Harmonic representatives in homology over arbitrary fields (Q6074060)

In this paper, the authors introduce a notion of harmonic chain for chain complexes over fields of positive characteristic. The authors prove some Hodge theorems for chain complexes over fields of positive characteristic. Theorem A. Let \(C_\bullet\) be a chain complex of finite dimensional vector spaces over a field \(\mathbb F\), where each \(C_k\) is equipped with a chosen basis and the induced symmetric bilinear form. The following are equivalent. (1) (Existence and uniqueness of harmonic representatives) Every homology class in \(H_k\) has a unique harmonic representative. (2) (Uniqueness of harmonic representatives) For every homology class in \(H_k\) with a harmonic representative, that representative is unique. (3) The only harmonic representative of the trivial homology class \([0] \in H_k\) is 0. (4) \(Z_k \cap Z^k\cong H_k\) via the quotient map \(z \longrightarrow [z]\). (5) \(B_k \cap Z^k = 0\). (6) \(B_k \oplus Z^k = C_k\). (7) \(\ker(\partial ^*_k \partial _k) = \ker(\partial _k)\). (8) \(im(\partial ^*_{k+1}\partial _{k+1}) = im(\partial^*_{k+1})\). (9) The Moore-Penrose pseudoinverse \(\pi^\dag\) of the projection map \(\pi: C_k \longrightarrow C_k/B_k\) exists. Furthermore, if these statements hold, then the pseudoinverse \(\pi^\dag\) of (9) takes every homology class to its unique harmonic representative. If the statements of Theorem A hold for a cochain complex \(C_\bullet\) at degree \(k\), we say that \(C_\bullet\) is homologically harmonic in degree \(k\). If the statements of Theorem A hold for a cochain complex \(C_\bullet\) at degree \(k\), we say that \(C_\bullet\) is cohomologically harmonic in degree \(k\). Theorem B (Hodge Decomposition over Arbitrary Fields). Let \(C_\bullet\) be a chain complex of finite-dimensional vector spaces with chosen bases, and let \(\mathcal{L}_k: C_k \longrightarrow C_k\) be the discrete Laplacian. The vector space \(C_k\) decomposes into a direct sum of subspaces \(C_k = \ker \mathcal{L}_k \oplus B_k \oplus B^k\) if and only if both \(C_\bullet\) is homologically harmonic in degree \(k\), and the dual complex \(C_\bullet\) is cohomologically harmonic in degree \(k\). In this case, the subspaces in the decomposition are orthogonal with respect to the symmetric bilinear form, and the component \(ker \mathcal{L}_k\) is equal to \(Z_k \cap Z^k\). Furthermore, \(\ker \mathcal{L}_k\) is isomorphic to both \(H_k\) and \(H^k\) through the natural maps sending (co)cycles to their respective (co)homology classes. The authors also prove some theorems for finite CW-complexes: Theorem C. For a finite CW complex \(X\), there exists an integer \(\Upsilon=\Upsilon (X, k)\) depending on the combinatorial structure of \(X\) so that, for any integral homology class in degree \(k\), its rational harmonic representative has coefficients in \(Z[\Upsilon^{-1}]\). Theorem D. If \(p\) does not divide \(\Upsilon(X, k)\), and \(H_k(X)\) has no \(p\)-torsion, then \(X\) is homologically harmonic over \(\mathbb F_p\) in degree \(k\). That is, every homology class in \(H_k(X; \mathbb F_p)\) has a unique harmonic representative. Furthermore, if \(k = 1\) and \(X\) is a CW structure on a connected orientable surface, \(\Upsilon\) is given by \[ \Upsilon = \det \hat{\mathcal L}_1/|X_2|, \] where \(\hat{\mathcal L}_1 = \mathcal L_1\vert_{B_1(X)} : B_1(X; \mathbb F_p) \longrightarrow B_1(X; \mathbb F_p)\), which is an isomorphism, is the Laplacian restricted to the 1-boundaries. Overall, the results are very interesting and are of significance.