Differential calculus over commutative algebras

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In mathematics the term differential calculus over commutative algebras refers to a part of commutative algebra. It is based on the observation that most concepts known from classical differential calculus can be formulated in purely algebraic terms. Instances of this are:

  1. The whole information of a smooth manifold M is encoded in the algebraic properties of its \mathbb{R}-algebra of smooth functions A=C^\infty (M).
  2. Vector bundles over M correspond to projective finitely generated modules over A, via the functor Γ which associates to a vector bundle its module of sections.
  3. Vector fields on M are naturally identified with derivations of the algebra A.
  4. More generally, a linear differential operator of order k, sending sections of a vector bundle E\rightarrow M to sections of another bundle F\rightarrow M is seen to be an \mathbb{R}-linear map \Delta: \Gamma (E) \rightarrow \Gamma (F) between the associated modules, such that for any k+1 elements f_0,\ldots, f_k\in A:

    [f_k[f_{k-1}[\cdots[f_0,\Delta]\cdots]]=0

    where the bracket [f,\Delta]:\Gamma(E)\rightarrow \Gamma(F) is defined as the commutator

    [f,\Delta](s)=\Delta(f\cdot s)-f\cdot \Delta(s)

Denoting the set of k-th order linear differential operators from an A-module P to an A-module Q with Diffk(P,Q) we obtain a bi-functor with values in the category of A-modules. Other natural concepts of calculus such as jet spaces, differential forms are then obtained as representing objects of the functors Diffk and related functors.

Seen from this point of view calculus may in fact be understood as the theory of these functors and their representing objects.

Replacing the real numbers \mathbb{R} with any commutative ring, and the algebra C^\infty(M) with any commutative algebra the above said remains meaningful, hence differential calculus can be developed for arbitrary commutative algebras. Many of these concepts are widely used in algebraic geometry, differential geometry and secondary calculus. Moreover the theory generalizes naturally to the setting of graded commutative algebra, allowing for a natural foundation of calculus on super-manifolds and associated concepts like the Berezin integral.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • J. Nestruev, Smooth Manifolds and Observables, Graduate Texts in Mathematics 220, Springer, 2002.
  • I. S. Krasil'shchik, Lectures on Linear Differential Operators over Commutative Algebras DIPS-01/98
  • I. S. Krasil'shchik, Calculus over Commutative Algebras: a concise user's guide, Acta Appl. Math. 49 (1997) 235--248; DIPS-01/99
  • I. S. Krasil'shchik, A. M. Verbovetsky, Homological Methods in Equations of Mathematical Physics, Open Ed. and Sciences, Opava (Czech Rep.), 1998; DIPS-07/98.