The aim of this brief note is mainly to advocate our approach to homotopy algebras based on the minimal model of an operad. Our exposition is motivated by two examples which we discuss very explicitly - the example of strongly homotopy associative algebras and the example of strongly homotopy Lie algebras.
We then indicate what must be proved in order to show that these homotopy algebraic structures are really `stable under a homotopy.'
The paper is based on a talk given by the author on June 16, 1998, at University of Osnabrueck, Germany.
This is an expository article about operads in homotopy theory written as a chapter for an upcoming book. It concentrates on what the author views as the basic topics in the homotopy theory of operadic algebras: the definition of operads, the definition of algebras over operads, structural aspects of categories of algebras over operads, model structures on algebra categories, and comparison of algebra categories when changing operad or underlying category. In addition, it includes two applications of the theory: The original application to $n$-fold loop spaces, and an application to algebraic …
In this paper, we set up a rational homotopy theory for operads in simplicial sets whose term of arity one is not necessarily reduced to an operadic unit, extending results obtained by the author in the book "Homotopy of operads and Grothendieck-Teichmüller groups". In short, we prove that the rational homotopy type of such an operad is determined by a cooperad in cochain differential graded algebras (a cochain Hopf dg-cooperad for short) as soon as the Sullivan rational homotopy theory works for the spaces underlying our operad (e.g. when these spaces are connected, nilpotent, and have finite…
We establish model category structures on algebras and modules over operads in symmetric spectra, and study when a morphism of operads induces a Quillen equivalence between corresponding categories of algebras (resp. modules) over operads.
This paper deals with the homotopy theory of differential graded operads. We endow the Koszul dual category of curved conilpotent cooperads, where the notion of quasi-isomorphism barely makes sense, with a model category structure Quillen equivalent to that of operads. This allows us to describe the homotopy properties of differential graded operads in a simpler and richer way, using obstruction methods.
We establish certain smash operations on spaces over operads which are general analogues of the Samelson product on single loop spaces, and obtain a conceptual description of the structure of the homotopy groups of spaces $Y$ over a symmetric $K(π,1)$ operad: $π_*Y$ is a module over the free algebraic symmetric operad generated by operations on homotopy groups induced by these smash operations. In particular the homotopy groups of double loop spaces is a module over the free algebraic symmetric operad generated by the conjugacy classes of Brunnian braids modulo the conjugation action of pure b…
We introduce the notion of homotopy inner products for any cyclic quadratic Koszul operad $\mathcal O$, generalizing the construction already known for the associative operad. This is done by defining a colored operad $\widehat{\mathcal O}$, which describes modules over $\mathcal O$ with invariant inner products. We show that $\widehat{\mathcal O}$ satisfies Koszulness and identify algebras over a resolution of $\widehat{\mathcal O}$ in terms of derivations and module maps. As an application we construct a homotopy inner product over the commutative operad on the cochains of any Poincaré duali…
The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, we review applications of the bar duality of operads to the construction of explicit cofibrant replacements in categories of algebras over an operad. In view toward applications, we check that the constructions of the bar duality work properly for algebras over operads in unbounded differential graded modules over a ring. In a second part, we use the operadic cobar construction to define explicit cyclinder objects in the category of operads. Then we apply this construction to prove that certain homotopy morphisms of algebras over operads are equival…
We provide general conditions under which the algebras for a coloured operad in a monoidal model category carry a Quillen model structure, and prove a Comparison Theorem to the effect that a weak equivalence between suitable such operads induces a Quillen equivalence between their categories of algebras. We construct an explicit Boardman-Vogt style cofibrant resolution for coloured operads, thereby giving a uniform approach to algebraic structures up to homotopy over coloured operads. The Comparison Theorem implies that such structures can be rectified.
We introduce the notion of homotopy inner products for any cyclic quadratic Koszul operad $\mathcal O$, generalizing the construction already known for the associative operad. This is done by defining a colored operad $\hat{\mathcal O}$, which describes modules over $\mathcal O$ with invariant inner products. We show that $\hat{\mathcal O}$ satisfies Koszulness and identify algebras over a resolution of $\hat{\mathcal O}$ in terms of derivations and module maps. An application to Poincaré duality on the chain level of a suitable topological space is given.
We study the subcategory of topological operads $P$ such that $P(0) = *$ (the category of unitary operads in our terminology). We use that this category inherits a model structure, like the category of all operads in topological spaces, and that the embedding functor of this subcategory of unitary operads into the category of all operads admits a left Quillen adjoint. We prove that the derived functor of this left Quillen adjoint functor induces a left inverse of the derived functor of our category embedding at the homotopy category level. We deduce from this result that the derived mapping sp…
We define the concept of a bi-operad. We develop the homotopy theory of "Bital-Sets" and of infinite-bi-operads. We develop a geometry of generalized schemes based on the spectra of distributive monochromatic bi-operads.
We define a simplicial enrichment on the category of differential graded Hopf cooperads (the category of dg Hopf cooperads for short). We prove that our simplicial enrichment satisfies, in part, the axioms of a simplicial model category structure on the category of dg Hopf cooperads. We use this simplicial model structure to define a model of mapping spaces in the category of dg Hopf cooperads and to upgrade results of the literature about the homotopy automorphism spaces of dg Hopf cooperads by dealing with simplicial monoid structures. The rational homotopy theory of operads implies that the…
We build model structures on the category of equivariant simplicial operads with a fixed set of colors, with weak equivalences determined by families of subgroups. In particular, by specifying to the family of graph subgroups (or, more generally, one of the indexing systems of Blumberg-Hill), we obtain model structures on the category of equivariant simplicial operads with a fixed set of colors, with weak equivalences determined by norm map data.
This paper proves that the homotopy type of a pointed, simply-connected, 2-reduced simplicial set is determined by the chain-complex augmented by functorial diagonal and higher diagonal maps (a simple generalization of the ones used to define Steenrod operations). The treatment of this problem is completely self-contained, and includes material that simplifies, extends, and corrects material from the authors AMS Memoir, "Iterating the cobar construction".
We prove that the homotopy theory of $N_\infty$ operads is equivalent to a homotopy theory of discrete operads, and we construct free and associative operadic realizations of every indexing system. This resolves a conjecture of Blumberg and Hill in the affirmative.
We build model structures on the category of equivariant simplicial operads with weak equivalences determined by families of subgroups, in the context of operads with a varying set of colors (and building on the fixed color model structures in the prequel). In particular, by specifying to the family of graph subgroups (or, more generally, one of the indexing systems of Blumberg-Hill), we obtain model structures on the category of equivariant simplicial operads whose weak equivalences are determined by norm map data.
This paper proves Koszul duality for coloured operads and uses it to introduce strongly homotopy operads as a suitable homotopy invariant version of operads. It shows that rational chains on configuration spaces of points in the plane form a strongly homotopy operad quasi isomorphic to the chains on the little disks operad.
This paper extends the results of "Operads and Algebraic Homotopy" in giving algebraic invariants for the stable homotopy type of a pointed simply-connected simplicial set.
In this work we present an explicit operad morphism that is also a homotopy equivalence between the operad given by the real Fulton MacPherson compactification of configuration spaces and the little $n$-disks operad. In particular, the construction gives an operadic homotopy equivalence between the associahedra and the little intervals explicitly. It can also be extended to the case of Kontsevich compactification and Voronov swiss-cheese operad.
We endow the category of bialgebras over a pair of operads in distribution with a cofibrantly generated model category structure. We work in the category of chain complexes over a field of characteristic zero. We split our construction in two steps. In the first step, we equip coalgebras over an operad with a cofibrantly generated model category structure. In the second one we use the adjunction between bialgebras and coalgebras via the free algebra functor. This result allows us to do classical homotopical algebra in various categories such as associative bialgebras, Lie bialgebras or Poisson…
We prove the existence of minimal models a la Sullivan for operads with non-trivial arity zero. So, up to homotopy algebras with strict units are just operad algebras over these minimal models. As an application we give another proof of the formality of the unitary n-little disks operad over the rationals.
We extend Thomason's homotopy colimit construction in the category of permutative categories to categories of algebras over an arbitrary $\Cat$ operad and analyze its properties. We then use this homotopy colimit to prove that the classifying space functor induces an equivalence between the category of $n$-fold monoidal categories and the category of $\mathcal{C}_n$-spaces after formally inverting certain classes of weak equivalences, where $\mathcal{C}_n$ is the little $n$-cubes operad. As a consequence we obtain an equivalence of the categories of $n$-fold monoidal categories and the categor…
We give sufficient conditions for the existence of a model structure on operads in an arbitrary symmetric monoidal model category. General invariance properties for homotopy algebras over operads are deduced.
This paper considers a class of coalgebras over the Barratt-Eccles operad and shows that they classify Z-completions of pointed, reduced simplicial sets. As a consequence, they encapsulate the homotopy types of nilpotent simplicial sets. This result is a direct generalization of Quillen's result characterizing rational homotopy types via cocommutative coalgebras.
We establish a Quillen equivalence between the homotopy theories of equivariant Segal operads and equivariant simplicial operads with norm maps. Together with previous work, we further conclude that the homotopy coherent nerve is a right-Quillen equivalence from the model category of equivariant simplicial operads with norm maps to the model category structure for equivariant-$\infty$-operads in equivariant dendroidal sets.
We study the homotopy derivations of the framed little discs operads, which correspond to the homotopy derivations of the BV2n operads. By extending a result by Willwacher about the homotopy derivations of the en operads we show that the homotopy derivations of the BV2n operads may be described through the cohomology of a suitable graph complex. We will present an explicit quasi-isomorphic map.
We compare two models for $\infty$-operads: the complete Segal operads of Barwick and the complete dendroidal Segal spaces of Cisinski and Moerdijk. Combining this with comparison results already in the literature, this implies that all known models for $\infty$-operads are equivalent - for instance, it follows that the homotopy theory of Lurie's $\infty$-operads is equivalent to that of dendroidal sets and that of simplicial operads.
The category of differential graded operads is a cofibrantly generated model category and as such inherits simplicial mapping spaces. The vertices of an operad mapping space are just operad morphisms. The 1-simplices represent homotopies between morphisms in the category of operads. The goal of this paper is to determine the homotopy of the operadic mapping spaces Map(E_n,C) with a cofibrant E_n-operad on the source and the commutative operad on the target. First, we prove that the homotopy class of a morphism phi: E_n -> C is uniquely determined by a multiplicative constant which gives the ac…
This paper constructs model structures on the categories of coalgebras and pointed irreducible coalgebras over an operad. The underlying chain-complex is assumed to be unbounded and the results for bounded coalgebras over an operad are derived from the unbounded case.
We prove that the category of algebras over a cofibrant operad admits a closed model category structure. This leads to the notion of "virtual operad algebra" - the algebra over a cofibrant resolution of the given operad. In particular, virtual commutative algebras can serve to an algebraic description of homotopy p-tipes as in the recent preprint of Mandell (electronic Hopf topology archive, october '98, see http://www.hopf.math.purdue.edu. Our main result allows one to significally simplify the proof of Mandell's theorem.
We introduce an explicit combinatorial characterization of the minimal model ${\cal O}_{\infty}$ of the coloured operad ${\cal O}$ encoding non-symmetric operads. In our description of ${\cal O}_{\infty}$, the spaces of operations are defined in terms of hypergraph polytopes and the composition structure generalizes the one of the $A_{\infty}$-operad. As further generalizations of this construction, we present a combinatorial description of the $W$-construction applied on ${\cal O}$, as well as of the minimal model of the coloured operad ${\cal C}$ encoding non-symmetric cyclic operads.
From the `cofree' cooperad $T'(A[-1])$ on a collection $A$ together with a differential, we construct an $L_\infty$-algebra structure on the total space $\bigoplus_nA(n)$ that descends to coinvariants. We use this construction to define an $L_\infty$-algebra controlling deformations of the operad $P$ under $Q$ from a cofibrant resolution for an operad $Q$, and an operad map $Q\longrightarrow P$. Starting from a diffent cofibrant resolution one obtains a quasi isomorohic $L_\infty$-algebra. This approach unifies Markl's cotangent cohomology of operads and the approaches to deformation of $Q$-al…
We introduce the classical theory of the interplay between group theory and topology into the context of operads and explore some applications to homotopy theory. We first propose a notion of a group operad and then develop a theory of group operads, extending the classical theories of groups, spaces with actions of groups, covering spaces and classifying spaces of groups. In particular, the fundamental groups of a topological operad is naturally a group operad and its higher homotopy groups are naturally operads with actions of its fundamental groups operad, and a topological $K(π,1)$ operad …
The aim of this paper is three-fold: (i) we construct a naturally occurring highly homotopy coherent operad structure on the derivatives of the identity functor on structured ring spectra which can be described as algebras over an operad $\mathcal{O}$ in spectra, (ii) we prove that every connected $\mathcal{O}$-algebra has a naturally occurring left action of the derivatives of the identity, and (iii) we show that there is a naturally occurring weak equivalence of highly homotopy coherent operads between the derivatives of the identity on $\mathcal{O}$-algebras and the operad $\mathcal{O}$. Al…
The framed little 2-discs operad is homotopy equivalent to a cyclic operad. We show that the derived modular envelope of this cyclic operad (i.e., the modular operad freely generated in a homotopy invariant sense) is homotopy equivalent to the modular operad made from classifying spaces of diffeomorphism groups of 3-dimensional handlebodies with marked discs on their boundaries. A modification of the argument provides a new and elementary proof of K. Costello's theorem that the derived modular envelope of the associative operad is homotopy equivalent to the ``open string'' modular operad made …
In [math.AT/9907138] we proved that strongly homotopy algebras are homotopy invariant concepts in the category of chain complexes. Our arguments were based on the fact that strongly homotopy algebras are algebras over minimal cofibrant operads and on the principle that algebras over cofibrant operads are homotopy invariant. In our approach, algebraic models for colored operads describing diagrams of homomorphisms played an important role. The aim of this paper is to give an explicit description of these models. A possible application is an appropriate formulation of the `ideal' homological per…
We show that topological Quillen homology of algebras and modules over operads in symmetric spectra can be calculated by realizations of simplicial bar constructions. Working with several model category structures, we give a homotopical proof after showing that certain homotopy colimits in algebras and modules over operads can be easily understood. A key result here, which lies at the heart of this paper, is showing that the forgetful functor commutes with certain homotopy colimits. We also prove analogous results for algebras and modules over operads in unbounded chain complexes.
It is well known that the differential graded operad of A_infinity-algebras is a cofibrant replacement (a dg-resolution) of the operad of associative differential graded algebras without units. In this article we find a cofibrant replacement of the operad of associative differential graded algebras with units. Algebras over it are called homotopy unital A_infinity-algebras. We prove that the operad bimodule of A_infinity-morphisms is a cofibrant replacement of the operad bimodule of morphisms of dg-algebras without units. Similarly we show that the operad bimodule of homotopy unital A_infinity…
We extend bar-cobar duality, defined for operads of chain complexes by Getzler and Jones, to operads of spectra in the sense of stable homotopy theory. Our main result is the existence of a Quillen equivalence between the category of reduced operads of spectra (with the projective model structure) and a new model for the homotopy theory of cooperads of spectra. The crucial construction is of a weak equivalence of operads between the Boardman-Vogt W-construction for an operad P, and the cobar-bar construction on P. This weak equivalence generalizes a theorem of Berger and Moerdijk that says the…
In this paper we apply homotopical localization to the framework of differential graded algebras over an operad. We get plus construction by performing nullification with respect to an universal acyclic algebra. This plus construction for Lie and Leibniz algebras up to homotopy yields two new homology theories for associative algebras. They are closely related to cyclic and Hochschild homologies. We also compute their first homology groups.
We prove, under mild assumptions, that a Quillen equivalence between symmetric monoidal model categories gives rise to a Quillen equivalence between their model categories of (non-symmetric) operads, and also between model categories of algebras over operads. We also show left properness results on model categories of operads and algebras over operads. As an application, we prove homotopy invariance for (unital) associative operads.
We endow categories of non-symmetric operads with natural model structures. We work with no restriction on our operads and only assume the usual hypotheses for model categories with a symmetric monoidal structure. We also study categories of algebras over these operads in enriched non-symmetric monoidal model categories.
We introduce a category of locally constant $n$-operads which can be considered as the category of higher braided operads. For $n=1,2,\infty$ the homotopy category of locally constant $n$-operads is equivalent to the homotopy category of classical nonsymmetric, braided and symmetric operads correspondingly.
Over suitable monoidal model categories, we construct a Dwyer-Kan model category structure on the category of algebras over an augmented operadic collection. As examples we obtain Dwyer-Kan model category structure on the categories of enriched wheeled props, wheeled properads, and wheeled operads, among others. This result extends known model category structure on the categories of operads, properads, and props enriched in simplicial sets and other monoidal model categories. We also show that our Dwyer-Kan model category structure is well behaved with respect to simultaneous changes of the un…
We study the Eckmann-Hilton dual of the little disks algebra structure on iterated loop spaces: With the right definitions, every $n$-fold suspension is a coalgebra over the little $n$-disks operad. This structure induces non-trivial cooperations on the rational homotopy groups of an $n$-fold suspension. We describe the Eckmann-Hilton dual of the Browder bracket, which is a cooperation that forms an obstruction for an $n$-fold suspension to be an $(n+1)$-fold suspension, i.e. if this cooperation is non-zero then the space is not an $(n+1)$-fold suspension. We prove several results in equivaria…
The goal of this paper is to set up an obstruction theory in the context of algebras over an operad and in the framework of differential graded modules over a field. Precisely, the problem we consider is the following: Suppose given two algebras A and B over an operad P and an algebra morphism from the homology of A to the homology of B. Can we realize this morphism as a morphism of P-algebras from A to B in the homotopy category? Also, if the realization exists, is it unique in the homotopy category? We identify obstruction cocycles for this problem, and notice that they live in the first two…
There are basically two interesting breeds of $E_2$ operads, those that detect loop spaces and those that solve Deligne's conjecture. The former deformation retract to Milgram's space obtained by gluing together permutahedra at their faces. We show how the second breed can be covered by permutahedra as well. Even more is true, the quotient is actually already an operad up to homotopy, which induces the operad structure on cellular chains adapted to prove Deligne's conjecture, while no such structure is known on Milgram's space. We show, explicitely, that these two quotients are homotopy equiva…
We verify that certain algebras appearing in string field theory are algebras over Feynman transform of modular operads which we describe explicitly. Equivalent description in terms of solutions of generalized BV master equations are explained from the operadic point of view.
We explain how any cofibrantly generated weak factorisation system on a category may be equipped with a universally and canonically determined choice of cofibrant replacement. We then apply this to the theory of weak omega-categories, showing that the universal and canonical cofibrant replacement of the operad for strict omega-categories is precisely Leinster's operad for weak omega-categories.
