In mathematics, more precisely, in the theory of

simplicial set In mathematics, a simplicial set is an object composed of ''simplices'' in a specific way. Simplicial sets are higher-dimensional generalizations of directed graphs, partially ordered sets and categories. Formally, a simplicial set may be defined a ...

s, a simplicial group is a

simplicial object In mathematics, a simplicial set is an object composed of ''simplices'' in a specific way. Simplicial sets are higher-dimensional generalizations of directed graphs, partially ordered sets and categories. Formally, a simplicial set may be defined a ...

in the

category of groups In mathematics, the category Grp (or Gp) has the class of all groups for objects and group homomorphisms for morphisms. As such, it is a concrete category. The study of this category is known as group theory. Relation to other categories There a ...

. Similarly, a simplicial abelian group is a simplicial object in the

category of abelian groups In mathematics, the category Ab has the abelian groups as objects and group homomorphisms as morphisms. This is the prototype of an abelian category: indeed, every small abelian category can be embedded in Ab. Properties The zero object of Ab is ...

. A simplicial group is a

Kan complex In mathematics, Kan complexes and Kan fibrations are part of the theory of simplicial sets. Kan fibrations are the fibrations of the standard model category structure on simplicial sets and are therefore of fundamental importance. Kan complexes are ...

(in particular, its

homotopy groups In mathematics, homotopy groups are used in algebraic topology to classify topological spaces. The first and simplest homotopy group is the fundamental group, denoted \pi_1(X), which records information about loops in a space. Intuitively, homotop ...

make sense). The

Dold–Kan correspondence In mathematics, more precisely, in the theory of simplicial sets, the Dold–Kan correspondence (named after Albrecht Dold and Daniel Kan) states that there is an equivalence between the category of (nonnegatively graded) chain complexes and the c ...

says that a simplicial abelian group may be identified with a

chain complex In mathematics, a chain complex is an algebraic structure that consists of a sequence of abelian groups (or module (mathematics), modules) and a sequence of group homomorphism, homomorphisms between consecutive groups such that the image (mathemati ...

. In fact it can be shown that any simplicial abelian group

A

is non-canonically

homotopy equivalent In topology, a branch of mathematics, two continuous functions from one topological space to another are called homotopic (from grc, ὁμός "same, similar" and "place") if one can be "continuously deformed" into the other, such a deforma ...

to a product of

Eilenberg–MacLane space In mathematics, specifically algebraic topology, an Eilenberg–MacLane spaceSaunders Mac Lane originally spelt his name "MacLane" (without a space), and co-published the papers establishing the notion of Eilenberg–MacLane spaces under this name. ...

\prod_ K(\pi_iA,i).

commutative monoid In abstract algebra, a branch of mathematics, a monoid is a set equipped with an associative binary operation and an identity element. For example, the nonnegative integers with addition form a monoid, the identity element being 0. Monoids ar ...

in the category of simplicial abelian groups is a

simplicial commutative ring In algebra, a simplicial commutative ring is a commutative monoid in the category of simplicial abelian groups, or, equivalently, a simplicial object in the category of commutative rings. If ''A'' is a simplicial commutative ring, then it can be sho ...

. discusses a simplicial analogue of the fact that a

cohomology class In mathematics, specifically in homology theory and algebraic topology, cohomology is a general term for a sequence of abelian groups, usually one associated with a topological space, often defined from a cochain complex. Cohomology can be viewed ...

on a

Kähler manifold In mathematics and especially differential geometry, a Kähler manifold is a manifold with three mutually compatible structures: a complex structure, a Riemannian structure, and a symplectic structure. The concept was first studied by Jan Arnold ...

has a unique harmonic representative and deduces

Kirchhoff's circuit laws Kirchhoff's circuit laws are two equalities that deal with the current and potential difference (commonly known as voltage) in the lumped element model of electrical circuits. They were first described in 1845 by German physicist Gustav Kirchhof ...

from these observations.

References

* * *

Charles Weibel Charles Alexander Weibel (born October 28, 1950 in Terre Haute, Indiana) is an American mathematician working on algebraic K-theory, algebraic geometry and homological algebra. Weibel studied physics and mathematics at the University of Michigan, ...

, ''An introduction to homological algebra''

External links

*
What is a simplicial commutative ring from the point of view of homotopy theory?
Simplicial sets {{math-stub