The biderivative and \(A_\infty\)-bialgebras (Q2570234)

The principal aim of this paper is to introduce the notion of an \(A_\infty\)-bialgebra, a chain complex \(H\) which is both an \(A_\infty\)-algebra and an \(A_\infty\)-coalgebra in a suitably compatible way. This structure is expressed by giving operations \(\omega^{j,i}: H^{\otimes i}\to H^{\otimes j}\). While this paper only contains constructions and definitions, the following result is announced for a sequel paper: the homology of any \(A_\infty\)-bialgebra over a field is again an \(A_\infty\)-bialgebra. Examples for \(A_\infty\)-bialgebras are given by the double cobar construction of the singular chain complex of a space or by multiplicative resolutions of ordinary graded bialgebras. To state the relations between the structure maps \(\omega^{j,i}\), a sizable amount of technology is introduced. The crucial construction is that of a biderivative operator on a submodule of the universal PROP \(U=\sum_{x,y\in\mathbb{N}}\Hom(H^{\otimes v},H^{\otimes x})\) and of an associated product \(\odot\). The condition on \(\omega^{*,*}\in U\) to define an \(A_\infty\)-bialgebra is then completely encoded in the statement \(\omega\odot\omega= 0\). The reviewer found it difficult to follow the very technical constructions, many of which assume familiarity with previous work. Examples are given, but motivation is usually not. The paper should be considered a preparatory paper for the announced sequel.