Joins of DGA modules and sectional category (Q2492026)

The sectional category of a fibration \(p:E\to B\), with path connected base, is the least integer \(n:=\text{secat}\,p\) such that the space \(B\) can be covered by \(n+1\) open sets on which \(p\) admits a section. If no such integer exists then secat\,\(p:=\infty\). The sectional category of a fibration depends only of the fiber homotopy type of \(p\). This is a generalization of the Lusternik-Schnirelmann category of a path connected space \(X\), denoted cat\,\(X\), since we have \(\text{cat}\,X= \text{secat}\,ev_1\) where \(ev_1\) denotes any path fibration \(PX\to X\), \(\gamma\mapsto\gamma(1)\). As for the Lusternik-Schnirelmann category one can consider the rational-sectional category, denoted by \(\text{secat}_0p\), which is a lower bound for secat\(p\). The main purpose of this paper is to introduce a lower bound, denoted \(M\)-secat \(p\), of \(\text{secat}_0p\) and such that \(M\)-secat \(ev_1\) is the rational Lusternik-Schnirelmann category of \(X\). The computability of \(M\)-secat \(p\) relies on the construction of an algebraic join construction. The example of the fibration \(ev_{0,1}:X^I\to X\times X\), \(\gamma\mapsto (\gamma(0),\gamma(1))\) illustrates the interest of the paper.