The structure of free closed categories (Q803265)

An original method of describing all canonical natural transformations on closed categories is given. The point is the decomposition of every morphism \(f:X\to Y\) of a free closed category as gh where \(h:X\to Z\) has a definite and \(g:Z\to Y\) an indefinite form. The decomposition is not unique but the choices for Z can be restricted to allow listing of the hom-sets. The method is much more practical than the known method of Voreadou. It allows also to decide if two morphisms are equal. It may be noted that there were also the works by \textit{A. A. Babaev} [Izv. Akad. Nauk Az. SSR, Ser. Fiz.-Tekh. Mat. Nauk 1981, No.1, 3-10, No.2, 3-9 (1981; Zbl 0461.18004 and Zbl 0487.18011)] (no English translation), where the problem of equality of morphisms was solved using normalisation in a system of lambda-terms for natural deduction without contraction and with a restricted weakening rule. Babaev followed the way proposed by \textit{G. E. Mints} [Zap. Nauchn. Semin. Leningr. Otd. Mat. Inst. Steklova 68, 83-114 (1977; Zbl 0368.02036)].