Linear Batalin-Vilkovisky quantization as a functor of \(\infty \)-categories (Q1744786)

The authors consider a categorical construction of linear Batalin-Vilkovisky quantization in a derived setting. The basic example that is the starting point for this article is the Weyl quantization, sending a symplectic vector space \(\mathbb R^{2n}\) to the Weyl algebra on \(2n\) generators. One can factor this construction as taking a vector space with a skew-symmetric form first to its Heisenberg Lie algebra and then to its universal envelopping algebra. The specalization at \(\hbar = 0\) of this universal envelopping algebra is a Poisson algebra and the specializiation at \(\hbar = 1\) is its quantizaiton. The authors consider a special case of the shifted derived versions of this problem: Their starting point are chain complexes equipped with a 1-shifted symmetric pairing. Following the article we will call them quadratic modules for short. They then construct \(\infty\)-categorical versions of both the Heisenberg Lie algebra (which is actually a shifted \(L_\infty\)-algebra) of a quadratic module, and the universal enveloping \(BD\)-algebra of a shifted Lie algebra. Both of these appear to be of independent interest. The universal enveloping \(BD\)-algebra is a so-called Beilinson-Drinfeld algebra, a \(k[\hbar]\)-algebra over a certain operad that specialises to a shifted Poisson algebra at \(\hbar = 0\) and to an \(E_0\)-algebra at \(\hbar = 1\). (An \(E_0\)-algebra is just a pointed chain complex, but this is the correct edge case of the notion of \(E_n\)-algebras. The classical, unshifted case involves an unshifted Poisson algebra and an \(E_1\)-algebra (i.e.\ an associative algebra) as specializiations.) Thus the authors are able to construct linear BV quantization as a symmetric monoidal \(\infty\)-functor from quadratic algebras to \(BD\)-algebras. The proofs involve a mixture of categorical techniques (model, simplicial and \(\infty\)). One upside of the \(\infty\)-categorical approach is that by using Lurie's descent theorem the author can consider linear BV quantization for sheaves of quadratic modules on derived stacks. Thus they are able to show that the graded vector bundle \(V \oplus V^\vee[1]\) with its obvious quadratic form quantizes to a line bundle. This is an explicit example of the BV formalism ``behaving like a determinant'', an idea the authors credit to K. Costello. The paper also provides an example that the behaviour for more general 1-shifted symplectic modules is more complicated and the quantization need only be invertible in the formal neighbourhood of a point. The paper under review contains some interesting discussions in the introduction: Section 1.3 considers higher BV quantizations (which should arise from more general \((1-n)\)-shifted skew-symmetric forms) and a possible application to quantization of AKSZ field theories. Section 1.4 discusses the physical perspective on linear BV quantizations, providing useful context and motivation.