Factorizable enriched categories and applications (Q411784)

For \(S\) a fixed set and \(\mathcal M\) an \(S\)-distributive monoidal category the notion of factorizable enriched category \(\mathcal C\) over \(\mathcal M\) is introduced. It is then shown that to every enriched category \(\mathcal C\) over \(\mathcal M\) that factorizes through two enriched subcategories \(\mathcal A\) and \(\mathcal B\) of \(\mathcal C\) corresponds a twisting system between \(\mathcal A\) and \(\mathcal B\). The converse is true for simple twisting systems \(R\), in which case an enriched category \(\mathcal A\otimes_R\mathcal B\) over \(\mathcal M\) that factorizes through \(\mathcal A\) and \(\mathcal B\) is constructed. \(\mathcal A\otimes_R\mathcal B\) is called the twisted tensor product of \(\mathcal A\) and \(\mathcal B\). In the case when \(\mathrm{Coalg}\mathcal M=\mathcal (M^\prime)\), the monoidal category of coalgebras in a braided monoidal category \(\mathcal M^\prime\), it is proved that there is a one-to-one correspondence between simple twisting systems and the so called matched pairs of enriched categories. Similarly, if \(\mathcal A\) and \(\mathcal B\) are thin categories then any twisting system between \(\mathcal B\) and \(\mathcal A\) is simple and corresponds to a unique match pair of categories. Concrete examples of (simple) twisting systems are given in the last part of the paper where are investigated the simple systems of enriched categories over \(Set\) (the category of sets), of algebras in \(\mathcal M\) or \(\mathrm{Coalg}(\mathcal M^\prime)\), and between posets and grupoids, respectively. In particular, the bicrossed product of groups, the twisted product of (co)algebras and the double cross product of bialgebras are recovered in a natural way.