# Homotopy Type Theory James construction (changes)

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## Definition

The James construction  JA J A on a pointed type $A$. Is the higher inductive type given by

•  \epsilon_{JA} \epsilon_{J A} : JA J A
•  \alpha_{JA} \alpha_{J A} : A \to JA J A \to JA J A
•  \delta_{JA} \delta_{J A} : \prod_{x : JA} J A} x = \alpha_A (*_A, x)

## Properties

We have an equivalence of types $JA \simeq \Omega \Sigma A$ if $A$ is 0-connected.

We can see that  JA J A is simply the free monoid on $A$. The higher inductive type is recursive which can make it difficult to study. This however can be remedied by defining a sequence of types $(J_n A)_{n: \mathbb{N}}$ together with maps $(i_n : J_n A \to J_{n+1} A)_{n:\mathbb{N}}$ such that the type $J_\infty A$ defined as the sequential colimit of $(J_n A)_{n:\mathbb{N}}$ is equivalent to  JA J A.

This is useful as we can study the lower homotopy groups of $\Omega \Sigma X$ by studying the lower homotopy groups of the sequential colimit. Which is what allows Brunerie to show $\pi_4(S^3) = \mathbb{Z} / n \mathbb{Z}$.

## References

category: homotopy theory

Last revised on September 4, 2018 at 12:59:39. See the history of this page for a list of all contributions to it.