Fraction, restriction, and range categories from stable systems of morphisms (Q2173856)

The formation of the \textit{category} \(\mathcal{C}\left[ \mathcal{S}^{-1}\right]\) \textit{of fractions} with respect to a sufficiently well-behaved class \(\mathcal{S}\) of morphisms in \(\mathcal{C}\), which is a fundamental device in homotopy theory, was first given in [\textit{P. Gabriel} and \textit{M. Zisman}, Calculus of fractions and homotopy theory. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer-Verlag (1967; Zbl 0186.56802)] . The construction is characterized by its localizing functor \[ \mathcal{C}\rightarrow\mathcal{C}\left[ \mathcal{S}^{-1}\right] \] which is universal with respect to the property of turning morphisms in \(\mathcal{S}\) into isomorphisms. The question of the size of the ``homs'' of \(\mathcal{C}\left[ \mathcal{S}^{-1}\right]\) is highly delicate. This paper aims, assuming that \(\mathcal{S}\) contain all isomorphisms, is closed under composition, and is stable under pullbacks in \(\mathcal{C}\), to take a stepwise approach to the formation of \(\mathcal{C}\left[ \mathcal{S}^{-1}\right]\), considering separately the two processes of transforming every morphism in \(\mathcal{S}\) into a retraction and into a section before amalgamating them to obtain the category of fractions. A synopsis of the paper consisting of ten sections goes as follows. \S 2 is concerned with span categories \(\mathsf{Span}(\mathcal{C},\mathcal{S})\) and their quotients. \S 3 forms the \(S\)\textit{-retractable span category} \(\mathsf{Retr}(\mathcal{C},\mathcal{S})\) of \(\mathcal{C}\), while \S 4 forms the \(S\)\textit{-sectional span category} \(\mathsf{Sect}(\mathcal{C},\mathcal{S})\) of \(\mathcal{C}\). \S 5 shows how to amalgamate the two constructions to obtain the category \(\mathcal{C}\left[ \mathcal{S}^{-1}\right]\), performing and characterizing these constructions strictly at the ordinary category level. The \(2\)-categorical structure of \(\mathsf{Span}(\mathcal{C},\mathcal{S})\) [\textit{J. Bénabou}, Lect. Notes Math. 47, 1--77 (1967; Zbl 1375.18001); \textit{C. Hermida}, Adv. Math. 151, No. 2, 164--225 (2000; Zbl 0960.18004)] is alluded to in \S 10, where it is indicated how the constructions of \(\mathsf{Retr}(\mathcal{C},\mathcal{S})\) and \(\mathsf{Sect}(\mathcal{C},\mathcal{S})\) are naturally motivated. \S 6 elaborates on how to obtain the \(S\)\textit{-partial map category} \(\mathsf{Par}(\mathcal{C},\mathcal{S})\) as a quotient category of \(\mathsf{Sect}(\mathcal{C},\mathcal{S})\), which is a restriction category. Under a fairly mild additional hypothesis on \(S\) holding in particular under the weak left cancellation condition (\(s,s\cdot t\in\mathcal{S}\Longrightarrow t\in\mathcal{S}\)), \(\mathsf{Par}(\mathcal{C},\mathcal{S})\) is a localization of \(\mathsf{Sect}(\mathcal{C},\mathcal{S})\) making \(\mathsf{Retr}(\mathcal{C},\mathcal{S})=\mathcal{C}\left[ \mathcal{S}^{-1}\right]\) its quotient category.\S 8 presents the construction of the \(\mathcal{S}\)\textit{-partial map range category} \(\mathsf{RaPar}(\mathcal{C},\mathcal{S})\), completing the quotient construction in the paper and yielding the commutative diagram \[ \begin{matrix} \mathcal{C} & \rightarrow & \mathsf{Span}(\mathcal{C},\mathcal{S}) & \rightarrow & \mathsf{Sect}(\mathcal{C},\mathcal{S})& \rightarrow & \mathsf{Par}(\mathcal{C},\mathcal{S})\\ & & \downarrow & & \downarrow & & \\ & & \mathsf{Retr}(\mathcal{C},\mathcal{S}) & \rightarrow & \mathcal{C}\left[ \mathcal{S}^{-1}\right] & & \end{matrix} \] Extending a key result in [\textit{J. R. B. Cockett} and \textit{S. Lack}, Theor. Comput. Sci. 270, No. 1--2, 223--259 (2002; Zbl 0988.18003)] , \S 7 provides a setting which presents \[ (\mathcal{C},\mathcal{S})\longmapsto\mathsf{Par}(\mathcal{C},\mathcal{S}) \] as the left adjoint to the formation of the category \(\mathsf{Total}\left( \mathcal{X}\right)\) for every split restriction category \(\mathcal{X}\). Extending one of the principal results in [\textit{J. R. B. Cockett} et al., Theory Appl. Categ. 26, 412--452 (2012; Zbl 1252.18003)] , \S 9 provides a setting which presents \[ (\mathcal{C},\mathcal{S})\longmapsto\mathsf{RaPar}(\mathcal{C},\mathcal{S}) \] as the left adjoint to the formation of the category \(\mathsf{Total}\left( \mathcal{X}\right)\) for every split range category \(\mathcal{X}\). To conclude this review, let me remark that: \begin{itemize} \item The authors give their earlier version of the paper [\url{arXiv:1903.00081}] as the eighth item in the References, note that the initial title in v1 (identical to the paper) has changed in v2 \[ \text{Abandoning monomorphisms:partial maps, fractions, factorizations} \Longrightarrow\text{Fraction, restriction, and range categories from non-monic classes of morphisms} \] \item In \S 1, \[ \text{See Sections 3 and 2, respectively}\Longrightarrow\text{See Sections 4 and 3, respectively} \] \[ \text{In Section 4}\Longrightarrow\text{ In Section 5} \] \[ \text{That is why, in Section 5}\Longrightarrow\text{That is why, in Section 6} \] \end{itemize}