The \(L_\infty \)-algebra of a symplectic manifold (Q2237250)

The work of this article is a continuation of [the first and the third author, Int. Math. Res. Not. 2016, No. 16, 4996--5047 (2016; Zbl 1404.17035); J. Symplectic Geom. 16, No. 5, 1351--1375 (2019; Zbl 1409.53071)], where the universal central extension of the Lie algebra of Hamiltonian vector fields of a symplectic manifold \((M,\omega)\) was determined and studied. This universal central extension was described as a quotient \(\Omega^1(M)/\delta\Omega^2(M)\), using the Koszul differential \(\delta\) of the canonical Poisson homology of \(M\). This article describes an explicit and functorial construction of an \(L_\infty\)-structure on the complex \((\Omega^{\geq 1}(M),\delta)\), which naturally induces the Lie algebra structure on the universal central extension \(\Omega^1(M)/\delta\Omega^2(M)\). An \(L_\infty\)-algebra for general Poisson manifolds is also explored. Let us describe the content in some more detail. The article starts by recalling the relevant results from the above mentioned previous works, the notions regarding \(L_\infty\)-algebras that are used, and a motivating example -- the \(L_\infty\)-algebra of a multisymplectic manifold from [\textit{C. L. Rogers}, Lett. Math. Phys. 100, No. 1, 29--50 (2012; Zbl 1255.53061)]. This \(L_\infty\)-algebra has underlying complex \[\Omega^0(M)\stackrel{d}{\to}\Omega^1(M)\stackrel{d}{\to}\cdots \stackrel{d}{\to} \Omega^{n-2}{M},\] where \(n\) is the dimension of \(M\), and it is a grounded \(L_\infty\)-algebra. Grounded \(L_\infty\)-algebras are simpler than general ones, and well suited to study extensions (this notion is recalled in the paper). It is then proved (Proposition 3.10) that the \(L_\infty\)-algebra of a compact multisymplectic manifold yields on the quotient \(\Omega^{n-2}(M)/d\Omega^{n-3}(M)\) the structure of the universal central extension of the Lie algebra of exact divergence free vector fields; the noncompact case is discussed as well, in Remark 3.11. Using the intuition from this result, Section 4 is devoted to the explicit construction of the \(L_\infty\)-algebra of a \(2n\)-dimensional symplectic manifold \((M,\omega)\). It is constructed in a functorial way, having as underlying complex the truncated canonical (Poisson) homology complex \[\Omega^{2n}(M)\stackrel{\delta}{\to}\Omega^{2n-1}\stackrel{\delta}{\to}\cdots \stackrel{\delta}{\to}\Omega^1,\] and it projects naturally to the Lie algebra \(\Omega^1(M)/\delta\Omega^2(M)\) (Theorem 4.7). Finally, Section 5 deals with the case of a general Poisson manifold \((M,\pi)\). A condition on \(\pi\) is identified such that a similar procedure can be used to construct a central extension of the commutator ideal \(\{C^\infty(M),C^\infty(M)\}\), and an \(L_\infty\)-algebra (even a Lie 2-algebra) inducing it. For example, the above-mentioned condition is satisfied if \(d\Omega^0(M)\subset\delta\Omega^2(M)\).