Foams with flat connections and algebraic K-theory

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Gepner, David, Im, Mee Seong, Khovanov, Mikhail, Kitchloo, Nitu
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Gepner, David
Im, Mee Seong
Khovanov, Mikhail
Kitchloo, Nitu
author_facet Gepner, David
Im, Mee Seong
Khovanov, Mikhail
Kitchloo, Nitu
contents This paper proposes a connection between algebraic K-theory and foam cobordisms, where foams are stratified manifolds with singularities of a prescribed form. We consider $n$-dimensional foams equipped with a flat bundle of finitely-generated projective $R$-modules over each facet of the foam, together with gluing conditions along the subfoam of singular points. In a suitable sense which will become clear, a vertex (or the smallest stratum) of an $n$-dimensional foam replaces an $(n+1)$-simplex with a total ordering of vertices. We show that the first K-theory group of a ring $R$ can be identified with the cobordism group of decorated 1-foams embedded in the plane. A similar relation between the $n$-th algebraic K-theory group of a ring $R$ and the cobordism group of decorated $n$-foams embedded in $\mathbb{R}^{n+1}$ is expected for $n>1$. An analogous correspondence is proposed for arbitrary exact categories. Modifying the embedding and other conditions on the foams may lead to new flavors of K-theory groups.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2405_14465
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Foams with flat connections and algebraic K-theory
Gepner, David
Im, Mee Seong
Khovanov, Mikhail
Kitchloo, Nitu
K-Theory and Homology
Algebraic Topology
Geometric Topology
Primary: 57R90, 19B99, 19D06, 18M05, Secondary: 19A99, 55N22
This paper proposes a connection between algebraic K-theory and foam cobordisms, where foams are stratified manifolds with singularities of a prescribed form. We consider $n$-dimensional foams equipped with a flat bundle of finitely-generated projective $R$-modules over each facet of the foam, together with gluing conditions along the subfoam of singular points. In a suitable sense which will become clear, a vertex (or the smallest stratum) of an $n$-dimensional foam replaces an $(n+1)$-simplex with a total ordering of vertices. We show that the first K-theory group of a ring $R$ can be identified with the cobordism group of decorated 1-foams embedded in the plane. A similar relation between the $n$-th algebraic K-theory group of a ring $R$ and the cobordism group of decorated $n$-foams embedded in $\mathbb{R}^{n+1}$ is expected for $n>1$. An analogous correspondence is proposed for arbitrary exact categories. Modifying the embedding and other conditions on the foams may lead to new flavors of K-theory groups.
title Foams with flat connections and algebraic K-theory
topic K-Theory and Homology
Algebraic Topology
Geometric Topology
Primary: 57R90, 19B99, 19D06, 18M05, Secondary: 19A99, 55N22
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.14465