Distribution algebras and duality (Q5927533)

A distribution on a topos \(\mathcal E\) (over a base topos \(\mathcal S\)) is a `generalized continuous function' consisting of an \(\mathcal S\)-indexed adjoint pair of functors of which the `inverse image' does not necessarily preserve finite limits. It follows that the `direct image' does not in general preserve internal completeness of posets (though it does preserve Heyting algebras). The main aim of this paper is to characterize those Heyting algebras in \(\mathcal E\) which occur as \(m_*(\Omega_{\mathcal S})\) for a distribution \(m\) on \(\mathcal E\) (these are the `distribution algebras' of the title) as the \(\mathcal S\)-bicomplete \(\mathcal S\)-atomic Heyting algebras. The paper also develops a `double dualization' monad associated with such algebras, for a class of toposes including all Grothendieck toposes.