not from a topos-theoretic perspective).

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