On the structure of graded symplectic supermanifolds and Courant algebroids
Dmitry Roytenberg
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17 pages; to appear in the proceedings of the Conference on Quantization, Deformations and New Homological and Categorical Methods in Mathematical Physics
This paper is devoted to a study of geometric structures expressible in terms of graded symplectic supermanifolds. We extend the classical BRST formalism to arbitrary pseudo-Euclidean vector bundles (E\to M_{0}) by canonically associating to such a bundle a graded symplectic supermanifold ((M,Ω)), with (\textrm{deg}(Ω)=2). Conversely, every such manifold arises in this way. We describe the algebra of functions on (M) in terms of (E) and show that ``BRST charges'' on (M) correspond to Courant algebroid structures on (E), thereby constructing the standard complex for the latter as a generalization of the classical BRST complex. As an application of these ideas, we prove the acyclicity of ``higher de Rham complexes'', a generalization of a classic result of Fröhlicher-Nijenhuis, and derive several easy but useful corollaries.
The "odd transgression" introduced by the authors in an earlier article is applied to construct and study the inverse image functor in the theory of Courant algebroids.
We construct a topological sigma model and a current algebra based on a Courant algebroid structure on a Poisson manifold. In order to construct models, we reformulate the Poisson Courant algebroid by supergeometric construction on a QP-manifold. A new duality of Courant algebroids which transforms H-flux and R-flux is proposed, where the transformation is interpreted as a canonical transformation of a graded symplectic manifold.
We define the transgression functor which associates to a (higher-dimensional) Courant algebroid on a manifold a Lie algebroid on the shifted tangent bundle of the manifold.
Pre-Courant algebroids are `Courant algebroids' without the Jacobi identity for the Courant-Dorfman bracket. In this paper we examine the corresponding supermanifold description of pre-Courant algebroids and some direct consequences thereof - such as the definition of (sub-)Dirac structures and the notion of the naive quasi-cochain complex. In particular we define symplectic almost Lie 2-algebroids and show how they correspond to pre-Courant algebroids. Moreover, the framework of supermanifolds allows us to economically define and work with pre-Courant algebroids equipped with a compatible non…
We give a detailed exposition of the Alexandrov-Kontsevich-Schwarz- Zaboronsky superfield formalism using the language of graded manifolds. As a main illustarting example, to every Courant algebroid structure we associate canonically a three-dimensional topological sigma-model. Using the AKSZ formalism, we construct the Batalin-Vilkovisky master action for the model.
We express any Courant algebroid bracket by means of a metric connection, and construct a Courant algebroid structure on any orthogonal Whitney sum $E\oplus C$ where E is a given Courant algebroid and C is a flat, pseudo- Euclidean vector bundle. Then, we establish the general expression of the bracket of a transitive Courant algebroid, i.e., a Courant algebroid with a surjective anchor, and describe a class of transitive Courant algebroids which are Whitney sums of a Courant subalgebroid with neutral metric and Courant-like bracket and a pseudo-Euclidean vector bundle with a flat, metric conn…
We introduce Courant algebroids, providing definitions, some historical notes, and some elementary properties. Next, we summarize basic properties of graded manifolds. Then, drawing on the work of Roytenberg and others, we introduce the graded or supergraded language demonstrating a cochain complex / cohomology for (general) Courant algebroids. We review spectral sequences and show how this tool is used to compute cohomology of regular Courant algebroids with a split base. Finally we analyze matched pairs of Courant algebroids including the complexified standard Courant algebroid of a complex …
We provide a short review of Courant algebroids and graded symplectic manifolds and show how different Courant algebroids emerge from double field theory. Fluxes of double field theory and their Bianchi identities are formulated by using pre-QP-manifolds. We stress the relation of the Poisson Courant algebroid with R-flux as a solution of the double field theory section condition.
We propose a definition of Jacobi quasi-Nijenhuis algebroid and show that any such Jacobi algebroid has an associated quasi-Jacobi bialgebroid. Therefore, also an associated Courant-Jacobi algebroid is obtained. We introduce the notions of quasi-Jacobi bialgebroid morphism and Courant-Jacobi algebroid morphism providing also some examples of Courant-Jacobi algebroid morphisms.
In this paper, we first discuss the relation between VB-Courant algebroids and E-Courant algebroids and construct some examples of E-Courant algebroids. Then we introduce the notion of a generalized complex structure on an E-Courant algebroid, unifying the usual generalized complex structures on even-dimensional manifolds and generalized contact structures on odd-dimensional manifolds. Moreover, we study generalized complex structures on an omni-Lie algebroid in detail. In particular, we show that generalized complex structures on an omni-Lie algebra $\gl(V)\oplus V$ correspond to complex Lie …
Courant algebroids provide a useful mathematical tool (not only) in string theory. It is thus important to define and examine their morphisms. To some extent, this was done before using an analogue of canonical relations known from symplectic geometry. However, it turns out that applications in physics require a more general notion. We aim to provide a self-contained and detailed treatment of Courant algebroid relations and morphisms. A particular emphasis is placed on providing enough motivating examples. In particular, we show how Poisson-Lie T-duality and Kaluza-Klein reduction of supergrav…
We establish some fundamental relations between Dirac subbundles $L$ for the generalized Courant algebroid $(A\oplus A^{\ast}, ϕ+W)$ over a differentiable manifold $M$ and the associated Dirac subbubndles $\tilde{L}$ for the corresponding Courant algebroid $\tilde{A} \oplus \tilde{A}^{\ast}$ over $M\times \R$.
We propose a generalization of the momentum map on a symplectic manifold with a Lie algebra action to a Courant algebroid structure. The theory of a momentum section on a Lie algebroid is generalized to the theory compatible with a Courant algebroid. As an example, we identify the momentum section in a constrained Hamiltonian mechanics with Courant algebroid symmetry. Moreover, we construct cohomological formulations by considering the BFV and BV formalism of this Hamiltonian system. The Weil algebra for this structure is constructed.
In this thesis we develop the notion of LA-Courant algebroids, the infinitesimal analogue of multiplicative Courant algebroids. Specific applications include the integration of q- Poisson (d, g)-structures, and the reduction of Courant algebroids. We also introduce the notion of pseudo-Dirac structures, (possibly non-Lagrangian) subbundles W \subseteq E of a Courant algebroid such that the Courant bracket endows W naturally with the structure of a Lie algebroid. Specific examples of pseudo-Dirac structures arise in the theory of q-Poisson (d, g)-structures.
We show that well known structures on Lie algebroids can be viewed as Nijenhuis tensors or pairs of compatible tensors on Courant algebroids. We study compatibility and construct hierarchies of these structures.
In this paper, we develop a differential-graded symplectic (Batalin-Vilkovisky) version of the framework of Crawley-Boevey, Etingof and Ginzburg on noncommutative differential geometry based on double derivations to construct non-commutative analogues of the Courant algebroids introduced by Liu, Weinstein and Xu. Adapting geometric constructions of Ševera and Roytenberg for (commutative) graded symplectic supermanifolds, we express the BRST charge, given in our framework by a `homological double derivation', in terms of Van den Bergh's double Poisson algebras for graded bi-symplectic non-commu…
The notion of Courant algebroid was introduced by Liu, Weinstein and Xu in 1997. Its definition consists of five axioms and an assumption for a derivation. It is shown that two of the axioms and the assumption for the derivation follow from the rest of the axioms.
In this dissertation we study Courant algebroids, objects that first appeared in the work of T. Courant on Dirac structures; they were later studied by Liu, Weinstein and Xu who used Courant algebroids to generalize the notion of the Drinfeld double to Lie bialgebroids. As a first step towards understanding the complicated properties of Courant algebroids, we interpret them by associating to each Courant algebroid a strongly homotopy Lie algebra in a natural way. Next, we propose an alternative construction of the double of a Lie bialgebroid as a homological hamiltonian vector field on an even…
The search for a geometric interpretation of the constrained brackets of Dirac led to the definition of the Courant bracket. The search for the right notion of a "double" for Lie bialgebroids led to the definition of Courant algebroids. We recount the emergence of these concepts.
In this paper, we develop the theory of Hom-Lie algebroids, Hom-Lie bialgebroids and Hom-Courant algebroids introduced by Cai, Liu and Sheng. Specifically, we introduce the notions of Hom-Poisson, Hom-Nijenhuis and Hom-Poisson-Nijenhuis structures on a Hom-Lie algebroid and the notion of Hom-Dirac structures on a Hom-Courant algebroid. We show that these structures satisfy similar properties to structures non "Hom-"version. For example, there exists the hierarchy of a Hom-Poisson-Nijenhuis structure and we have a relation between Hom-Dirac structures and Maurer-Cartan type equation. Moreover w…
In this paper, we describe an integration of exact Courant algebroids to symplectic 2-groupoids, and we show that the differentiation procedure from [26] inverts our integration.
We study the (standard) cohomology $H^\bullet_{st}(E)$ of a Courant algebroid $E$. We prove that if $E$ is transitive, the standard cohomology coincides with the naive cohomology $H_{naive}^\bullet(E)$ as conjectured by Stienon and Xu. For a general Courant algebroid we define a spectral sequence converging to its standard cohomology. If $E$ is with split base, we prove that there exists a natural transgression homomorphism $T_3$ (with image in $H^3_{naive}(E)$) which, together with the naive cohomology, gives all $H^\bullet_{st}(E)$. For generalized exact Courant algebroids, we give an explic…
We construct an infinite-dimensional symplectic 2-groupoid as the integration of an exact Courant algebroid. We show that every integrable Dirac structure integrates to a "Lagrangian" sub-2-groupoid of this symplectic 2-groupoid. As a corollary, we recover a result of Bursztyn-Crainic-Weinstein-Zhu that every integrable Dirac structure integrates to a presymplectic groupoid.
If $A$ is a Lie algebroid over a foliated manifold $(M,\mathcal{F})$, a foliation of $A$ is a Lie subalgebroid $B$ with anchor image $T\mathcal{F}$ and such that $A/B$ is locally equivalent with Lie algebroids over the slice manifolds of $\mathcal{F}$. We give several examples and, for foliated Lie algebroids, we discuss the following subjects: the dual Poisson structure and Vaintrob's super-vector field, cohomology and deformations of the foliation, integration to a Lie groupoid. In the last section, we define a corresponding notion of a foliation of a Courant algebroid $A$ as a bracket-close…
We construct an infinite dimensional Lie rackoid Y which hosts an integration of the standard Courant algebroid. As a set, Y = C $\infty$ ([0, 1], T * M) for a compact manifold M. The rackoid product is by automorphisms of the Dorfman bracket. The first part of the article is a study of the Lie rackoid Y and its tangent Leibniz algebroid a quotient of which is the standard Courant algebroid. In a second part, we study the equivalence relation related to the quotient on the rackoid level and restrict then to an integrable Dirac structure. We show how our integrating object contains the correspo…
Inspired by recent works of Zang Liu, Alan Weinstein and Ping Xu, we introduce the notions of CC algebroids and non asymmetric Courant algebroids and study these structures. It is shown that CC algebroids of rank greater than 3 are the same as Courant algebroids up to a constant factor, though the definition of CC algebroids is much simpler than that of Courant algebroids,requiring only 2 axioms instead of 5. The situation is similar to that of Lie algebroids, where in the usual definition used by all of he experts there is a redundant axiom, e.g.[GG,KO1,KO2,MK,PL]. Non asymmetric Courant alge…
We present a theory of reduction for Courant algebroids as well as Dirac structures, generalized complex, and generalized Kähler structures which interpolates between holomorphic reduction of complex manifolds and symplectic reduction. The enhanced symmetry group of a Courant algebroid leads us to define \emph{extended} actions and a generalized notion of moment map. Key examples of generalized Kähler reduced spaces include new explicit bi-Hermitian metrics on $\CC P^2$.
By doubling the target space of a canonical Courant algebroid and subsequently projecting down to a specific subbundle, we identify the data of double field theory (DFT) and hence define its algebroid structure. We specify the properties of the DFT algebroid. We show that one of the Courant algebroid properties plays the role of the strong constraint in the context of DFT. The DFT algebroid is a special example when properties of a Courant algebroid are relaxed in a specific and dependent manner. When otherwise, we uncover additional structures.
We propose a definition of Poisson quasi-Nijenhuis Lie algebroids as a natural generalization of Poisson quasi-Nijenhuis manifolds and show that any such Lie algebroid has an associated quasi-Lie bialgebroid. Therefore, also an associated Courant algebroid is obtained. We introduce the notion of a morphism of quasi-Lie bialgebroids and of the induced Courant algebroids morphism and provide some examples of Courant algebroid morphisms. Finally, we use paired operators to deform doubles of Lie and quasi-Lie bialgebroids and find an application to generalized complex geometry.
This paper shows the equivalence of the categories of $N$-manifolds of degree $2$ with the category of double vector bundles endowed with a linear metric. Split Poisson $N$-manifolds of degree $2$ are shown to be equivalent to self-dual representations up to homotopy. As a consequence, the equivalence above induces an equivalence between so called metric VB-algebroids and Poisson $N$-manifolds of degree $2$. Then a new description of split Lie $2$-algebroids is given, as well as their "duals", the Dorfman $2$-representations. We show that Dorfman $2$-representations are equivalent in a simple …
The solution of the Calabi Conjecture by Yau implies that every Kähler Calabi-Yau manifold $X$ admits a metric with holonomy contained in $\textrm{SU}(n)$, and that these metrics are parametrized by the positive cone in $H^{1,1}(X,\mathbb{R})$. In this work we give evidence of an extension of Yau's theorem to non-Kähler manifolds, where $X$ is replaced by a compact complex manifold with vanishing first Chern class endowed with a holomorphic Courant algebroid $Q$ of Bott-Chern type. The equations that define our notion of best metric correspond to a mild generalization of the Hull-Strominger sy…
Let G be a Lie group acting by diffeomorphisms on a manifold M and consider the image of T[1]G and T[1]M, of G and M respectively, in the category of differential graded manifolds. We show that the obstruction to lift the action of T[1]G on T[1]M to an action on a R[n]-bundle over T[1]M is measured by the G equivariant cohomology of M. We explicitly calculate the differential graded Lie algebra of the symmetries of the R[n]-bundle over T[1]M and we use this differential graded Lie algebra to understand which actions are hamiltonian. We show how split Exact Courant algebroids could be obtained …
A 2-plectic manifold is a manifold equipped with a closed nondegenerate 3-form, just as a symplectic manifold is equipped with a closed nondegenerate 2-form. In 2-plectic geometry we meet higher analogues of many structures familiar from symplectic geometry. For example, any 2-plectic manifold has a Lie 2-algebra consisting of smooth functions and Hamiltonian 1-forms. This is equipped with a Poisson-like bracket which only satisfies the Jacobi identity up to `coherent chain homotopy'. Over any 2-plectic manifold is a vector bundle equipped with extra structure called an exact Courant algebroid…
We define a higher analogue of Dirac structures on a manifold M. Under a regularity assumption, higher Dirac structures can be described by a foliation and a (not necessarily closed, non-unique) differential form on M, and are equivalent to (and simpler to handle than) the Multi-Dirac structures recently introduced in the context of field theory by Vankerschaver, Yoshimura and Marsden. We associate an L-infinity algebra of "observables" to every higher Dirac structure, extending work of Baez, Hoffnung and Rogers on multisymplectic forms. Further, applying a recent result of Getzler, we associa…
We investigate geometric aspects of double field theory (DFT) and its formulation as a doubled membrane sigma-model. Starting from the standard Courant algebroid over the phase space of an open membrane, we determine a splitting and a projection to a subbundle that sends the Courant algebroid operations to the corresponding operations in DFT. This describes precisely how the geometric structure of DFT lies in between two Courant algebroids and is reconciled with generalized geometry. We construct the membrane sigma-model that corresponds to DFT, and demonstrate how the standard T-duality orbit…
Motivated by questions from quantum group and field theories, we review structures on manifolds that are weaker versions of Poisson structures, and variants of the notion of Lie algebroid. We give a simple definition of the Courant algebroids and introduce the notion of a deriving operator for the Courant bracket of the double of a proto-bialgebroid. We then describe and relate the various quasi-Poisson structures, which have appeared in the literature since 1991, and the twisted Poisson structures studied by Severa and Weinstein.
We propose a definition of symplectic 2-groupoid which includes integrations of Courant algebroids that have been recently constructed. We study in detail the simple but illustrative case of constant symplectic 2-groupoids. We show that the constant symplectic 2-groupoids are, up to equivalence, in one-to-one correspondence with a simple class of Courant algebroids that we call constant Courant algebroids. Furthermore, we find a correspondence between certain Dirac structures and Lagrangian sub-2-groupoids.
We study Hamiltonian spaces associated with pairs (E,A), where E is a Courant algebroid and A\subset E is a Dirac structure. These spaces are defined in terms of morphisms of Courant algebroids with suitable compatibility conditions. Several of their properties are discussed, including a reduction procedure. This set-up encompasses familiar moment map theories, such as group-valued moment maps, and it provides an intrinsic approach from which different geometrical descriptions of moment maps can be naturally derived. As an application, we discuss the relationship between quasi-Poisson and pres…
Shifted symplectic Lie and $L_\infty$ algebroids model formal neighbourhoods of manifolds in shifted symplectic stacks, and serve as target spaces for twisted variants of classical AKSZ topological field theory. In this paper, we classify zero-, one- and two-shifted symplectic algebroids and their higher gauge symmetries, in terms of classical geometric "higher structures", such as Courant algebroids twisted by $Ω^2$-gerbes. As applications, we produce new examples of twisted Courant algebroids from codimension-two cycles, and we give symplectic interpretations for several well known features …
We study twisted Jacobi manifolds, a concept that we had introduced in a previous Note. Twisted Jacobi manifolds can be characterized using twisted Dirac-Jacobi, which are sub-bundles of Courant-Jacobi algebroids. We show that each twisted Jacobi manifold has an associated Lie algebroid with a 1-cocycle. We introduce the notion of quasi-Jacobi bialgebroid and we prove that each twisted Jacobi manifold has a quasi-Jacobi bialgebroid canonically associated. Moreover, the double of a quasi-Jacobi bialgebroid is a Courant-Jacobi algebroid. Several examples of twisted Jacobi manifolds and twisted D…
A Dirac structure is a Lagrangian subbundle of a Courant algebroid, $L\subset\mathbb{E}$, which is involutive with respect to the Courant bracket. In particular, $L$ inherits the structure of a Lie algebroid. In this paper, we introduce the more general notion of a pseudo-Dirac structure: an arbitrary subbundle, $W\subset\mathbb{E}$, together with a pseudo-connection on its sections, satisfying a natural integrability condition. As a consequence of the definition, $W$ will be a Lie algebroid. Allowing non-isotropic subbundles of $\mathbb{E}$ incorporates non-skew tensors and connections into D…
A generalized Courant algebroid structure is defined on the direct sum bundle D(E) +J(E), where D(E) and J(E) are the gauge Lie algebroid and the jet bundle of a vector bundle E respectively. Such a structure is called an omni-Lie algebroid since it is reduced to the omni-Lie algebra introduced by A.Weinstein if the base manifold is a point. We prove that any Lie algebroid structure on E is characterized by a Dirac structure as the graph of a bundle map from J(E) to D(E).
In this paper we define a Grassmann odd analogue of Jacobi structure on a supermanifold. The basic properties are explored. The construction of odd Jacobi manifolds is then used to reexamine the notion of a Jacobi algebroid. It is shown that Jacobi algebroids can be understood in terms of a kind of curved Q-manifold, which we will refer to as a quasi Q-manifold.
A Q-algebroid is a Lie superalgebroid equipped with a compatible homological vector field and is the infinitesimal object corresponding to a Q-groupoid. We associate to every Q-algebroid a double complex. As a special case, we define the BRST model of a Lie algebroid, which generalizes the BRST model for equivariant cohomology. We extend to this setting the Mathai-Quillen-Kalkman isomorphism of the BRST and Weil models, and we suggest a definition of a basic subcomplex which, however, requires a choice of a connection. Other examples include Roytenberg's homological double of a Lie bialgebroid…
In his study of Dirac structures, a notion which includes both Poisson structures and closed 2-forms, T. Courant introduced a bracket on the direct sum of vector fields and 1-forms. This bracket does not satisfy the Jacobi identity except on certain subspaces. In this paper we systematize the properties of this bracket in the definition of a Courant algebroid. This structure on a vector bundle $E\rightarrow M$, consists of an antisymmetric bracket on the sections of $E$ whose ``Jacobi anomaly'' has an explicit expression in terms of a bundle map $E\rightarrow TM$ and a field of symmetric bilin…
We reinterpret the generalised Lie derivative of M-theory $E_6$ generalised geometry as hamiltonian flow on a graded symplectic supermanifold. The hamiltonian acts as the nilpotent derivative of the tensor hierarchy of exceptional field theory. This construction is an M-theory analogue of the Courant algebroid and reveals the $L_\infty$-algebra underlying the tensor hierarchy. The AKSZ construction identifies that same hamiltonian with the lagrangian of a 7-dimensional generalisation of Chern-Simons theory that reduces to the M5-brane Wess-Zumino term on 5-brane boundaries. The exercise repeat…
We show how the classical Moser Lemma from symplectic geometry extends to generalized complex structures (GCS) on arbitrary Courant algebroids. For this, we extend the notion of Lie derivative to sections of the tensor bundle $(\otimes^i E)\otimes(\otimes^j E^*)$ with respect to sections of the Courant algebroid $E$ using the Dorfman bracket. We then give a cohomological interpretation of the existence of one-parameter families of GCS on $E$ and of flows of automorphims of $E$ identifying all GCS of such a family. In the particular cases of symplectic, we recover the results of Moser. Finally,…
