Twisted noncommutative equivariant cohomology: Weil and Cartan models (Q983914): Difference between revisions

The author introduces Weil and Cartan models for the equivariant cohomology of noncommutative spaces which carry a covariant action of Drinfel'd twisted symmetries. For a compact Lie group \(G\) acting on a smooth manifold \(M\) the equivariant cohomology ring \(H_G(M)\) replaces the ordinary de Rham cohomology of the space of orbits \(H(M/G)\) when the latter is not a smooth manifold. The topological Borel model computes \(H_G(M)\) as the ordinary cohomology of \(EG \times_G M\). It is often convenient to switch to an algebraic description by replacing the infinite dimensional space \(EG\) with a finitely generated algebra representing its differential forms, the Weil algebra \(W_g\). The author obtains the Weil model for equivariant cohomology, defined as the cohomology of the basic subcomplex of \(W_g \otimes \Omega(M)\). Another equivalent algebraic definition of \(H_G(M)\) through equivariant differential forms is known as the Cartan model. Both Weil and Cartan models make a crucial use of the operators \((i, L, d)\) on \(\Omega(M)\). This triple provides a purely algebraic description of the \(G\) action, which is the Cartan calculus [\textit{H. Cartan}, Centre Belge Rech. Math., Colloque Topologie, Bruxelles, 1, 15--27 (1951; Zbl 0045.30601)]. By introducing a super Lie algebra \(\tilde{g}\) whose Lie brackets are given by the commutation relations of \((i, L, d)\), a Cartan calculus on \(\Omega(M)\) is equivalent to a representation of \(\tilde{g}\) by graded derivations. Classical equivariant cohomology is defined in the category of \(\mathcal{U}(\tilde{g})\)-module algebras. The Hopf module structure gives a link between deformations of the space and deformation of the symmetry. The author focuses on deformations described by Drinfel'd twists [\textit{V. G. Drinfel'd}, Leningr. Math. 1, No. 6, 1419--1457 (1990; Zbl 0718.16033)]. The definition of a Weil model for deformed \(\mathcal{U}(\tilde{g})\)-module algebras goes through a deformation of the Cartan calculus and of the classical Weil algebra \(W_g\). The author takes inspiration from the work of \textit{A. Aleskeev} and \textit{E. Meinrenken} [Ann. Sci. Éc. Norm. Supér. (4) 38, No. 2, 303--338 (2005; Zbl 1105.17015)] and their noncommutative Weil algebra \(\mathcal{W}_g\). Their models apply to noncommutative \(\mathcal{U}(\tilde{g})\)-module algebras, while the author is interested in algebras where the noncommutativity is strictly related to the deformation of the \(\mathcal{U}(\tilde{g})\)-module structure. The idea is that depending on the category of algebras, the universal locally free object may be interpreted as the relevant Weil algebra for the definition of an equivariant cohomology. The noncommutative Weil algebra \(\mathcal{W}_g\) comes by considering the category of noncommutative \(\mathcal{U}(\tilde{g})\)-module algebras; the author is interested in the corresponding Drinfel'd twisted category, and shows that it is possible to implement a twist of the construction of [\textit{A. Aleskeev} and \textit{E. Meinrenken}, Invent. Math. 139, No. 1, 135--172 (2000; Zbl 0945.57017)] to adapt the models to the class of noncommutative spaces. The author gives some examples of the twisted noncommutative equivariant cohomology, and discusses the property of maximal torus reduction.