# nLab Poisson n-algebra

Contents

### Context

#### Higher algebra

higher algebra

universal algebra

## Theorems

#### Symplectic geometry

symplectic geometry

higher symplectic geometry

# Contents

## Definition

For $n \in \mathbb{N}$, a Poisson $n$-algebra $A$ is a Poisson algebra $A$ in a category of chain complexes with Poisson bracket of degree $(1-n)$ (which is a bracket of degree 0 on $\mathbf{B}^{n-1} A$).

## Properties

### Relation to $E_n$-algebras

The homology of an E-n algebra for $n \geq 2$ is a Poisson $n$-algebra.

Moreover, in chain complexes over a field of characteristic zero the E-n operad is formal (see the little n-disk operad is formal), hence equivalent to its homology, and so in this context $E_n$-algebras are equivalent to Poisson $n$-algebras.

This fact is a higher analog of Kontsevich formality. It means that every higher dimensional prequantum field theory given by a $P_n$ algebra does have a deformation quantization (as factorization algebras) and that the space of choice of these a torsor over the automorphism infinity-group of $E_n$, a higher analog of the Grothendieck-Teichmüller group.

### Relation to $L_\infty$-algebras

There is a forgetful functor from Poisson $n$-algebras to dg-Lie algebras given by forgetting the associative algebra structure and by shifting the underlying chain complex by $(n-1)$.

Conversely, this functor has a derived left adjoint which sends a dg-Lie algebra $(\mathfrak{g},d)$ to its universal enveloping Poisson n-algebra $(Sym(\mathfrak{g}[n-1], d))$. (See also Gwilliam, section 4.5).

## Examples

Isbell duality between algebra and geometry

$\phantom{A}$geometry$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$category$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$dual category$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$algebra$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$topology$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{NC}TopSpaces_{H,cpt}$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$$\overset{\text{Gelfand-Kolmogorov}}{\hookrightarrow} Alg^{op}_{\mathbb{R}}$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$commutative algebra$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$topology$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{NC}TopSpaces_{H,cpt}$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$$\overset{\text{Gelfand duality}}{\simeq} TopAlg^{op}_{C^\ast, comm}$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$comm. C-star-algebra$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$noncomm. topology$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$$NCTopSpaces_{H,cpt}$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$$\overset{\phantom{\text{Gelfand duality}}}{\coloneqq} TopAlg^{op}_{C^\ast}$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$general C-star-algebra$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$algebraic geometry$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{NC}Schemes_{Aff}$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$$\overset{\text{almost by def.}}{\hookrightarrow} \phantom{Top}Alg^{op}_{fin}$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$fin. gen.$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$commutative algebra$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$noncomm. algebraic$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$geometry$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$$NCSchemes_{Aff}$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$$\overset{\phantom{\text{Gelfand duality}}}{\coloneqq} \phantom{Top}Alg^{op}_{fin, red}$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$fin. gen.
$\phantom{A}$associative algebra$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$differential geometry$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$$SmoothManifolds$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$$\overset{\text{Milnor's exercise}}{\hookrightarrow} \phantom{Top}Alg^{op}_{comm}$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$commutative algebra$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$supergeometry$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$$\array{SuperSpaces_{Cart} \\ \\ \mathbb{R}^{n\vert q}}$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$$\array{ \overset{\phantom{\text{Milnor's exercise}}}{\hookrightarrow} & Alg^{op}_{\mathbb{Z}_2 \phantom{AAAA}} \\ \mapsto & C^\infty(\mathbb{R}^n) \otimes \wedge^\bullet \mathbb{R}^q }$$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$supercommutative$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$superalgebra$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$formal higher$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$supergeometry$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$(super Lie theory)$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}\array{ Super L_\infty Alg_{fin} \\ \mathfrak{g} }\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}\array{ \overset{ \phantom{A}\text{Lada-Markl}\phantom{A} }{\hookrightarrow} & sdgcAlg^{op} \\ \mapsto & CE(\mathfrak{g}) }\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$differential graded-commutative$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$superalgebra
$\phantom{A}$ (“FDAs”)

in physics:

$\phantom{A}$algebra$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$geometry$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$Poisson algebra$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$Poisson manifold$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$deformation quantization$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$geometric quantization$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$algebra of observables$\phantom{A}$space of states$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$Heisenberg picture$\phantom{A}$Schrödinger picture$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$AQFT$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$FQFT$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$higher algebra$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$higher geometry$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$Poisson n-algebra$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$n-plectic manifold$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$En-algebras$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$higher symplectic geometry$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$BD-BV quantization$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$higher geometric quantization$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$factorization algebra of observables$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$extended quantum field theory$\phantom{A}$
$\phantom{A}$factorization homology$\phantom{A}$$\phantom{A}$cobordism representation$\phantom{A}$

algebraic deformation quantization

dimensionclassical field theoryLagrangian BV quantum field theoryfactorization algebra of observables
general $n$P-n algebraBD-n algebra?E-n algebra
$n = 0$Poisson 0-algebraBD-0 algebra? = BD algebraE-0 algebra? = pointed space
$n = 1$P-1 algebra = Poisson algebraBD-1 algebra?E-1 algebra? = A-∞ algebra

## References

• Alberto Cattaneo, Domenico Fiorenza, R. Longoni, Graded Poisson Algebras, Encyclopedia of Mathematical Physics, eds. J.-P. Françoise, G.L. Naber and Tsou S.T. , vol. 2, p. 560-567 (Oxford: Elsevier, 2006). (pdf)

An introduction to Poisson $n$-algebras in dg-geometry/symplectic Lie n-algebroids is in section 4.2 of

For discussion in the context of perturbative quantum field theory/factorization algebras/BV-quantization see

• Kevin Costello, Owen Gwilliam, Factorization algebras in perturbative quantum field theory : $P_0$-operad (wikilass=‘newWikiWord’>P_0%20operad?</span>), pdf)

• Owen Gwilliam, Factorization algebras and free field theories PhD thesis (pdf)

and for further references along these lines see at factorization algebra.

For general discusison of the relation to E-n algebras see

Last revised on November 7, 2018 at 13:56:42. See the history of this page for a list of all contributions to it.