internalization and categorical algebra
algebra object (associative, Lie, …)
A group object in a category is a group internal to .
A group object or internal group in a category with binary products and a terminal object is an object in and arrows
(the unit map)
(the inverse map) and
(the multiplication map), such that the following diagrams commute:
(expressing the fact multiplication is associative),
(telling us that the unit map picks out an element that is a left and right identity), and
(telling us that the inverse map really does take an inverse).
As a slight abuse of notation we have reused here to denote , defined as the composite . Also, the associativity law technically factors through the isomorphisms between and . The pairing denotes where is a diagonal morphism.
Even if doesn't have all binary products, as long as products with (and the terminal object ) exist, then one can still speak of a group object in .
Given a cartesian monoidal category , the category of internal groups in is equivalent to the full subcategory of the category of presheaves of groups on , spanned by those presheaves whose underlying set part in is representable.
This is a special case of the general theory of structures in presheaf toposes.
In other words, the forgetful functor from to (obtained by composing with the forgetful functor Grp Set) creates representable group objects from representable objects.
An object in with an internal group structure is a diagram
This equips each object with an ordinary group structure, so in particular a product operation
Moreover, since morphisms in are group homomorphisms, it follows that for every morphism we get a commuting diagram
Taken together this means that there is a morphism
of representable presheaves. By the Yoneda lemma, this uniquely comes from a morphism , which is the product of the group structure on the object that we are after.
etc.
In the language of dependent type theory (using the notation for dependent pair types here) the type of group data structures is:
A group object in TopologicalSpaces is a topological group.
A group object in SimplicialSets is a simplicial group.
A group object in SDiff is a super Lie group.
A group object in Grp is an abelian group (using the Eckmann-Hilton argument).
A group object in Ab is an abelian group again.
A group object in Grpd is a strict -group again.
A group object in CRing is a commutative Hopf algebra.
A group object in a functor category is a group functor.
A group object in schemes is a group scheme.
A group object in an opposite category is a cogroup object.
A group object in G-sets/G-spaces is a -equivariant group, namely a semidirect product group.
A group object in stacks is a group stack.
The basic results of elementary group theory apply to group objects in any category with finite products. (Arguably, it is precisely the elementary results that apply in any such category.)
The theory of group objects is an example of a Lawvere theory.
group, group object, group object in an (∞,1)-category
groupoid, groupoid object, groupoid object in an (∞,1)-category
infinity-groupoid, infinity-groupoid object, groupoid object in an (∞,1)-category
The general definition of internal groups seems to have first been formulated in:
following the general principle of internalization formulated in:
reviewed in:
On internalization, H-spaces, monoid objects, group objects in algebraic topology/homotopy theory and introducing the Eckmann-Hilton argument:
Beno Eckmann, Peter Hilton, Structure maps in group theory, Fundamenta Mathematicae 50 (1961), 207-221 (doi:10.4064/fm-50-2-207-221)
Beno Eckmann, Peter Hilton, Group-like structures in general categories I multiplications and comultiplications, Math. Ann. 145, 227–255 (1962) (doi:10.1007/BF01451367)
Beno Eckmann, Peter Hilton, Group-like structures in general categories III primitive categories, Math. Ann. 150 165–187 (1963) (doi:10.1007/BF01470843)
With emphasis of the role of the Yoneda lemma:
Review:
John Michael Boardman, Algebraic objects in categories, Chapter 7 of: Stable Operations in Generalized Cohomology (pdf) in: Ioan Mackenzie James (ed.) Handbook of Algebraic Topology Oxford (1995) [doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-81779-2.X5000-7]
Magnus Forrester-Barker, Group Objects and Internal Categories [arXiv:math/0212065]
In the broader context of internalization via sketches:
With focus on internalization in sheaf toposes:
Last revised on April 27, 2023 at 10:39:43. See the history of this page for a list of all contributions to it.