On the structure of unoriented topological conformal field theories (Q2406826)

Topological structures in quantum field theory are classified in two dimensions by self-dual structures like (commutative) Frobenius algebras for the open and closed case and by Calabi-Yau manifolds for the open-closed case. When the cobordism category is enriched by singular chains on moduli spaces of Riemann surfaces, we obtain the concept of a topological conformal field theory (TCFT). Open TCFTs were classified by \textit{K. Costello} [Adv. Math. 210, No. 1, 165--214 (2007; Zbl 1171.14038)] in terms of \(A_\infty\)-categories satisfying a Calabi-Yau condition. The present paper completes a program initiated by \textit{C. Braun} [Algebr. Geom. Topol. 12, No. 3, 1831--1899 (2012; Zbl 1254.30071)] for a characterization of TCFTs for non-orientable surfaces, which are called Klein TCFTs. The main result consists of a homotopy equivalence between open Klein TCFTs and Calabi-Yau \(A_{\infty}\)-categories endowed with an involution. In addition, similar as in the work of Costello, there is a universal open-closed extension for an open Klein TCFT, where the homology of the closed part is described in terms of the involutive Hochschild homology of the open part. The proofs are based on a decomposition of the moduli spaces in terms of ribbon graphs, which in the unoriented situation are called Möbius graphs, and the involution of the \(A_\infty\)-category comes from the twisted disc.