Theory and Applications of Categories, Vol. 13, No. 8, 2004, pp. 129–146.
COALGEBRAS, BRAIDINGS, AND DISTRIBUTIVE LAWS
To Aurelio Carboni on his 60th birthday
STEFANO KASANGIAN, STEPHEN LACK, AND ENRICO M. VITALE
Abstract. We show, for a monad T, that coalgebra structures on a T-algebra can
be described in terms of “braidings”, provided that the monad is equipped with an
invertible distributive law satisfying the Yang-Baxter equation.
1. Introduction
The aim of this note is to provide an equivalent description of T∗ -coalgebra structures on
a T-algebra, for T a monad — equipped with a special kind of distributive law — on a
category C, and T∗ the comonad induced by the adjunction
Co
LT
/
Alg(T)
RT
LT R T
Our interest for such coalgebras is motivated mainly by classical descent theory: let
f : R → S be a morphism of commutative unital rings, and consider the induced functor
f ! : R-mod → S-mod
defined by f !(N ) = N ⊗R S (where S is seen as an R-module by restriction of scalars).
The descent problem for f consists in recognizing when an S-module is of the form f !(N )
for some R-module N. A classical theorem [6, 2, 7], which establishes a deep link between
descent theory and the theory of (co)monads, asserts that, if f is faithfully flat, then an
S-module is of the form f !(N ) if and only if it is equipped with a T∗ -coalgebra structure,
where T∗ is the comonad on S-mod induced by the adjunction
R-mod o
f!
f∗
/
S-mod
f! f∗
and f ∗ is the restriction of scalars functor. (For this reason, a T∗ -coalgebra structure on
an S-module M is sometimes called a descent datum for M.) It is also well-known that, for
Second author supported by the Australian Research Council; third author by FNRS grant 1.5.116.01.
Received by the editors 2003-12-11 and, in revised form, 2004-10-01.
Published on 2004-12-05.
2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 18C15, 18C20, 18D10, 16B50.
Key words and phrases: Descent data, monads, distributive laws, Yang-Baxter equation.
c Stefano Kasangian, Stephen Lack, and Enrico M. Vitale, 2004. Permission to copy for private use
granted.
129
130
STEFANO KASANGIAN, STEPHEN LACK, AND ENRICO M. VITALE
any morphism f : R → S of commutative unital rings, there are several equivalent ways
of describing what a T∗ -coalgebra structure for an S-module is, and a natural problem is
to lift to a categorical level these other descriptions of T∗ -coalgebra structures.
In a recent paper [11], Menini and Stefan, extending results by Nuss [12] on noncommutative rings, replace the situation
R-mod o
f!
/
f∗
S-mod
f! f∗
Alg(T)
LT R T
by
Co
LT
RT
/
where T is a monad on an arbitrary category C (indeed, even in the non-commutative
situation, f ∗ : S-mod → R-mod is a monadic functor, so that S-mod is equivalent to
the category of algebras for the monad on R-mod induced by the adjunction f ! f ∗ ).
In this context, they prove that, if the monad T is equipped with a “compatible flip”
K : T 2 ⇒ T 2 , then to give a T∗ -coalgebra structure on a T-algebra X is equivalent to
giving a “symmetry” on X, that is an involution T X → T X satisfying some suitable
conditions.
Unfortunately, the following natural example, which is a direct generalization of the
classical case of commutative rings, does not fit into their general context: let C be a
braided monoidal category and let S be a monoid in C, then the braiding cS,S : S ⊗ S →
S ⊗ S induces a natural isomorphism K : T 2 ⇒ T 2 on the monad T = − ⊗ S : C → C, but
this natural isomorphism is not a flip unless the braiding is a symmetry and the monoid
is commutative. In this note we adapt the notions of “compatible flip” and “symmetry”
to encompass the previous example, as well as another example coming from the theory
of bialgebras.
In Section 2 we introduce the notion of BD-law on a monad T as a special case of
distributive law in the sense of Beck [1]. Using a BD-law K, we can define K-braidings on
a T-algebra, and we want to show that K-braidings correspond bijectively to T∗ -coalgebra
structures. There are two different methods: in Section 3 we use K-braidings to define a
category Brd(T, K) equipped with a forgetful functor V : Brd(T, K) → Alg(T). We show,
using the Beck criterion [10], that V is comonadic; and that the corresponding comonad
is T∗ , so that Brd(T, K) is isomorphic to Coalg(T∗ ). In Section 4 we give a different proof
based as far as possible on general facts about monads and distributive laws. This second
proof is quite long, but it seems to us of some interest, since it shows that the bijection
between K-braidings and T∗ -coalgebra structures is the natural bijection induced by a
pair of adjoint functors. The description of K-braidings we obtain in this way is slightly
different, but in fact equivalent, to that used in Section 3.
131
COALGEBRAS, BRAIDINGS, AND DISTRIBUTIVE LAWS
2. BD-laws on a monad
To begin, we fix notation. A monad T on a category C is a triple
T = (T : C → C, m : T 2 ⇒ T, e : IdC ⇒ T )
consisting of a functor T , and natural transformations m and e making the diagrams
eT
Te
+3 T 2 ks
T MMM
qT
MMM (1)
qqq
(2)
q
MMM
q
q
m
qqq
T MMM
M "* t| qqq T
T
T3
mT
Tm
(3)
T2
m
+3 T 2
m
+3 T
commute. A T-algebra is a pair (X, x : T X → X) in C such that the diagrams
eX
/ TX
X OOO
OOO (4)
OOO
x
OOO
1
OO' X
T 2X
mX
TX
Tx
/ TX
(5)
x
x
/X
commute. Given two monads T and S on the same category C, a distributive law of T
over S is a natural transformation K : T S ⇒ ST such that the diagrams
Te
+3 T S
yy
y
y
BBBB
y
BBB (6) yyyyyyy
y
eT BBB%
x yyy K
T BBB
B
eS
+3 T S
yy
BBB
y
y
y
BBBB (7) yyyy
BB
yyyy
Se BB%
x yyy K
S BBB
ST
T S2
Tm
TS
KS
+3 ST S SK +3 S 2 T
(8)
K
mT
+3 ST
ST
T 2S
mS
TS
TK
+3 T ST KT 3+ ST 2
(9)
K
Sm
+3 ST
commute.
We refer to [1, 3] for more details on monads and distributive laws. When the natural
transformation K is an isomorphism, the definition of distributive law can be simplified,
as in the following lemma:
2.1. Lemma.
Consider two monads T and S on a category C, and a natural isomorphism K : T S ⇒ ST. Then (8) implies (6) and (9) implies (7). Moreover, K satisfies (8)
and (9) iff K −1 does.
132
STEFANO KASANGIAN, STEPHEN LACK, AND ENRICO M. VITALE
Proof. We prove that (9) implies (7); the proof of the other implication is similar, and
the rest of the statement is obvious. The proof is contained in the following diagram, in
which unlabelled regions commute by naturality:
eS
S FFFFF
FFFFeS
FFFF
FFFF
F
Se
'
+3 ST
7? KS
w
w
w
Smwwww
w
w
ww
wwwww
(2)
K
TS
T Se
K
+3 T S
+3 ST
ST e
+3 ST 2
KS
KT
K
T K −1
T K +3
+3 2
(9)
kk 19 T S SSSSS T ST
k
k
k
S
k
S
S
SSS
kkk
K −1
(1)
kkk
mS SSSSSS
kkkkk eT S
%-3+
TS
T S.
TS
ST
eST
+3 T ST
2.2. Definition.
Let T be a monad on a category C. A BD-law on T is a natural
2
transformation K : T ⇒ T 2 such that
(B) K satisfies the Yang-Baxter equation:
T3
TK
KT
(10)
T3
+3 T 3 T K 3+ T 3
KT
+3 T 3
TK
KT
+3 T 3
(D) K is a distributive law (that is, it satisfies equations (6–9)).
A BCD-law on T is a BD-law such that
(C) the monad T is K-commutative:
K
+3 T 2
}
AAAA
}
}
AAA (11) }}}}}
m AAAA
}}} m
$ z }}}
T 2 AAA
T
A BD-law or BCD-law is said to be invertible if the natural transformation K is so.
2.3. Remark.
Once again, as stated in Lemma 2.1 for the distributivity conditions,
a natural isomorphism K : T 2 ⇒ T 2 satisfies conditions (B) or (C) iff K −1 does.
2.4. Remark.
If C is an arbitrary monoidal category, and T is a monoid in C, one
can define a BD-law or BCD-law on T as above. A monoid equipped with an invertible
BCD-law has been called a quasi-commutative monoid by Davydov [5], since the BCD-law
provides a kind of “local braiding” with respect to which the monoid is commutative.
133
COALGEBRAS, BRAIDINGS, AND DISTRIBUTIVE LAWS
2.5. Remark. If K is involutive — that is, K 2 = 1 — each of the conditions (8) and
(9) implies the other. This fact, together with Lemma 2.1, means that compatible flips
in the sense of Menini and Stefan [11] are precisely the involutive BCD-laws.
2.6. Example.
Let C = (C, ⊗, I, . . .) be a monoidal category and S = (S, mS , eS ) a
monoid in C. The monoid S induces a monad T on C in the following way:
• T = − ⊗ S: C → C
• mX = 1 ⊗ mS : X ⊗ S ⊗ S → X ⊗ S
• eX = 1 ⊗ eS : X X ⊗ I → X ⊗ S
2.6.1
If C is braided, with braiding c = {cX,Y : X ⊗ Y → Y ⊗ X}, then there is
an invertible BD-law K on T defined by KX = 1 ⊗ cS,S : X ⊗ S ⊗ S → X ⊗ S ⊗ S.
In this case, condition (B) is precisely the Yang-Baxter equation; by naturality of the
braiding, conditions (8) and (9) reduce to the following equations, which hold in any
braided monoidal category:
•777 •
7 •===
•
•
== ==
=== ==
==
===
=
•
•
•
=
•
77
77
7
• •777 •
77
7
777
• • •
•...
•... •
..
.. ..
.
.. ...
.. ..
..
..
..
..
•
•
•
•
=
•777 •
7 77
77
7
•777 • •
77
7
777
• • •
This BD-law is a BCD-law precisely when the monoid S is commutative; it is involutive
if and only if cS,S is so, in particular if the braiding c is a symmetry.
2.6.2
Let K be a field and take as C the category of K-vector spaces. Let H be a
cobraided bialgebra with universal form r : H ⊗ H → I; there is a natural isomorphism
of H-comodules crV,W : V ⊗ W → W ⊗ V defined by
V ⊗W
τ
/ W ⊗ V ∆⊗∆ / H ⊗ W ⊗ H ⊗ V 1⊗τ ⊗1/ H ⊗ H ⊗ W ⊗ V r⊗1⊗1/ W ⊗ V
where ∆ is the coaction and τ is the standard twist: see [9]. If S is any H-comodule
algebra (in particular, one can take S = H), then we have an invertible BD-law K on T
defined by KX = 1 ⊗ crS,S : X ⊗ S ⊗ S → X ⊗ S ⊗ S. Indeed, conditions (8-10) follow
from [9, Proposition VIII.5.2], using the fact that the multiplication mS : S ⊗ S → S is a
homomorphism of H-comodules.
2.7. Example.
If f : R → S is a morphism of unital rings, with R commutative,
we can specialize Example 2.6.1 by taking C = R-mod, so that K is defined by the
standard twist S ⊗ S → S ⊗ S. This is possible also if R is not commutative, provided
its image lies in the centre of S : taking now C = R-R-bimod, the standard twist on S
can be defined and gives once again an invertible BD-law on T. If we drop the centrality
condition the standard twist can no longer be defined, but one can use the additivity
134
STEFANO KASANGIAN, STEPHEN LACK, AND ENRICO M. VITALE
of the category of bimodules to define a different BD-law. In fact, if C is an additive
category and T is any monad on C, then there is an involutive BCD-law K on T defined
by K = (eT + T e) · m − T 2 ; see [11]. This case generalizes results on non-commutative
rings established in [4, 12].
3. Coalgebras and braidings
For the reader’s convenience, let us recall how the definition of coalgebra for a comonad
specializes when the comonad is of the form T∗ .
3.1. Definition.
Let T = (T, m, e) be a monad on a category C and consider the
∗
comonad T on Alg(T) induced by the adjunction
LT
Co
RT
/
LT R T
Alg(T)
A T∗ -coalgebra structure on a T-algebra (X, x : T X → X) is a morphism r : X → T X
such that
Tr / 2
r
r /
/ TX
X OOO
TX
TX
X
T X
x
(12)
X
r
OOO (13)
OOO
x
OOO
1
OO' mX
/ TX
r
X
TX
(14)
T eX
Tr
/ T 2X
We denote by T∗ -coalg(X, x) the set of T∗ -coalgebra structures on a T-algebra (X, x).
3.2. Remark. For all X ∈ C, the morphism T eX : T X → T 2 X is a T∗ -coalgebra structure on the free T-algebra LT X = (T X, mX). This is the (object part of the) canonical
comparison functor C → Coalg(T∗ ).
3.3. Definition. Let T = (T, m, e) be a monad on a category C and let K : T 2 ⇒ T 2
be a BD-law. A K-braiding on a T-algebra (X, x : T X → X) is a morphism c : T X → T X
such that
TX
O
eX
X
c
(15)
1
/ TX
x
/X
T 2X
Tc
KX
Tc
(16)
T 2X
/ T 2X
KX
/ T 2X
/ T 2X
Tc
KX
/ T 2X
T 2X
Tx
TX
KX
/ T 2X
(17)
c
Tc
/ T 2X
mX
/ TX
We denote by K-Brd(X, x) the set of K-braidings on a T-algebra (X, x).
3.4. Remark.
If K is invertible, condition (17) means that c is a morphism
c : T (X, x) → T ∗ (X, x)
in Alg(T), where T is the lifting of T on Alg(T) induced by the distributive law K −1 .
COALGEBRAS, BRAIDINGS, AND DISTRIBUTIVE LAWS
135
3.5. Remark. We shall see in Proposition 3.9 that if K is invertible or involutive then
the same is true of any K-braiding, whence by Corollary 3.11 it will follow that if K is
an involutive BCD-law, then K-braidings are precisely symmetries in the sense of Menini
and Stefan [11].
3.6. Remark. If K is a BD-law on T, then KX is a K-braiding on LT X, for all X ∈ C.
Indeed, conditions (16) and (17) correspond respectively to conditions (10) and (9), while
condition (15) is the pasting of (1) and (6). In the bijection stated in Corollary 3.8, KX
corresponds to the T∗ -coalgebra structure T eX of Remark 3.2.
If T is a monad on a category C and K : T 2 ⇒ T 2 is a BD-law, we write Brd(T, K)
for the category having pairs
(X, x) ∈ Alg(T), c ∈ K-Brd(X, x) as objects. An arrow f : (X, x), c → (X , x ), c in Brd(T, K) is an arrow between the
underlying T-algebras such that the diagram
Tf
TX
c
/ T X
TX
Tf
c
/ T X
commutes.
We are ready to state our main result.
3.7. Theorem.
Let T = (T, m, e) be a monad on a category C and let K : T 2 ⇒ T 2
be a BD-law on T. The forgetful functor
V : Brd(T, K) → Alg(T)
is comonadic, and the corresponding comonad on Alg(T) is the comonad T∗ induced by
the adjunction LT RT between C and Alg(T).
Proof. We show that V has a left adjoint and then apply Beck’s theorem. The free T algebra functor LT : C → Alg(T) factorizes as LT = V J, where J : C → Brd(T, K) is the
functor sending an object X of C to the algebra (T X, mX) equipped with the K-braiding
KX : T 2 X → T 2 X. The counit : LT RT → 1 may be seen as a natural transformation
V JRT = LT RT → 1. For an object (X, x, c) of Brd(T, K), write β : X → T X for the
composite
eX
X
and observe that, by commutativity of
/ TX
T eX
TX
x
eT X
Tx
X
/ T 2X
eX
/ TX
KX
c
/ TX
*
/ T 2X
(17)
c
Tc
/ T 2X
mX
/ TX
136
STEFANO KASANGIAN, STEPHEN LACK, AND ENRICO M. VITALE
and
T eX
TX
c
*
/ T 2X
/ T 2X
eT X
KX
Tc
TX
eT X
Tc
(16)
KX
/ T 2X
/ T 2X
4
/ T 2X
KX
Tc
/ T 2X
T eX
this makes β a map in Brd(T, K) from (X, x, c) to (T X, mX, KX). This gives the component at (X, x, c) of a natural transformation β : 1 → JRT V .
The triangle equation V.V β = 1 is precisely equation (15), while the other triangle
equation JRT .βJRT = 1 follows easily from the definitions of BD-law and of T-algebra.
Thus there is an adjunction V JRT , which clearly induces the same comonad as
LT R T .
It remains to verify the Beck condition. Let f, g : (X, x, c) → (Z, z, c ) be morphisms
in Brd(T, K), and let
(W, w)
i
i
u
f
/ (X, x)
\
g
/
/ (Z, z)
v
be a split equalizer diagram in Alg(T), with ui = 1, iu = gv, and f v = 1. Since T i is
(split) monic, the only possibility for a K-braiding c : T W → T W on (W, w) compatible
with i is given by
TW
Ti
/ TX
c
/ TX
Tu
/ TW
and we need only check that this does indeed give a braiding; the fact that the resulting
diagram is an equalizer in Brd(T, K) is then obvious. Thus we must check equations
(15,16,17); instead, we allow the reader to contemplate the following diagrams at his or
her leisure:
TW
O
Ti
eW
W
/ TX
O
c
eX
i
/X
1
1
/ TX
Tu
x
/X
u
/ TW
w
/3 W
COALGEBRAS, BRAIDINGS, AND DISTRIBUTIVE LAWS
T 2u
T 2 XHH
v;
/ T 2 W KW / T 2 W
HH T 2 g
v
HH
vv
HH
vv
v
H#
v
v
/
2
2
T 2i
T O X T 2 g T O Z T c / T 2O Z HH
HH
HH
T 2f
T 2f
T 2i
H
T 2 v HH$ 2i
T
/
/
/ T 2X
T 2W
T 2X
T 2X
Tc
1
Tc
KW
T 2W
T 2i
T 2i
/ T 2X
KX
KX
Tc
/ T 2X
137
/ T 2 X KX / T 2 X
Tc
T 2u
T 2W
T 2u
KW
/ T 2W
T 2i
/ T 2X
HH
v;
HH T c
v
v
KW vv
KX vv
HH
v
v
HH
v
v
v
v
H#
vv
vv
T 2u / 2
/
2
2
T W T 2i T X
T 2X
T W
T 2W
v:
Tw
Tx
TW
Ti
/ TX
mX
/ TX
Tc
Tu
mW
/ T W.
3.8. Corollary. Let T = (T, m, e) be a monad on a category C and let K : T 2 ⇒ T 2
be a BD-law on T. For (X, x) a T-algebra, consider the map
Ψ(X,x) : K-Brd(X, x) → T∗ -coalg(X, x)
(c : T X → T X) → (r : X
eX
/ TX
c
/ TX )
and the functor
Ψ : Brd(T, K) → Coalg(T∗ )
(X, x), c
f
/ (X , x ), c → (X, x, Ψ(c))
f
/ (X , x , Ψ(c ))
1. The functor Ψ is an isomorphism of categories;
2. The map Ψ(X,x) is bijective.
Proof. Since the forgetful functor V : Brd(T, K) → Alg(T) is comonadic, the induced
comparison functor Ψ : Brd(T, K) → Coalg(T∗ ) is an isomorphism of categories and so it
induces a bijection on objects.
138
STEFANO KASANGIAN, STEPHEN LACK, AND ENRICO M. VITALE
3.9. Proposition.
For a BD-law K : T 2 → T 2 we have the following facts about a
K-braiding c : T X → T X on an algebra (X, x):
1. The diagrams
Tc
T 2X
mX
/ T 2 X KX / T 2 X
(18)
TX
T 3X
Tx
T 2x
/ TX
c
T KX /
T 2X
mX
T 2c
T 3X
TX
c
T mX
T 2X
(19)
/ T 3X
/ TX o
Tx
KX
T 2X
commute;
2. If K is invertible then so is c;
3. If K is involutive then so is c;
4. If K is a BCD-law then the diagram
c
/ TX
DD
zz
DD (20) zzz
z x
x DD
}zz
!
T XDD
X
commutes.
Proof. In each case the proof goes as follows. Modify the definition of K-braiding so
that the extra condition is assumed part of the structure, then check that the modified
category Brd(T, K) is still comonadic via the same comonad. This involves (i) proving
that the cofree objects (T X, mX, KX) have the required property, and (ii) proving that
in the split equalizer diagram in the proof of Theorem 3.7, the induced morphism c =
T u.c.T i : T W → T W satisfies the condition if c : T X → T X does so. In each case (i)
is entirely straightforward: for example, the fact that the cofree objects satisfy (18) is
precisely (9). We therefore check only (ii).
1. If c satisfies (18), then so does c by commutativity of the diagram
v
vv
vv
v
vv
Tc
T 2W
mW
T 2i
TW
/ T 2X
mX
Ti
T 2u
Tx
/ TX
T 2u
/ T 2W
HH
HH KX
HH KW
HH
HH
HH
HH
H$
H$
/
2
T X
T 2W
T 2 XHH
v;
c
/ TX
Tu
Tw
/ TW
COALGEBRAS, BRAIDINGS, AND DISTRIBUTIVE LAWS
139
while (19) is obtained by pasting together (17) and (18).
2 and 3. If c is invertible, then a straightforward calculation shows that T u.c−1 .T i is
inverse to T u.c.T i.
4. If xc = x then the diagram
c
/ TX
T
; XDD
GG
w
z
D
GGT u
w
z
D
T i ww
z
D
GG
z
DD
w
zx
GG
w
z
x
D
ww
#
}zz
!
T WGG
X
T
W
DD
=
DD u
GG
ww
zz
w
i
z
DD
G
w
z
DD
ww w
zz
w GGG
zz
#
!
{ww
/W
W
1
commutes and so wc = w.
3.10. Remark.
If K is a distributive law, condition (18) means that c is a morphism
c : T ∗ (X, x) → T(X, x)
is the lifting of T to Alg(T) induced by the distributive law K.
in Alg(T), where T
In fact we can use the Proposition to give two alternative formulations of the definition.
One of them will be used in the following section, the other to make the connection with
the “symmetries” of [11].
3.11. Corollary.
In the definition of K-braiding, condition (17) can be replaced by
(19), while if K is a BCD-law then (15) can be replaced by (20).
Proof. We have seen that for a K-braiding (19) always holds; conversely (17) follows
easily from (19) by composing with eT X : T X → T 2 X. Similarly, if K is a BCDlaw then (20) holds for any K-braiding, while (15) follows from (20) by composing with
eX : X → T X.
If K is an involutive BCD-law on a monad T, then a symmetry on a T-algebra (X, x),
was defined in [11] to be an involution c : T X → T X satisfying (16, 17, 20); combining the
proposition and the corollary one now sees as promised that this is precisely a K-braiding.
4. Another proof
We proved our main theorem in the previous section; here we provide an alternative proof,
which may be of interest to some readers. It exhibits the bijection which is the object
part of the isomorphism Φ of Corollary 3.8 as being part of the natural bijection (between
hom-sets) of an adjunction.
To do this, we use the definition of K-braiding involving (19) rather than (17); see
Corollary 3.11.
140
STEFANO KASANGIAN, STEPHEN LACK, AND ENRICO M. VITALE
4.1. Proposition. Let T = (T, m, e) be a monad on a category C and let K : T 2 ⇒ T 2
be an invertible BD-law on T. For (X, x) a T-algebra, we have a bijection
K-Brd(X, x) ∼
= T∗ -coalg(X, x)
given by
Ψ(X,x) : K-Brd(X, x) → T∗ -coalg(X, x)
(c : T X → T X) → (r : X
eX
c
/ TX
/ TX )
∗
Ψ−1
(X,x) : T -coalg(X, x) → K-Brd(X, x)
(r : X → T X) → (c : T X
Tr
/ T 2 X KX / T 2 X T x / T X )
As explained above, the proposition can be deduced from Corollary 3.8; our alternative
proof occupies the remainder of the paper.
Let T and S be monads on a category C. A morphism of monads is a natural transformation ϕ : S ⇒ T such that
ϕ2
S2
m
(21)
S
e
+3 S
NNN (22)
NN
ϕ
NN
e NN
NN "* +3 T 2
IdC NN
m
+3 T
ϕ
T
Following [1], such a morphism ϕ induces a functor ϕ∗ : Alg(T) → Alg(S) defined by
ϕ∗ (X, x : T X → X) = (X, ϕX · x : SX → T X → X). Moreover, ϕ∗ has a left adjoint
ϕ! : Alg(S) → Alg(T) sending an S-algebra (Y, y) to the object ϕ!(Y, y) in the coequalizer
T SYGG
Ty
GG
GG
G
T ϕY GG
#
T 2Y
/ TY
<
y
yy
y
y
yy
yy mY
q
/ ϕ!(Y, y)
in Alg(T), provided that such a coequalizer exists. Indeed, if f : (Y, y) → ϕ∗ (X, x) is a
morphism of S-algebras, then x.T f : T Y → X coequalizes T y and mY.T ϕY . Conversely,
from g : ϕ!(Y, y) → (X, x), we get g.q.eY : (Y, y) → ϕ∗ (X, x).
If K : T S ⇒ ST is a distributive law of T over S, we can consider the composite monad
ST on C. Explicitly,
ST = (ST : C → C, ST ST
SKT
+3 S 2 T 2 mm +3 ST , Id
C
Moreover, there are two morphisms of monads as in
S
1 =Se
+3 ST ks
2 =eT
T.
ee
+3 ST )
COALGEBRAS, BRAIDINGS, AND DISTRIBUTIVE LAWS
141
Now, for any T-algebra (X, x : T X → X) and S-algebra (Y, y : SY → Y ), the adjunction
2 ! ∗2 gives a natural bijection
Ψ : Alg(ST)[2 !(X, x), 1 !(Y, y)]
/ Alg(T)[(X, x), ∗ 1 !(Y, y)]
2
The bijection of Proposition 4.1 will turn out to be a particular case of this natural
bijection. To see this, we give an explicit description of Ψ and of the hom-sets involved.
First of all, let us recall from [1] that the coequalizer defining 2 !(X, x) always exists.
In fact, it is given by the solid part of the following diagram in Alg(ST)
SeT X
}
ST T X
ST x
SmX
SeX

/ ST X
/
Sx
/ SX
with action on SX given by
ST SX
SKX
/ S 2T X
S2x
/ S 2 X mX / SX
Indeed, one easily verifies that the dotted arrows satisfy the equations for a split coequalizer [2]. Recall also that if f is a morphism of ST-algebras coequalizing ST x and SmX,
then the induced ST-algebra map out of SX is f.SeX.
Unfortunately, the existence of the coequalizer defining 1 !(Y, y) is not automatic. We
need the following lemma, which makes sense because of Lemma 2.1:
4.2. Lemma.
Consider two monads S and T on a category C, and let K : T S ⇒ ST
be an invertible distributive law of T over S. Consider the composite monad ST induced
by K and the composite monad TS induced by K −1 . Then K : TS ⇒ ST is a morphism of
monads, and it satisfies the following equations
TS\d AA
}}:B
AAAA η1
}
}
}
AAAA
}}}
}
AAAA
}
}
}
}}
K
S AAAA
T
}}
}
AAAA
}
}
}}}
AA
}}} 1 AAAA
$ z }}} 2
η2
ST
where η1 = T e and η2 = eS.
Proof. The equations 1 = Kη2 and 2 = Kη1 are conditions (6) and (7), and they
imply condition (22). As far as condition (21) is concerned, let us give the idea of the
proof, instead of the complete calculation. (This could be formalized using the string
calculus of [8].) Think of K as a braiding between T and S. Then condition (21) amounts
142
STEFANO KASANGIAN, STEPHEN LACK, AND ENRICO M. VITALE
to the following equation
•NNNN
p•
p•
•NNNN
NNN ppppp
NNN ppppp
pN
pN
N
N
pp NNN
pp NNN
NN=
NN
ppp
ppp
p
p
p
p
•
•== •
•
==
==
==?
?
•??
•??
•
•
??
??




??
??


?? 
?? 


•
•===
•
•
•
= ==
===
=
•==
•==
•
•
==
==
==
== == == T
• TTTTT
jj•
j
j
j
TTTT jjj
Tj
jjj TTTTTTT
j
j
j
TT
j
•jj
•
=
•
which can be proved using the distributivity equations three times. Indeed, the distributivity admits the following graphical representation (this is condition (8))
•
•VVVVVVV
•===
•
==
==
== q•
•MMMM
MMM qqqq
q
MM
qqq MMMMM
q
q
q
•
p•
q•
VVVpVpp
qqq
q
q
V
p
VVVV qqq
pp
VVVV
ppp
VVVV
p
p
qqq
V•
q
•=p==
•
==
==
== •
•
=
•
As a consequence of the previous lemma, 1 ! : Alg(S) → Alg(ST) can be obtained as
η2 !
Alg(S)
/ Alg(TS) (K
−1 )∗
/ Alg(ST)
and then 1 !(Y, y) can be described by the following coequalizer in Alg(ST)
T eSY
w
(K −1 )∗ (LTS (SY ))
T Sy
T mY
T eY
z
/ (K −1 )∗ (LTS (Y ))
/
KSY Ty
/ TY
KY
LST (SY )
ST y
mT Y.SKY
/ LST (Y )
/
with action on T Y given by
ST 2 Y
SmY
−1
/ ST Y K Y / T SY
Ty
/ T Y.
We are now ready to describe the bijection Ψ.
4.3. Lemma. Consider two monads S and T on a category C, and let K : T S ⇒ ST be
an invertible distributive law of T over S. For any T-algebra (X, x) and S-algebra (Y, y) :
143
COALGEBRAS, BRAIDINGS, AND DISTRIBUTIVE LAWS
(i) The hom-set Alg(S)[(Y, y), ∗1 (2 !(X, x))] is the set of morphisms r : Y → SX such
that
Sr / 2
SY
S X
y
(12)
Y
mX
/ SX
r
commutes.
(ii) The hom-set Alg(ST)[1 !(Y, y), 2 !(X, x)] is the set of morphisms c : T Y → SX such
that
T KY /
T Sc /
T ST Y
T SSX
T 2 SY
T 2y
T 2Y
mY
(19)
TY
T SX
/ SX o
c
T mX
Sx
KX
ST X
commutes.
(iii) The natural bijection
Ψ : Alg(ST)[1 !(Y, y), 2 !(X, x)]
/ Alg(S)[(Y, y), ∗ (2 !(X, x))]
1
induced by the adjunction 1 ! ∗1 is given by
Ψ(c) : Y
eY
c
/ TY
/ SX
Ψ−1 (r) : T Y
Tr
/ T SX KX / ST X
Sx
/ SX.
Proof. Following the description of ϕ! ϕ∗ given at the beginning of this section, we
have Ψ(c) and Ψ−1 (r) given respectively by
Y
TY
eY
/ TY
eT Y
eT Y
/ ST Y
ST r /
K −1
/ ST Y
ST SX
SKX /
/ T SY
SST X
Ty
nT X
/ TY
Sr
SeSX
/ S 2X
/ ST SX
y
Y
r
/ SX o
mX
S 2X o
S2x
/ SX
/ ST X Sx / SX
which are easily seen to reduce to formulas given in (iii).
For r : Y → SX, to be a morphism of S-algebras means that
SY
c
SKX
S 2T X
commutes, which immediately reduces to (12) by (6) and (4).
144
STEFANO KASANGIAN, STEPHEN LACK, AND ENRICO M. VITALE
For c : T Y → SX, to be a morphism of ST-algebras means commutativity of
ST 2 Y
SmY
ST c
/ ST SX SKX / SST X SSx / SSX
ST Y
K −1 Y
/ T SY
Ty
/ TY
c
mX
/ SX
which, by (8) and (9), reduces to (19).
This is the best we can do working at this level of generality. ¿From now on, we assume
S = T and (X, x) = (Y, y). We now combine the next two lemmas with the previous one
to complete the proof of Proposition 4.1.
4.4. Lemma. Let T be a monad on a category C, and let K : T 2 ⇒ T 2 be an invertible
distributive law on T. Fix a T-algebra (X, x). In the bijection of Lemma 4.3, the map
r : X → T X satisfies condition (13) iff c = Ψ−1 (r) : T X → T X satisfies condition (15).
Proof. Condition (15) says precisely that Ψ(c) satisfies (13).
4.5. Lemma. Let T be a monad on a category C, and let K : T 2 ⇒ T 2 be an invertible
BD-law on T. Fix a T-algebra (X, x). In the bijection of Lemma 4.3, the map r : X → T X
satisfies condition (14) iff c = Ψ−1 (r) : T X → T X satisfies condition (16).
Proof. (14) ⇒ (16) :
T 2r
KX
/ T 2X
/ 3
T 2 X PP
hhh4 T X
h
h
PPP 2
h
KT Xhhhhh
PTPPr
PPP
hhhh
h
h
h
h
P'
hhhh
T KX (14)
T KX
T 2r
T 3 X PP
T 3X
T KX
T 3X
T 2x
T 2X
KX
2
T X
PPP
PTPKX
PPP
PP'
T 3r
/ T 4X
3
T 3 X
T
X
nn }
T 3 eXnnnn }}
}
n
T KT X
T 2x
n
}
n
nn
}}
n
w
3
}
T r
/ T 4 X (1) }}
T 2X
}} 1
}
}
(12)
}
KX
T 2 mX
}}
}
}
~
2
T r
/ T 3X
(10)
T 3 XHH
T 2O X
HH
HH
KT X
T 2x
H
KT X HH#
/ T 3X
/ T 3X
T 3 eX
T 2r
T (KX)
COALGEBRAS, BRAIDINGS, AND DISTRIBUTIVE LAWS
145
(16) ⇒ (14) :
n X SSSSS
SSSS
nnn
SeX
SSSS
n
n
n
SSSS
n
n
S)
wnn T eX
eT
X
/ T 2X o
T X PP
TX
HH
PPP (7)
HH T c
PPP
H
c
KX HHH
P
eT X PPP
H#
' eT X
c
TX
T 2X
T 2 X5 o
55
55
Tc
55 (6)
55
eT X
/
2
(16)
T eX
55
T X PP
T
X
KX
PPP (6)
55
PPP
55
KX
P
5 T eX PPP
' o
2
T X
T 2X
eX nnn
Tc
The proof of Proposition 4.1 is now complete.
References
[1] J. Beck, Distributive laws, in Seminar on Triples and Categorical Homology Theory
(Lecture Notes in Mathematics 80), pp. 119–140, Springer, Berlin, 1969.
[2] F. Borceux, Handbook of categorical algebra I, Cambridge University Press, 1994.
[3] F. Borceux, Handbook of categorical algebra II, Cambridge University Press, 1994.
[4] M. Cipolla, Discesa fedelmente piatta dei moduli, Rend. Circ. Mat. Palermo 25:43–
46, 1976.
[5] A. Davydov, Quasicommutative monoids, Lecture at Australian Category Seminar,
21 January 2004.
[6] A. Grothendieck, Technique de descente et théorèmes d’existence en géométrie
algébrique, I : Généralités, descente par morphismes fidèlements plats, Séminaire
Bourbaki 190 (1959-1960).
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algebras, preprint, 2004.
[8] A. Joyal and R. Street, Geometry of tensor calculus I, Adv. Math. 88:55–112, 1991.
[9] C. Kassel, Quantum groups (Graduate Texts in Mathematics 155) Springer-Verlag,
New York, 1995.
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146
STEFANO KASANGIAN, STEPHEN LACK, AND ENRICO M. VITALE
[11] C. Menini and D. Stefan, Descent theory and Amitsur cohomology of triples, J.
Algebra 266:261–304, 2003.
[12] P. Nuss, Noncommutative descent and non-abelian cohomology, K-Theory 12:23–74,
1997.
Dipartimento di Matematica
Università di Milano
Via Saldini 50
I 20133 Milano, Italia
School of Quantitative Methods and Mathematical Sciences
University of Western Sydney
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Département de Mathématiques Pures et Appliquées
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Email: Stefano.Kasangian@mat.unimi.it,
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vitale@math.ucl.ac.be
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