A double-dimensional approach to formal category theory

Abstract

Whereas formal category theory is classically considered within a $2$-category, in this paper a double-dimensional approach is taken. More precisely we develop such theory within the setting of augmented virtual double categories, a notion extending that of virtual double category by adding cells with nullary target. [...] After this the notion of `weak' Kan extension within an augmented virtual double category is considered, together with three strengthenings. [...] The notion of yoneda embedding is then considered in an augmented virtual double category, and compared to that of a good yoneda structure on a $2$-category; the latter in the sense of Street-Walters and Weber. Conditions are given ensuring that a yoneda embedding $y \colon A \to \hat A$ defines $\hat A$ as the free small cocompletion of $A$, in a suitable sense. In the second half we consider formal category theory in the presence of algebraic structures. In detail: to a monad $T$ on an augmented virtual double category $\mathcal K$ several augmented virtual double categories $T\text-\mathsf{Alg}_{(v, w)}$ of $T$-algebras are associated, [...]. This is followed by the study of the creation of, amongst others, left Kan extensions by the forgetful functors $T\text-\mathsf{Alg}_{(v, w)} \to \mathcal K$. The main motivation of this paper is the description of conditions ensuring that yoneda embeddings in $\mathcal K$ lift along these forgetful functors, as well as ensuring that such lifted algebraic yoneda embeddings again define free small cocompletions, now in $T\text-\mathsf{Alg}_{(v, w)}$. As a first example we apply the previous to monoidal structures on categories, hence recovering Day convolution of presheaves and Im-Kelly's result on free monoidal cocompletion, as well as obtaining a "monoidal Yoneda lemma".