Chern-Simons gauge theories in 3 dimensions and the Poisson Sigma Model (PSM) in 2 dimensions are examples of the same theory, if their field equations are interpreted as morphisms of Lie algebroids and their symmetries (on-shell) as homotopies of such morphisms. We point out that the (off-shell) gauge symmetries of the PSM in the literature are not globally well-defined for non-parallelizable Poisson manifolds and propose a covariant definition of them as left action of some finite-dimensional Lie algebroid.
Our approach allows to avoid complications arising in the infinite dimensional super-geometry of the BV- and AKSZ-formalism. This preprint is a starting point in a series of papers meant to introduce Yang-Mills type gauge theories of Lie algebroids, which include and generalize the standard YM theory, the PSM, and gerbes.
We define and examine the notion of a Killing section of a Riemannian Lie algebroid as a natural generalisation of a Killing vector field. We show that the various expression for a vector field to be Killing naturally generalise to the setting of Lie algebroids. As an application we examine the internal symmetries of a class of sigma models for which the target space is a Riemannian Lie algebroid. Critical points of these sigma models are interpreted as generalised harmonic maps.
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.
We extend R. Fernandes' construction of secondary characteristic classes of a Lie algebroid to the case of a base-preserving morphism between two Lie algebroids. Like in the case of a Lie algebroid, the simplest characteristic class of our construction coincides with the modular class of the morphism.
We study the behavior of the modular class of a Lie algebroid under general Lie algebroid morphisms by introducing the relative modular class. We investigate the modular classes of pull-back morphisms and of base-preserving morphisms associated to Lie algebroid extensions. We also define generalized morphisms, including Morita equivalences, that act on the 1-cohomology, and observe that the relative modular class is a coboundary on the category of Lie algebroids and generalized morphisms with values in the 1-cohomology.
The Poisson--Weil sigma model, worked out by us recently, stems from gauging a Hamiltonian Lie group symmetry of the target space of the Poisson sigma model. Upon gauge fixing of the BV master action, it yields interesting topological field theories such as the 2--dimensional Donaldson-Witten topological gauge theory and the gauged A topological sigma model. In this paper, generalizing the above construction, we construct the Lie algebroid Poisson sigma model. This is yielded by gauging a Hamiltonian Lie groupoid symmetry of the Poisson sigma model target space. We use the BV quantization appr…
We generalize the $(n+1)$-dimensional twisted $R$-Poisson topological sigma model with flux on a target Poisson manifold to a Lie algebroid. Analyzing consistency of constraints in the Hamiltonian formalism and the gauge symmetry in the Lagrangian formalism, geometric conditions of the target space to make the topological sigma model consistent are identified. The geometric condition is an universal compatibility condition of a Lie algebroid with the multi-symplectic structure. This condition is a generalization of the momentum map theory of a Lie group and is regarded as a generalization of t…
This paper examines a proposal for gauging non-linear sigma models with respect to a Lie algebroid action. The general conditions for gauging a non-linear sigma model with a set of involutive vector fields are given. We show that it is always possible to find a set of vector fields which will (locally) admit a Lie algebroid gauging. Furthermore, the gauging process is not unique; if the vector fields span the tangent space of the manifold, there is a free choice of a flat connection. Ensuring that the gauged action is equivalent to the ungauged action imposes the real constraint of the Lie alg…
A general form for the boundary coupling of a Lie algebroid Poisson sigma model is proposed. The approach involves using the Batalin-Vilkovisky formalism in the AKSZ geometrical version, to write a BRST-invariant coupling for a representation up to homotopy of the target Lie algebroid or its subalgebroids. These considerations lead to a conjectural description of topological D-branes on generalized complex manifolds, which includes A-branes and B-branes as special cases.
In this contribution we review some of the interplay between sigma models in theoretical physics and novel geometrical structures such as Lie (n-)algebroids. The first part of the article contains the mathematical background, the definition of various algebroids as well as of Dirac structures, a joint generalization of Poisson, presymplectic, but also complex structures. Proofs are given in detail. The second part deals with sigma models. Topological ones, in particular the AKSZ and the Dirac sigma models, as generalizations of the Poisson sigma models to higher dimensions and to Dirac structu…
We show in this paper that the correspondence between $2$-term representations up to homotopy and $\mathcal{VB}$-algebroids, established by Gracia-Saz and Mehta, holds also at the level of morphisms. This correspondence is hence an equivalence of categories. As an application, we study foliations and distributions on a Lie algebroid, that are compatible both with the linear structure and the Lie algebroid structure. In particular, we show how infinitesimal ideal systems in a Lie algebroid $A$ are related with subrepresentations of the adjoint representation of $A$.
We introduce the category of holomorphic string algebroids, whose objects are Courant extensions of Atiyah Lie algebroids of holomorphic principal bundles, as considered by Bressler, and whose morphisms correspond to inner morphisms of the underlying holomorphic Courant algebroids in the sense of Severa. This category provides natural candidates for Atiyah Lie algebroids of holomorphic principal bundles for the (complexified) string group and their morphisms. Our main results are a classification of string algebroids in terms of Cech cohomology, and the construction of a locally complete famil…
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.
Inspired by the Poisson Sigma Model and its relation to 2d gravity, we consider models governing morphisms from TSigma to any Lie algebroid E, where Sigma is regarded as d-dimensional spacetime manifold. We address the question of minimal conditions to be placed on a bilinear expression in the 1-form fields, S^ij(X) A_i A_j, so as to permit an interpretation as a metric on Sigma. This becomes a simple compatibility condition of the E-tensor S with the chosen Lie algebroid structure on E. For the standard Lie algebroid E=TM the additional structure is identified with a Riemannian foliation of M…
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…
We show that in analogy to the introduction of Poisson structures twisted by a closed 3-form by Park and Klimcik-Strobl, the study of three dimensional sigma models with Wess-Zumino term leads in a likewise way to twisting of Courant algebroid structures by closed 4-forms H. The presentation is kept pedagogical and accessible to physicists as well as to mathematicians, explaining in detail in particular the interplay of field transformations in a sigma model with the type of geometrical structures induced on a target. In fact, as we also show, even if one does not know the mathematical concept…
We consider homotopy actions of a Lie algebroid on a graded manifold, defined as suitable $L_{\infty}$-algebra morphisms. On the "semi-direct product" we construct a homological vector field that projects to the Lie algebroid. Our main theorem states that this construction is a bijection. Since several classical geometric structures can be described by homological vector fields as above, we can display many explicit examples, involving Lie algebroids (including extensions, representations up to homotopy and their cocycles) as well as transitive Courant algebroids.
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…
It is a classical fact in Poisson geometry that the cotangent bundle of a Poisson manifold has the structure of a Lie algebroid. Manifestations of this structure are the Lichnerowicz differential on multivector fields (calculating Poisson cohomology) and the Koszul bracket of differential forms. "Raising indices" by the Poisson tensor maps the de Rham differential to the Lichnerowicz differential and the Koszul bracket to the Schouten bracket. In this paper, we present a homotopy analog of the above results. When an ordinary Poisson structure is replaced by a homotopy one, instead of a single …
Following Sullivan's spacial realization of a differential algebra, we construct a universal integrating Lie 2-groupoid for every Lie algebroid. Then We show that unlike Lie algebras which one-to-one correspond to simply connected Lie groups, Lie algebroids (integrable or not) one-to-one correspond to a sort of etale Lie 2-groupoids with 2-connected source fibres. Finally, we discuss how to lift Lie algebroid morphisms to Lie 2-groupoid morphisms (Lie II Theorem).
A class of metrizable vector bundles in the general framework of generalized Lie algebroids have been presented in the eight reference. Using a generalized Lie algebroid we obtain the Lie algebroid generalized tangent bundle of a vector bundle. This Lie algebroid is a new example of metrizable vector bundle. A new class of Lagrange spaces, called by use, generalized Lagrange (ρ?;η?)-space, Lagrange (ρ?;η?)-space and Finsler (ρ?;η?)-space are presented. In the particular case of Lie algebroids, new and important results are presented. In particular, if all morphisms are identities morphisms, th…
Starting from a Lie algebroid ${\cal A}$ over a space V we lift its action to the canonical transformations on the principle affine bundle ${\cal R}$ over the cotangent bundle $T^*V$. Such lifts are classified by the first cohomology $H^1({\cal A})$. The resulting object is the Hamiltonian algebroid ${\cal A}^H$ over ${\cal R}$ with the anchor map from $\G({\cal A}^H)$ to Hamiltonians of canonical transformations. Hamiltonian algebroids generalize the Lie algebras of canonical transformations. We prove that the BRST operator for ${\cal A}^H$ is cubic in the ghost fields as in the Lie algebra c…
Reductions of higher tangent bundles of Lie groupoids provide natural examples of geometric structures which we would like to call higher algebroids. Such objects can be also constructed abstractly starting from an arbitrary almost Lie algebroid. A higher algebroid is, in principle, a graded bundle equipped with a differential relation of special kind (a Zakrzewski morphism). In the paper we investigate basic properties of higher algebroids and show some applications. Namely, we develop a geometric framework for variational calculus on higher algebroids (including both forces and momenta). Suc…
Lie n-algebroids and Lie infinity algebroids are usually thought of exclusively in supergeometric or algebraic terms. In this work, we apply the higher derived brackets construction to obtain a geometric description of Lie n-algebroids by means of brackets and anchors. Moreover, we provide a geometric description of morphisms of Lie n-algebroids over different bases, give an explicit formula for the Chevalley-Eilenberg differential of a Lie n-algebroid, compare the categories of Lie n-algebroids and NQ-manifolds, and prove some conjectures of Sheng and Zhu [SZ11].
The variational formalism for classical field theories is extended to the setting of Lie algebroids. Given a Lagrangian function we study the problem of finding critical points of the action functional when we restrict the fields to be morphisms of Lie algebroids. In addition to the standard case, our formalism includes as particular examples the case of systems with symmetry (covariant Euler-Poincare and Lagrange Poincare cases), Sigma models or Chern-Simons theories.
We discuss a natural extension of the AKSZ construction to the case where the source is given by a supermanifold with a chosen integral form. We then focus on the special case with the target given by a Courant algebroid. In the simplest case this leads to the BV version of the super Chern-Simons theory, as developed by Grassi-Maccaferri and Cremonini-Grassi. In the case of exact Courant algebroids we derive the 2-dimensional $\mathcal N=(1,1)$ sigma model on the boundary, together with the Wess-Zumino term, paralleling the approach of Ševera in the bosonic case.
Skew algebroid is a natural generalization of the concept of Lie algebroid. In this paper, for a skew algebroid E, its modular class mod(E) is defined in the classical as well as in the supergeometric formulation. It is proved that there is a homogeneous nowhere-vanishing 1-density on E* which is invariant with respect to all Hamiltonian vector fields if and only if E is modular, i.e. mod(E)=0. Further, relative modular class of a subalgebroid is introduced and studied together with its application to holonomy, as well as modular class of a skew algebroid relation. These notions provide, in pa…
Hypersymplectic structures with torsion on Lie algebroids are investigated. We show that each hypersymplectic structure with torsion on a Lie algebroid determines three Nijenhuis morphisms. From a contravariant point of view, these structures are twisted Poisson structures. We prove the existence of a one-to-one correspondence between hypersymplectic structures with torsion and hyperkähler structures with torsion. We show that given a Lie algebroid with a hypersymplectic structure with torsion, the deformation of the Lie algebroid structure by any of the transition morphisms does not affect th…
This paper presents a geometric description on Lie algebroids of Lagrangian systems subject to nonholonomic constraints. The Lie algebroid framework provides a natural generalization of classical tangent bundle geometry. We define the notion of nonholonomically constrained system, and characterize regularity conditions that guarantee the dynamics of the system can be obtained as a suitable projection of the unconstrained dynamics. The proposed novel formalism provides new insights into the geometry of nonholonomic systems, and allows us to treat in a unified way a variety of situations, includ…
The core diagram of a double Lie algebroid consists in the core of the double Lie algebroid, together with the two core-anchor maps to the sides of the double Lie algebroid. If these two core anchors are surjective, then the double Lie algebroid and its core diagram are called transitive. This paper establishes an equivalence between transitive double Lie algebroids, and transitive core diagrams over a fixed base manifold. In other words, it proves that a transitive double Lie algebroid is completely determined by its core diagram. The comma double Lie algebroid associated to a morphism of Lie…
This paper studies differential graded modules and representations up to homotopy of Lie $n$-algebroids, for general $n\in\mathbb{N}$. The adjoint and coadjoint modules are described, and the corresponding split versions of the adjoint and coadjoint representations up to homotopy are explained. In particular, the case of Lie 2-algebroids is analysed in detail. The compatibility of a Poisson bracket with the homological vector field of a Lie $n$-algebroid is shown to be equivalent to a morphism from the coadjoint module to the adjoint module, leading to an alternative characterisation of non-de…
In this paper, first we give a detailed study on the structure of a transitive Lie 2-algebroid and describe a transitive Lie 2-algebroid using a morphism from the tangent Lie algebroid TM to a strict Lie 3-algebroid constructed from derivations. Then we introduce the notion of a quadratic Lie 2-algebroid and define its first Pontryagin class, which is a cohomology class in H^5(M). Associated to a CLWX 2-algebroid, there is a quadratic Lie 2-algebroid naturally. Conversely, we show that the first Pontryagin class of a quadratic Lie 2-algebroid is the obstruction class of the existence of a CLWX…
We characterize Poisson and Jacobi structures by means of complete lifts of the corresponding tensors: the lifts have to be related to canonical structures by morphisms of corresponding vector bundles. Similar results hold for generalized Poisson and Jacobi structures (canonical structures) associated with Lie algebroids and Jacobi algebroids.
For a Lie algebroid, divergences chosen in a classical way lead to a uniquely defined homology theory. They define also, in a natural way, modular classes of certain Lie algebroid morphisms. This approach, applied for the anchor map, recovers the concept of modular class due to S. Evans, J.-H. Lu, and A. Weinstein.
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…
We introduce the holonomy of a singular leaf $L$ of a singular foliation as a sequence of group morphisms from $π_n(L)$ to the $π_{n-1}$ of the universal Lie $\infty$-algebroid of the transverse foliation of $L$. We include these morphisms in a long exact sequence, thus relating them to the holonomy groupoid of Androulidakis and Skandalis and to a similar construction by Brahic and Zhu for Lie algebroids.
Two new classes of metrizable vector bundles have been presented in the papers [1] and [4]. The Lie algebroid generalized tangent bundle of a dual vector bundle is presented. This Lie algebroid is a new example of metrizable vector bundle. A new class of Hamilton spaces, called by use, generalized Hamilton (ρ,η)-space, Hamilton (ρ,η)-space and Cartan (ρ,η)-space are presented. The results obtained in the particular case of Lie algebroids emphasize the importance and the utility of our new method by work. In particular, if all morphisms are identities morphisms, then the classical results are o…
We introduce a natural generalisation of holomorphic curves to morphisms of supermanifolds, referred to as holomorphic supercurves. More precisely, supercurves are morphisms from a Riemann surface, endowed with the structure of a supermanifold which is induced by a holomorphic line bundle, to an ordinary almost complex manifold. They are called holomorphic if a generalised Cauchy-Riemann condition is satisfied. We show, by means of an action identity, that holomorphic supercurves are special extrema of a supersymmetric action functional.
A well-known result of A. Vaintrob characterizes Lie algebroids and their morphisms in terms of homological vector fields on supermanifolds. We give an interpretation of Lie bialgebroids and their morphisms in terms of odd symplectic dg-manifolds, building on the approach of D. Roytenberg. This extends naturally to the homotopy Lie case and leads to the notion of $L_\infty$-bialgebroids and $L_\infty$-morphisms between them.
We show that in the context of two-dimensional sigma models minimal coupling of an ordinary rigid symmetry Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}$ leads naturally to the appearance of the "generalized tangent bundle" $\mathbb{T}M \equiv TM \oplus T^*M$ by means of composite fields. Gauge transformations of the composite fields follow the Courant bracket, closing upon the choice of a Dirac structure $D \subset \mathbb{T}M$ (or, more generally, the choide of a "small Dirac-Rinehart sheaf" $\cal{D}$), in which the fields as well as the symmetry parameters are to take values. In these new variables, the gauge …
The jet formalism for Classical Field theories is extended to the setting of Lie algebroids. We define the analog of the concept of jet of a section of a bundle and we study some of the geometric structures of the jet manifold. When a Lagrangian function is given, we find the equations of motion in terms of a Cartan form canonically associated to the Lagrangian. The Hamiltonian formalism is also extended to this setting and we find the relation between the solutions of both formalism. When the first Lie algebroid is a tangent bundle we give a variational description of the equations of motion.…
In some previous papers, a Legendre duality between Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Mechanics has been developed. The (ρ,η)-tangent application of the Legendre bundle morphism associated to a Lagrangian L or Hamiltonian H is presented. Using that, a Legendre description of Lagrangian Mechanics and Hamiltonian Mechanics is developed. Duality between Lie algebroids structure, adapted (ρ,η)-basis, distinguished linear (ρ,η)-connections and mechanical (ρ,η)-systems is the scope of this paper. In the particular case of Lie algebroids, new results are presented. In the particular case of the usual Lie al…
We introduce a new topological sigma model, whose fields are bundle maps from the tangent bundle of a 2-dimensional world-sheet to a Dirac subbundle of an exact Courant algebroid over a target manifold. It generalizes simultaneously the (twisted) Poisson sigma model as well as the G/G-WZW model. The equations of motion are satisfied, iff the corresponding classical field is a Lie algebroid morphism. The Dirac Sigma Model has an inherently topological part as well as a kinetic term which uses a metric on worldsheet and target. The latter contribution serves as a kind of regulator for the theory…
This paper considers control systems defined on Lie algebroids. After deriving basic controllability tests for general control systems, we specialize our discussion to the class of mechanical control systems on Lie algebroids. This class of systems includes mechanical systems subject to holonomic and nonholonomic constraints, mechanical systems with symmetry and mechanical systems evolving on semidirect products. We introduce the notions of linear connection, symmetric product and geodesically invariant subbundle on a Lie algebroid. We present appropriate tests for various notions of accessibi…
String theory still remains one of the promising candidates for a unification of the theory of gravity and quantum field theory. One of its essential parts is relativistic description of moving multi-dimensional objects called membranes (or p-branes) in a curved spacetime. On the classical field theory level, they are described by an action functional extremalising the volume of a manifold swept by a propagating membrane. This and related field theories are collectively called membrane sigma models. Differential geometry is an important mathematical tool in the study of string theory. It turns…
For every Lie pair $(L,A)$ of algebroids we construct a dg-manifold structure on the $\mathbb{Z}$-graded manifold $\mathcal M=L[1]\oplus L/A$ such that the inclusion $ι: A[1] \to \mathcal M$ and the projection $p:\mathcal M\to L[1]$ are morphisms of dg-manifolds. The vertical tangent bundle $T^p\mathcal M$ then inherits a structure of dg-Lie algebroid over $\mathcal M$. When the Lie pair comes from a matched pair of Lie algebroids, we show that the inclusion $ι$ induces a quasi-isomorphism that sends the Atiyah class of this dg-Lie algebroid to the Atiyah class of the Lie pair. We also show ho…
The G/G WZW model results from the WZW-model by a standard procedure of gauging. G/G WZW models are members of Dirac sigma models, which also contain twisted Poisson sigma models as other examples. We show how the general class of Dirac sigma models can be obtained from a gauging procedure adapted to Lie algebroids in the form of an equivariantly closed extension. The rigid gauge groups are generically infinite dimensional and a standard gauging procedure would give a likewise infinite number of 1-form gauge fields; the proposed construction yields the requested finite number of them. Although…
Any etale Lie groupoid G is completely determined by its associated convolution algebra C_c(G) equipped with the natural Hopf algebroid structure. We extend this result to the generalized morphisms between etale Lie groupoids: we show that any principal H-bundle P over G is uniquely determined by the associated C_c(G)-C_c(H)-bimodule C_c(P) equipped with the natural coalgebra structure. Furthermore, we prove that the functor C_c gives an equivalence between the Morita category of etale Lie groupoids and the Morita category of locally grouplike Hopf algebroids.
Consider an anchored bundle $(E,ρ)$, i.e. a vector bundle $E\to M$ equipped with a bundle map $ρ\colon E \to TM$ covering the identity. M.~Kapranov showed in the context of Lie-Rinehard algebras that there exists an extension of this anchored bundle to an infinite rank universal free Lie algebroid $FR(E)\supset E$. We adapt his construction to the case of an anchored bundle equipped with an arbitrary connection, $(E,\nabla)$, and show that it gives rise to a unique connection $\tilde \nabla$ on $FR(E)$ which is compatible with its Lie algebroid structure, thus turning $(FR(E), \tilde \nabla)$ …
