nLab abelian sheaf cohomology

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Cohomology

cohomology

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(,1)(\infty,1)-Topos Theory

(∞,1)-topos theory

structures in a cohesive (∞,1)-topos

Contents

Idea

General

The cohomology H n(X,F)H^n(X,F) of a topological space XX with values in a sheaf of abelian groups / abelian sheaf FF was originally defined as the value of the right derived functor of the global section functor, the derived direct image functor.

But by embedding sheaves with values in abelian groups as special cases of simplicial sheaves into the more general context of ∞-groupoid-valued sheaves via the Dold-Kan correspondence and thus the abelian sheaf cohomology into the more general context of the intrinsic nonabelian cohomology of an (∞,1)-topos H=Sh (,1)(C)\mathbf{H} = Sh_{(\infty,1)}(C), this definition becomes equivalent to a special case of the general notion of nonabelian cohomology defined simply as the set of homotopy classes of maps

H n(X,F)=π 0H(X,B nF) H^n(X,F) = \pi_0 \mathbf{H}(X,\mathbf{B}^n F)

from the space XX regarded a (“nonabelian”!) sheaf, to the Eilenberg-MacLane object in degree nn, defined by FF.

The relation of this more conceptual and more general point of view on abelian sheaf cohomology to the original definition was originally clarified in

(whose proof is reproduced below).

Brown constructed effectively the homotopy category of H\mathbf{H} using a model of a category of fibrant objects paralleling the model structure on simplicial presheaves as a presentation of the (∞,1)-category of (∞,1)-sheaves. This says that ordinary abelian sheaf cohomology in fact computes the equivalence classes of the ∞-stackification of a sheaf with values in chain complexes of abelian groups.

The general (∞,1)-topos-theoreric perspective on cohomology is described in more detail at cohomology. The details on how to realize abelian sheaf cohomology as an example of this are discussed below.

More details on this idea

Using the Dold-Kan correspondence in higher topos theory, complexes of abelian sheaves can be understood as a generalization of topological spaces, in a precise sense recalled below. This induces a notion of cohomology of complexes of abelian sheaves from the familiar notion of cohomology of spaces.

Which is a simple one: recall that the cohomology of one topological space XX with coefficients in another space AA is nothing but the space of morphisms (continuous maps) H(X,A):=[X,A]H(X,A) := [X,A] from XX to AA – or, in a more restrictive sense traditionally adopted, the set Π 0[X,A]\Pi_0[X,A] of connected path components of this space.

Similarly, when considering chain complexes of abelian sheaves in their natural higher topos theoretic home, the cohomology of a complex of sheaves AA on a space XX is nothing but the hom-space H(X,A)=[X,A]H(X,A) = [X,A] – where the space XX itself is regarded as a special case of a sheaf.

One reason this conceptually simple picture is not usually presented is that the space XX is typically not represented by an abelian complex of sheaves, so that the full simplicity of the story becomes manifest only in general nonabelian cohomology.

More precisely, via the Dold-Kan correspondence (non-negatively graded) complexes of abelian sheaves – which are equivalently sheaves with values in (non-negatively graded) categories of chain complexes – can be regarded as special cases of simplicial sheaves. But thanks to the model category structure on the category of simplicial sheaves, this in turn is a model for the (infinity,1)-topos of generalized spaces called infinity-stacks. The very point of (,1)(\infty,1)-topoi is that they are (infintiy,1)-categories which behave in all structural aspects relevant for homotopy theory as the archetypical example Top does. In particular, as in Top, the notion of cohomology in any (infinity,1)-topos simply coincides with that of hom-spaces.

In the 1-categorical model theoretic models these hom-spaces are computed technically by derived functors. More precisely, the Hom-space [X,A][X,A] for XX an ordinary space computes the global sections Γ(X,A)\Gamma(X,A) of the complex of abelian sheaves AA which is computed by the right derived functor of the global section RΓ(X,)R \Gamma(X,-) of the global section functor Γ(X,)\Gamma(X,-), which does exist entirely within the abelian context.

This, then, is the definition of sheaf cohomology as usually presented: the cohomology of the complex RΓ(X,A)R \Gamma(X,A).

Properties

As intrinsic (∞,1)-topos cohomology

Under the (stable) Dold-Kan correspondence we have the following identification of sheaves taking values in chain complexes with sheaves taking values in infinity-groupoids and spectra, crucial for a conceptual understanding of abelian sheaf cohomology:

let XX be a site

  • the category Sh(X,Ch +(Ab))Sh(X, Ch_+(Ab)) of non-negatively graded

chain complexes of abelian sheaves is

homotopicallyequivalent

to the category Sh(X,sAb)Sh(X, sAb) of sheaves with values in simplicial abelian groups (i.e. Kan complexes with strict abelian group structure);

  • the category Sh(X,Ch(Ab))Sh(X, Ch(Ab)) of unbounded

chain complexes of abelian sheaves is

equivalent to Sh(X,Sp(Ab))Sh(X, Sp(Ab)), the category

of sheaves with values in combinatorial spectra internal to abelian groups.

Let how FSh(X,Ab)F \in Sh(X,Ab) be a sheaf on a site XX with values in the category Ab of abelian groups.

For nn \in \mathbb{N} write B nFSh(X,Ch +(Ab))B^n F \in Sh(X, Ch_+(Ab)) for the complex of sheaves with values in abelian groups which is trivial everywhere except in degree nn, where it is given by FF.

By the Dold-Kan correspondence we can regard B nFB^n F equivalently as a complex of sheaves of abelian groups as well as sheaf with values in infinity-groupoids.

Write HH for the (infinity,1)-category of simplicial sheaves on XX and H abH_{ab} for the (infinity,1)-category of complexes of abelian sheaves on XX.

Write XX for the terminal sheaf of XX, i.e. for the sheaf that corresponds to the space XX itself.

Then

H n(X,A):=π 0H(X,B nF) H^n(X,A) := \pi_0 H(X,\mathbf{B}^n F)

is the degree nn cohomology class of XX with values in FF, regarded as computed in nonabelian cohomology.

Now write [X]\mathbb{Z}[X] for the free abelianization of the sheaf XX. This is the sheaf constant on the abelian group \mathbb{Z} of integers. Then the above cohomology set, which of course happens to be a cohomology group here, due to the abelianness of FF, is canonically isomorphic to the cohomology set

π 0H ab([X],B nF) \cdots \simeq \pi_0 H_{ab}(\mathbb{Z}[X], \mathbf{B}^n F)

which can be regarded as the hom-set in the derived category of complexes of abelian sheaves. This, in turn, is the same as the traditional expression

R nΓ(X,F) \cdots \simeq R^n \Gamma(X,F)

giving the nnth derived functor of the global section functor of the abelian sheaf FF.

This, finally, is the same group as obtained by choosing any complex I FI_F of abelian sheaves that is injective? and quasi-isomorphic to FF regarded as a complex concentrated in degree 0 and then computing the nn homology group of the complex Γ(X,I F)\Gamma(X,I_F) of global sections of FF:

H n(Γ(X,I F)). \cdots \simeq H_n(\Gamma(X,I_F)) \,.

Historically the development of abelian sheaf cohomology was precisely in reverse order to this derivation from the general (,1)(\infty,1)-categorical cohomology.

Theorem (K. Brown, 1973)

Let XX be a topological space, FF a sheaf on (the category of open subsets of) XX with values in abelian groups, and B nF=K(F,n)\mathbf{B}^n F = K(F,n) the image of the complex of abelian sheaves F[n]F[n] (FF in degree nn, trivial elsewhere) under the Dold-Kan correspondence in sheaves with values in Kan complexes

Γ():Sh(X,Ch +(Ab))Sh(X,AbSimpGrp) \Gamma \circ (-) : Sh(X,Ch_+(Ab)) \to Sh(X, AbSimpGrp)
F[n]K(F,n)=:B nF. F[n] \mapsto K(F,n) =: \mathbf{B}^n F \,.

Then we have the following natural isomorphism of cohomologies:

H n(X,F)H(X,B nF) H^n(X,F) \simeq H(X, \mathbf{B}^n F)

where

  • on the left we have ordinary abelian sheaf cohomology defined as the right derived functor of the global sections functor

    H n(X,F):=(RΓ X)(F); H^n(X,F) := (R \Gamma_X)(F) \,;
  • on the right we have nonabelian cohomology, namely the hom-set in the homotopy category of Kan complex valued simplicial sheaves

    H(X,B nF):=Ho Sh(X,Grpd)(X,B nX). H(X, \mathbf{B}^n F) := Ho_{Sh(X,\infty Grpd)}(X,\mathbf{B}^n X) \,.
Proof

This is the first four steps in the proof of theorem 2 in BrownAHT.

The proof proceeds along the following four steps, which we describe in more detail below:

H n(X,F) Ho Sh(X,Ch(Ab))(,F[n]) Ho Sh(X,Ch +(Ab))(,F[n]) Ho Sh(X,AbSimpGrp)(X,K(F,n)) Ho Sh(X,Grpd)(X,K(F,n)) \begin{aligned} H^n(X,F) & \simeq Ho_{Sh(X,Ch(Ab))}(\mathbb{Z}, F[n]) \\ & \simeq Ho_{Sh(X,Ch_+(Ab))}(\mathbb{Z}, F[n]) \\ & \simeq Ho_{Sh(X,AbSimpGrp)}(\mathbb{Z}X, K(F,n)) \\ & \simeq Ho_{Sh(X,\infty Grpd)}(X, K(F,n)) \end{aligned}
  1. By the derived functor definition of sheaf cohomology, H n(X,F)H^n(X,F) is the cohomology of any complex of sheaves I Sh(X,Ch(Ab))I^\bullet \in Sh(X,Ch(Ab)) that is injective and weakly equivalent to F[n]F[n], F[n]I F[n] \stackrel{\simeq}{\to} I^\bullet:

    H n(X,F)H 0(I (X)). H^n(X,F) \simeq H^0(I^\bullet(X)) \,.

    On the other hand, by the general formula for hom-sets in homtotopy categories obtained by localizing at the multiplicative system given by quasi-isomorphisms of complexes (e.g. def. 13.1.2 in CaS) we have

    Ho Sh(X,Ch(Ab))(,F[n])colim Y Hom K(Sh(X,Ab))(Y,I ). Ho_{Sh(X,Ch(Ab))}(\mathbb{Z}, F[n]) \simeq colim_{Y^\bullet \stackrel{\simeq}{\to} \mathbb{Z}} Hom_{K(Sh(X,Ab))}(Y, I^\bullet) \,.

    But due to the injectiveness of I I^\bullet, the integrand on the right is constant (lemma 14.1.5 in CaS) and hence the colimit is isomorphic to Hom K(Sh(X,Ab))(,I )H 0(I (X))\cdots \simeq Hom_{K(Sh(X,Ab))}(\mathbb{Z}, I^\bullet) \simeq H^0(I^\bullet(X)), as desired.

  2. The second step uses that the inclusion functor

    Ho Sh(X,Ch +(Ab))Ho Sh(X,Ch(Ab)) Ho_{Sh(X,Ch_+(Ab))} \hookrightarrow Ho_{Sh(X,Ch(Ab))}

    is full and faithful. This in turn follows from

    • first observing that the inclusion S:Sh(X,Ch +(Ab))Sh(X,Ch(Ab))S : Sh(X,Ch_+(Ab)) \hookrightarrow Sh(X, Ch(Ab)) of chain complexes concentrated in non-negative degree into all complexes of sheaves is full and faithful and has the obvious right adjoint T:Sh(X,Ch(Ab))Sh(X,Ch +(Ab))T : Sh(X,Ch(Ab)) \to Sh(X, Ch_+(Ab)) obtained by truncating a complex.

    • By inspection, or else by the general properties of adjoint functors (see the list of properties given there) this implies that IdTSId \to T \circ S is an isomorphism. This implies that also IdHoTHoSId \to Ho T \circ Ho S is an isomorphism.

    • But by the adjoint functor lemma for homotopical categories, HoSHo S is also left adjoint to HoTHo T (since both preserve weak equivalences). So that once again with the general properties of

    adjoint functors it follows that

    HoSHo S is full and faithful.

  3. The third step uses that the normalized chain complex functor Sh(X,AbSimpGrp)Sh(X,Ch +(Ab))Sh(X,AbSimpGrp) \to Sh(X, Ch_+(Ab)) is an equivalence of categories that preserves the respective weak equivalences and homotopies.

  4. The fourth step finally uses that the forgetful functor Sh(X,SimpAbGrp)Sh(X,Grpd)Sh(X, SimpAbGrp) \to Sh(X, \infty Grpd) that only remembers the Kan complex underlying a simplicial group has a left adjoint, the free abelian group functor :Sh(X,Grpd)Sh(X,AbSimpGrp)\mathbb{Z} : Sh(X,\infty Grpd) \to Sh(X, AbSimpGrp) (see Dold-Kan correspondence for details), and that preserves weak equivalences (see the discussion at simplicial group for more on that).

Relation to derived direct images

Proposition

Let f 1:YXf^{-1} \colon Y \to X be a morphism of sites. Then the qqth derived functor R qf *R^q f_\ast of the induced direct image functor sends Ab(Sh(X et))\mathcal{F} \in Ab(Sh(X_{et})) to the sheafification of the presheaf

U YH q(f 1(U Y),), U_Y \mapsto H^q(f^{-1}(U_Y), \mathcal{F}) \,,

where on the right we have the degree qq abelian sheaf cohomology group with coefficients in the given \mathcal{F}.

(e.g. Tamme, I (3.7.1), II (1.3.4), Milne, 12.1).

Proof

We have a commuting diagram

Ab(PSh(X)) ()f 1 Ab(PSh(Y)) inc L Ab(Sh(X)) f * Ab(Sh(Y)), \array{ Ab(PSh(X)) &\stackrel{(-)\circ f^{-1}}{\longrightarrow}& Ab(PSh(Y)) \\ \uparrow^{\mathrlap{inc}} && \downarrow^{L} \\ Ab(Sh(X)) &\stackrel{f_\ast}{\longrightarrow}& Ab(Sh(Y)) } \,,

where the right vertical morphism is sheafification. Because ()f 1(-) \circ f^{-1} and LL are both exact functors it follows that for I I^\bullet \to \mathcal{F} an injective resolution that

R pf *() :H p(f *I) =H p(LI (f 1())) =L(H p(I )(f 1())) \begin{aligned} R^p f_\ast(\mathcal{F}) & :\simeq H^p( f_\ast I) \\ & = H^p(L I^\bullet(f^{-1}(-))) \\ & = L (H^p(I^\bullet)(f^{-1}(-))) \end{aligned}

Examples

References

Textbook account:

Original texts:

The traditional definition of sheaf cohomology in terms of the right derived functor of the global sections functor:

  • Ugo Bruzzo, Derived Functors and Sheaf Cohomology, Contemporary Mathematics and Its Applications: Monographs, Expositions and Lecture Notes: Volume 2 (doi:10.1142/11473)

  • Chênevert, Kassaei, Sheaf Cohomology (pdf)

  • Cibotaru, Sheaf cohomology (pdf)

  • Patrick Morandi, Sheaf cohomology (pdf)

Its discussion in the more general nonabelian cohomology and infinity-stack context emphasized above is due to

This uses homotopical structures of a category of fibrant objects on complexes of abelian sheaves. Discussion of actual model structure on chain complexes of abelian sheaves is in

  • Mark Hovey, Model category structures on chain complexes of sheaves, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 353, 6 (pdf)

A discussion of the Čech cohomology description of sheaf cohomology along the above lines is in

See also:

Last revised on January 20, 2024 at 08:48:58. See the history of this page for a list of all contributions to it.