On the geometric realization and subdivisions of dihedral sets (Q1948310)

Connes introduced the notion of cyclic set in his study of cyclic homology [\textit{A. Connes}, C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. I 296, No. 23, 953--958 (1983; Zbl 0534.18009)]. Loosely speaking, a cyclic set is a simplicial set whose \(n\)-simplices are equipped with an action of the cyclic group \(C_{n+1}\) of order \(n+1\), subject to some compatibility conditions. A dihedral set is defined similarly, but with the dihedral group \(D_{n+1}\) of order \(2(n+1)\) acting on the \(n\)-simplices [\textit{Z. Fiedorowicz} and \textit{J.-L. Loday}, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 326, No. 1, 57--87 (1991; Zbl 0755.18005)]. In [Mosc. Math. J. 4, No. 3, 619--626 (2004; Zbl 1073.55010)], \textit{V. Drinfeld} showed that the geometric realization \(|X|\) of a simplicial (respectively cyclic) set \(X\) can be canonically expressed as a certain filtered colimit, indexed by the partitions of the unit interval \([0,1]\) (respectively of the circle). He deduced that the geometric realization functor preserves finite limits, and that the group of orientation-preserving homeomorphisms of the interval (respectively of the circle) naturally acts on \(|X|\). In this paper, the author extends the work of Drinfeld to dihedral sets. The main result (Theorem 1.3) is that the geometric realization \(|X|\) of a dihedral set \(X\) can be canonically expressed as a certain filtered colimit, indexed by the partitions of the circle. As a corollary, the group of homeomorphisms of the circle naturally acts on \(|X|\). This improves the known result of an action by the orthogonal group \(O(2)\). The author also provides an alternate description of the \(r\)-fold edgewise subdivision operation \(\mathrm{sd}_r\) studied by \textit{M. Bökstedt} et al. [Invent. Math. 111, No. 3, 465--539 (1993; Zbl 0804.55004)]. He obtains a description of the geometric realization \(|\mathrm{sd}_r X|\) of the subdivision of a cyclic set \(X\) as a certain filtered colimit (Theorem 1.4). He deduces that \(|\mathrm{sd}_r X|\) is canonically homeomorphic to \(|X|\), in a way that is compatible with the actions of the group of orientation-preserving homeomorphisms of the circle. He then proves an analogous statement for subdivisions of dihedral sets (Theorem 1.5), and relates the subdivision operations to those studied by \textit{J. Spaliński} [Topology 39, No. 3, 557--572 (2000; Zbl 0965.55008)].