Generic algebras and iterated Hochschild homology (Q5946460)

If you start out with a simplicial commutative monoid, the (simplicial) bar construction will again be a simplicial commutative monoid. Hence the construction can be iterated. Segal formulated this fact in the following manner: Let \(S^1\) be the standard simplicial model for the circle. It is a pointed simplicial finite set, and so a contravariant functor from the category \(\Delta\) of finite nonempty ordered sets to the category of finite pointed sets (which is called \(\Gamma\) in the current paper which conflicts with Segal's notation \(\Gamma^{\text{op}}\). In this review we will use the current paper's notation). Segal's formulation then reads: the bar construction of a commutative monoid extends along \(S^1\), to a functor from \(\Gamma\). The iterated bar construction is then this functor applied (degreewise) to a higher-dimensional sphere. This principle also applies to commutative monoids and their (bi)modules in other symmetric monoidal categories, with Hochschild homology as the manifestation in the case of commutative \(k\)-algebras when \(k\) is a commutative ring. \textit{T. Pirashvili} has studied this case in [Ann. Sci. Éc. Norm. Supér., IV. Sér. 33, No. 2, 151-179 (2000; Zbl 0957.18004)] under the name ``higher order Hochschild homology''. In the paper under review the author investigates the properties of the iterated bar construction. In particular he proves a splitting result (``Hodge decomposition'') at the chain level for the higher order Hochschild homology over \(\mathbb{Q}\) and over \(\mathbb{F}_p\) for \(p\) a prime. This extends Pirashvili's calculations. The splitting is achieved by means of Adams operations. More precisely, the author considers a ``category of constructions'' \({\mathcal {CEM}}\), which is a certain subcategory of the category of functors from \(\Gamma^{op}\) to chain complexes of abelian groups. The reason for the name is that if given a ``construction'' \(C_*\)-tensorization yields a functor from the category of functors \(L:\Gamma\to {\mathcal A}b\) to the category of chain complexes: \(L\mapsto C_*(L)=C_*\otimes_\Gamma L\). This encompasses the standard constructions such as the (chain interpretation of the) bar construction. The key point is that \({\mathcal{CEM}}\) is itself a symmetric monoidal category, and so we can talk about (Hopf) algebras within \({\mathcal {CEM}}\). Observing that the bar construction of an augmented commutative algebra in \({\mathcal {CEM}}\) is a commutative Hopf algebra, the author constructs Adams operations and direct sum decompositions of the (iterated) bar constructions over \(\mathbb{Q}\) and over \(\mathbb{F}_p\) for \(p\) a prime. When tensoring this with the appropriate functor \(\Gamma\to {\mathcal A}b\), this gives rise to the promised canonical splittings of Hochschild homology.