Questions tagged [a-infinity-algebras]

For questions about $A_\infty$-algebras as introduced by Stasheff in 1963 and related structures.

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32 votes
8 answers
5k views

triangulated vs. dg/A-infinity

Someone recently said "derived/triangulated categories are an abomination that should struck from the earth and replaced with dg/A-infinity versions". I have a rough idea why this is true ("don't ...
Kevin Walker's user avatar
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21 votes
3 answers
2k views

Formality of classifying spaces

Let $G$ be a compact Lie group (or reductive algebraic group over $\mathbb{C}$), and let $BG$ be its classifying space. Fix a prime $p$. Let $\mathcal{A}$ denote the dg algebra of singular cochains on ...
Geordie Williamson's user avatar
18 votes
1 answer
961 views

Higher homotopy algebraic structure on the homology of an operad

Given a DGA $A$, then by standard techniques such as homological perturbation theory, the ring structure on the homology $H(A)$ extends to a minimal $A_\infty$-algebra structure such that $H(A)$ is ...
Jeffrey Giansiracusa's user avatar
18 votes
1 answer
1k views

Homology in the $A_\infty$ World

This question is turning out to be a little long so let me start off with the headline. Given a differential graded algebra $A$, we can recover $A$ from its homology $HA$ if we know "the" $A_\infty$-...
Steve's user avatar
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16 votes
6 answers
3k views

Is an A-infinity thing the same the same as strict thing viewed through a homotopy equivalence?

If I have a topological monoid ($X,\mu$), a space $Y$ and a homotopy equivalence $f,g$ between them, then $Y$ has the structure of an $A_\infty$ space defined 'pointwise' by $$ y_1 * y_2 := g \left(\...
aleph0's user avatar
  • 461
16 votes
2 answers
3k views

Smooth dg algebras (and perfect dg modules and compact dg modules)

Katzarkov-Kontsevich-Pantev define a smooth dg ($\mathbb{C}$-)algebra $A$ to be a dg algebra which is a perfect $A \otimes A^{op}$-module. They say that an $A$-module $M$ is perfect if the functor $...
Kevin H. Lin's user avatar
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16 votes
1 answer
2k views

Is there a refinement of the Hochschild-Kostant-Rosenberg theorem for cohomology?

The HKR theorem for cohomology in characteristic zero says that if $R$ is a regular, commutative $k$ algebra ($char(k) = 0$) then a certain map $\bigwedge^* Der(R) \to CH^*(R,R)$ (where $\wedge^* Der(...
Ian Shipman's user avatar
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15 votes
1 answer
521 views

Defining Massey products as transgressions

Let $A$ be a dg algebra, and $x, z \in A$ cocycles. Let's consider the maps $$ A \to A \oplus A \to A$$ given by $y \mapsto (xy,yz)$ and $(u,v) \mapsto uz-xv$, respectively. We think of this as ...
Dan Petersen's user avatar
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14 votes
5 answers
2k views

$A_\infty$-categories basic reference

Can anyone provide me with a basic reference on $A_\infty$ categories?
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13 votes
2 answers
1k views

The cohomology plus what characterizes the rational homotopy type?

For simplicity let me work only with connected and simply connected spaces. "Space" will mean a space of this type. A space is rational if its homotopy groups are rational vector spaces (...
Chris Schommer-Pries's user avatar
12 votes
4 answers
4k views

Definition of Hochschild (co)homology of a (dg or A-infinity) category

How do you define the Hochschild (co)homology of a dg category or an A-infinity category? I've only seen it defined when the category is equivalent to a category of modules over a dg algebra; then the ...
Kevin H. Lin's user avatar
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12 votes
1 answer
1k views

Why Grothendieck's Homotopy Hypothesis is so difficult?

Recall that Grothendieck's Homotopy Hypothesis states that the homotopy category of weak globular $n$-groupoids (as in https://arxiv.org/pdf/1009.2331.pdf) is equivalent to the category of homotopy $n$...
user40276's user avatar
  • 2,199
12 votes
2 answers
788 views

Reference for functors in Kadeishvili's C_\infty paper

In his paper Cohomology $C_\infty$-algebra and rational homotopy type, Tornike Kadeishvili describes how the rational cohomology of a simply-connected space carries the structure of a $C_\infty$-...
Mark Grant's user avatar
12 votes
2 answers
748 views

A_infinity structure on cohomology and the weight filtration

Let $X$ be a complex algebraic variety. The rational cohomology of $X(\mathbb{C})$ carries a canonical filtration called the weight filtration. It also carries a canonical equivalence class of $A_\...
Jeffrey Giansiracusa's user avatar
12 votes
0 answers
294 views

Is there a bestiary of "derived 2-vector spaces"?

The appendix "A bestiary of 2–vector spaces" of Bartlett, Douglas, Schommer-Pries, Vicary, "Modular categories as representations of the 3-dimensional bordism 2-category" analyzes ...
Theo Johnson-Freyd's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
1k views

A-infinity tensor categories

My question is rather simple: What is the correct notion of a monoidal A-infinity category C? Or is there any reference where such a notion is explained?
Marc Nieper-Wißkirchen's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
730 views

Model structure on the category of small $A_\infty$ categories, hocolims.

I strangely could not find a reference for this. What are some (if any) model structures on the category of small $A_{\infty}$ categories, with weak equivalences quasi-equivalences. Same question in ...
yasha's user avatar
  • 177
11 votes
1 answer
506 views

On the coalgebraic homotopy transfer theorem

Let $A$ be a dg algebra, say over a field. The Homotopy Transfer Theorem says that $H(A)$ can noncanonically be given the structure of $A_\infty$-algebra, extending the induced multiplication on $H(A)$...
Dan Petersen's user avatar
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11 votes
1 answer
674 views

Are $(\infty,1)$-categories $A_\infty$ categories?

Let $X$ be a set. One can define a non-symmetric colored version of the non-unital $A_\infty$ operad as follows. The set of colors is the set of ordered pairs in $X$. Let $(x_1,y_1),\dots,(x_n,y_n)$...
Theo Johnson-Freyd's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
495 views

If C is a cocomplete coalgebra, then $\psi:C\rightarrow B\Omega C$ is a filtered quasi-isomorphism

I am reading the PhD thesis thesis of Kenji Lefèvre-Hasegawa and the corresponding errata by Bernhard Keller, my question is about the first error found in the thesis. Lemma 1.3.2.3 c states 'the ...
Victor TC's user avatar
  • 795
11 votes
0 answers
1k views

Beginner's guide to $A_{\infty}$-algebras

I have some general questions about $A_{\infty}$-algebras. Altough I understand bare definition from nLab I have no association how to think intuitively about them. Which picture one should have in ...
user267839's user avatar
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10 votes
5 answers
1k views

Why are quasi-isomorphisms of homotopy algebras only defined for arity 1?

When reading about homotopy algebras (e.g. $L_\infty$-algebras, $A_\infty$-algebras), an $\infty$-morphism $f$ is called an $\infty$-quasi-isomorphism if $f_1$ is a quasi-isomorphism. Recall/Example (...
Marcel Rubió's user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
1k views

What's the sense in which A_\infty algebras are "deformable"?

I realise this is a very vague question! I've heard people say that A∞ algebras are the right homotopy-theoretic generalization of usual associative algebras, because you can deform them. What ...
Scott Morrison's user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
621 views

Tensor products of $\infty$-algebras over operads

Let $A$ and $B$ be $A_\infty$-algebras. It's true, but it's a quite nontrivial fact, that the tensor product $A \otimes B$ can be given the structure of $A_\infty$-algebra, too. What is much easier to ...
Dan Petersen's user avatar
  • 39.2k
10 votes
0 answers
193 views

A theorem of Gugenheim on twisted tensor products

Suppose $A$ is a DGA algebra and $C$ a DGA coalgebra. An $(A,C)$-bimodule is an object $M$ that is both a right $A$-module and a left $C$-comodule in the evident compatible way. An $(A,C)$-bundle is ...
Pedro's user avatar
  • 1,534
10 votes
0 answers
254 views

Formulation of $A_\infty$ structures in terms of coalgebras

There are two ways to define $A_\infty$ structures. The elementary one seems rather intuitive when I think of higher homotopies. I.e. an $A_\infty$ structure on a $\mathbb{Z}$-graded vector $A$ space ...
Jan-David Salchow's user avatar
10 votes
0 answers
260 views

Isomorphisms between minimal $A_\infty$-algebras having identical $k$-truncations

Let $A_m =(A,0,m_2,m_3,\dots)$ and $A_n=(A,0,n_2,n_3,\dots)$ be two $A_\infty$-structures on a vector space $A$. Assume that i) $A_m$ and $A_n$ are isomorphic, and ii) $A_m$ and $A_n$ have the same ...
Bashar Saleh's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
2k views

Homotopy Transfer Theorem for Differential Graded Associative Algebras

As in Algebra+Homotopy=Operad by Bruno Vallette, let $A$ with multiplication $\nu$ be a differential graded associative algebra equipped with degree +1 map $h$ and let $H$ be a chain complex such that ...
Daniel Briggs's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
401 views

Conceptual explanation for the sign in front of some binary operations

In several situations, I've seen that given a binary operation on a graded module $m:A\otimes A\to A$, a new operation $M(x,y)=(-1)^{|x|}m(x,y)$ is defined so that it satisfies some properties. One ...
Javi's user avatar
  • 489
8 votes
1 answer
639 views

Frobenius $A_{\infty}$-bialgebras?

Recall that a finite dimensional associative algebra $A$ over a field $k$ is called a symmetric Frobenius algebra (sometimes called "closed" Frobenius algebra) if its equipped with a symmetric non ...
Manuel Rivera's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
346 views

Does there exist a model of chains on oriented manifolds with both a strict intersection pairing and strict functoriality for closed embeddings?

Let $M$ be a smooth oriented $n$-dimensional manifold. My favorite model of $\operatorname{Chains}_\bullet(M) \otimes \mathbb R$ is the space of smooth compactly-supported de Rham forms on $M$, ...
Theo Johnson-Freyd's user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
3k views

Hochschild cohomology and A-infinity deformations

When we are dealing with ordinary things or dg things (where thing = algebra or category), I think I understand how HH^2 corresponds to 1st order deformations and HH^3 corresponds to obstructions. ...
Kevin H. Lin's user avatar
  • 20.7k
7 votes
1 answer
572 views

Are exterior algebras intrinsically formal as associative dg algebras?

(Cross-posted from mathematics stackexchange.) Fix a finite dimensional vector space $V$ over a field of characteristic zero, and let $R=Sym(V[1])$ be the free graded commutative algebra generated by ...
TBRS's user avatar
  • 73
7 votes
2 answers
521 views

Geometric information on transferred structure

Let $(M,g)$ be a Riemannian manifold, let $\Omega^*(M)$ denote the cochain complex of differential forms on $M$ and $H^*(M)$ its cohomology considered as a chain complex with trivial differential. We ...
Manuel Rivera's user avatar
7 votes
0 answers
121 views

On the invariance of the Kaledin class

In Formality of DG algebras (after Kaledin), Lunts introduces an $A_\infty$-Hochschild cohomology class, called the Kaledin class, controlling formality of an $A_\infty$-algebra up to a certain order. ...
domenico fiorenza's user avatar
7 votes
0 answers
225 views

Operad-free proofs of rectification of homotopy ($A_\infty/L_\infty$) algebras?

If (say) $L$ is an $L_\infty$-algebra, then it is known that under certain conditions there exists a quasi-isomorphic $L_\infty$-algebra $L'$ which is a differential graded Lie algebra: all ternary ...
AlexArvanitakis's user avatar
7 votes
0 answers
202 views

$A_{\infty}$ multiplications on Morse cochain complex

Can the higher order $A_{\infty}$ multiplications defined by Fukaya be made trivial(by perturbing gradient trees) when Morse cochain complex is isomorphic to Morse cohomology, in which case the cup ...
Arun 's user avatar
  • 725
7 votes
0 answers
265 views

Chromatic polynomial and the circle

In https://arxiv.org/pdf/1208.5781.pdf It is proved that there is spectral sequence converging to $H^*(M^G,R)$ with the E1 page given by the graph cohomology complex $C_A(G)$ where $A:=H^*(M,R)$. My ...
Matthew Levy's user avatar
7 votes
0 answers
420 views

Reconstructing a nilpotent Lie algebra from its cohomology with $A_{\infty}$-structure

Let $L$ be a nilpotent Lie algebra (over a field of char 0) and $CE^{\bullet}(L)$ be its Chevalley-Eilenberg dg-algebra. By homotopy transfer, there exists a structure of an $A_{\infty}$-algebra on ...
Grisha Papayanov's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
290 views

Knot Factorization Homology inputs

Following the paper by Ayala, Francis, and Tanaka: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1409.0848.pdf If we are talking about knots we are talking about framed 3-manifolds with a framed 1-dimensional sub-manifold ...
Matthew Levy's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
713 views

$Ext$-algebra generated by $Hom$ and $Ext^1$ as $A_\infty$-algebra?

In [Keller: A-infinity algebras in representation theory, Proposition 1(b)], Keller states that for an associative algebra the $Ext$-algebra of the simples is generated by $Ext^1(S,S)$ as an $A_\infty$...
Julian Kuelshammer's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
234 views

"Left Brace Module"

Let $A$ be an algebra over the brace tree operad and $M$ a module over some base ring. Is there a good notion of a "left brace module" over a brace algebra? I do not think the definition of a module ...
Matthew Levy's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
524 views

Is the underlying vector space of the minimal model of an $A_{\infty}$-algebra canonical?

On the page 4 of these notes it is stated that an $A_{\infty}$-algebra $A$ is necessarily is quasi-isomorphic to an $A_{\infty}$-algebra $HA$ with trivial differential. Moreover, $HA$ is unique up to ...
man's user avatar
  • 305
6 votes
1 answer
214 views

Is the existence of $A_{\infty}$-inverse a consequence of Homotopy Transfer Theorem?

Let $k$ be a field of characteristic $0$ and $(A,d_A)$, $(B,d_B)$ be two differential graded (dg) algebras over $k$. Let $f: A\to B$ be a closed degree $0$ map of dg-algebras and $g: B\to A$ be a map ...
Zhaoting Wei's user avatar
  • 8,657
6 votes
0 answers
313 views

Formality of $A_\infty$-category vs formality of its total algebra

Let $\cal C$ be an $A_\infty$-category and $A$ its total algebra (elements in $A$ are formal linear combinations of arbitrary morphisms in $\cal C$ and multiplications of arrows which can't be ...
Jan Weidner's user avatar
  • 12.8k
5 votes
1 answer
2k views

Homotopic morphisms between curved A-infinity algebras

I know how to think about (curved) $A_\infty$-algebras 'geometrically', i.e. via formal non-commutative geometry in the sense of Kontsevich etc. I also know how to think about $A_\infty$-morphisms in ...
Ed Segal's user avatar
  • 460
5 votes
1 answer
364 views

Homotopy invariant structure: Stasheff versus Segal

To describe homotopy invariant algebraic structures on spaces, there are different approaches. The Stasheff / Boardman–Vogt / May approach, where operations and equations are replaced by spaces of ...
Martin Frankland's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
614 views

Homology of bar complex vs homology of indecomposables

$\require{AMScd}$ Background: This question is about the bar and cobar constructions, and their relationship with the indecomposables of a dg-algebra. A brief summary of the bar and cobar ...
Julian Chaidez's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
550 views

Perverse vs real formality?

Let $\cal A$ be an abelian category, say linear over a field, with enough injectives and $\cal P$ be the heart of a t-structure on the bounded derived category $D^b(\cal A )$. Assume that $\cal P$ ...
Jan Weidner's user avatar
  • 12.8k
5 votes
1 answer
661 views

Resolution of a module as an $A_\infty$ module over resolution of an algebra

The following question looks like a basic question on resolutions over commutative rings, unfortunately I was not able to find a reference. Let $A$ be a regular commutative noetherian ring (and ...
Sasha Pavlov's user avatar
  • 1,535