Minimal models, GT-action and formality of the little disk operad (Q2510409): Difference between revisions

By a classical theorem of Sullivan, a nilpotent commutative differential graded algebra \(A\), defined over a field of characteristic zero \({\mathbf k}\), is formal over this base field if and only if the graded re-scaling automorphisms of the cohomology \(\phi_q: H(A)\rightarrow H(A)\), which we define degree-wise by the scalar multiplication operations \(\phi_q(x) = q^{\deg(x)} x\), lift to an automorphism of our commutative differential graded algebra \(\tilde{\phi}_q: A\rightarrow A\), for every value of the parameter \(q\in{\mathbf k}^{\times}\). The author proves that a similar result holds for the operads in chain complexes \(P\) such that \(P(0) = 0\) and \(P(1) = {\mathbf k}\). He examines the application of this criterion to the chain operad of little \(2\)-disks \(P = {\roman Chains}(D_2)\). \textit{D. E. Tamarkin} observed in [Lett. Math. Phys. 66, No. 1--2, 65--72 (2003; Zbl 1048.18007)] that Drinfeld associators can be used to define formality quasi-isomorphisms for this operad \(P = {\roman Chains}(D_2)\). The author explains how to retrieve this result. He starts with the observation that the chain complex of a rational model of the operad of little \(2\)-disks is naturally equipped with an action of the pro-unipotent Grothendieck-Teichmüller group \(GT({\mathbf Q})\). Drinfeld initially used the existence of associators to prove that the pro-unipotent Grothendieck-Teichmüller group \(GT({\mathbf Q})\) maps surjectively onto the multiplicative group \({\mathbf Q}^{\times}\). The author uses this surjectivity statement to check that the graded re-scaling automorphisms of the homology of the little \(2\)-disks operad \(H(D_2)\) lift to the chain complex level, and hence, to check that his criterion applies to this chain operad \({\roman Chains}(D_2)\).