Extension, deformation and categorification of \(\operatorname{AssDer}\) pairs (Q6862434)

The main objects of study in this paper are associative algebras equipped with derivations, called AssDer pairs by the authors. An AssDer pair \((A,\phi_A)\) consists of an associative \(K\)-algebra \(A\) (where \(K\) is a field of characteristic \(0\)) together with a derivation \(\phi_A : A \to A\). A representation \((M,\phi_M)\) is an \(A\)-bimodule \(M\) equipped with a linear map \(\phi_M\), which is compatible with the left and right actions of \(A\) on \(M\). This means that \(\phi_M\) satisfies an analogue of the Leibniz rule with respect to both actions.\N\NIn Section 2, the authors construct a cohomology theory of an AssDer pair with coefficients in a representation. This cohomology is built using the classical Hochschild cochains of an associative algebra and can be viewed as a modification of Hochschild cohomology that incorporates the fixed derivation.\N\NSection 3 is devoted to the study of central extensions. A central extension is defined as an extension of an AssDer pair by a trivial AssDer pair. One of the main results (Theorem 3.4) shows that the isomorphism classes of central extensions are classified by the second cohomology of the AssDer pair with coefficients in the trivial representation.\N\NThere is a well-known Gerstenhaber's classical theory that introduces formal one-parameter deformations of associative algebras. In Section 4, the authors define formal one-parameter deformations of AssDer pairs by deforming both the associative product and the derivation. One of the main results (Theorem 4.7) proves that if the second cohomology of an AssDer pair \((A,\phi_A)\) with coefficients in itself vanishes, then the pair is rigid; rigid means that every formal deformation is equivalent to the trivial deformation \((\mu,\phi_A)\), where \(\mu\) is the multiplication of \(A\).\N\NIn Section 5, the authors investigate the category of \(2\)-term \(A_{\infty}\)-algebras with homotopy derivations, and in Section 6, they introduce the categorification of AssDer pairs.