A classification of geometric morphisms and localizations for presheaf categories and algebraic categories (Q2509246)

Given two categories \(\mathcal{E}\) and \(\mathcal{A}\) with finite limits, a functor \(R : \mathcal{E} \to \mathcal{A}\) having a left exact left adjoint \(L\) is called a geometric morphism. If in addition \(R\) is fully faithful, it is called a localization. In the paper under review, these conditions are first studied in the case that \(\mathcal{A}\) is the presheaf category \([\mathcal{C}^{\text{op}},{\mathcal S}et]\) of a small category \(\mathcal{C}\) and \(L\) is the left Kan adjoint of the Yoneda extension of a functor \(k:\mathcal{C} \to \mathcal{E}\). In this case \(R\) turns out to be a geometric morphism (respectively, a localization) if and only if \(k\) is filtering (respectively, fully filtering) [see \textit{S. Mac Lane} and \textit{I. Moerdijk}, ``Sheaves in geometry and logic'', Universitext. New York etc.: Springer-Verlag. (1992; Zbl 0822.18001)]. The authors then provide different characterizations of geometric morphism and localization in the cases of \(\mathcal{A}\) being a category of (free) algebras over an algebraic theory [cf. \textit{F. Borceux}, ``Handbook of categorical algebra. 2'', Encyclopedia of Mathematics and Its Applications. 51. Cambridge: Univ. Press (1994; Zbl 0843.18001)], or a category of modules over a unitary ring.