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Noah Snyder

Publications and source records attributed to Noah Snyder.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2025

A characterization of the Delannoy category by Adams operations

In recent joint work with Harman, we studied a pre-Tannakian category called the Delannoy category, and showed that it had numerous special properties. One of these is that the Adams operations on its Grothendieck group are trivial. In this paper, we prove three theorems inspired by this. Theorem A states that the Delannoy category is the unique semi-simple pre-Tannakian category having a generator that is fixed by the second Adams operation and whose exterior powers are simple. Theorem B states the Delannoy category is uniquely determined by its Grothendieck semi-ring (among semi-simple pre-Tannakian categories). This is reminiscent of Kazhdan--Wenzl's recognition theorem for quantum $\mathfrak{gl}_n$, and many subsequent results. Finally, Theorem C establishes some properties of pre-Tannakian categories where the second Adams operation fixes a generator.

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arXiv2025

Towards the quantum exceptional series

We find a single two-parameter skein relation on trivalent graphs, the quantum exceptional relation, that specializes to a skein relation associated to each exceptional Lie algebra (in the adjoint representation). If a slight strengthening of Deligne's conjecture on the existence of a (classical) exceptional series is true, then this relation holds for a new two-variable quantum exceptional polynomial, at least as a power series near $q=1$. The single quantum exceptional relation can be viewed as a deformation of the Jacobi relation, and implies a deformation of the Vogel relation that motivated the conjecture on the classical exceptional series. We find a conjectural basis for the space of diagrams with $n$ loose ends modulo the quantum exceptional relation for $n \le 6$, with dimensions agreeing with the classical computations, and compute the matrix of inner products, and the quantum dimensions of idempotents. We use the skein relation to compute the conjectural quantum exceptional polynomial for many knots. In particular we determine (unconditionally) the values of the quantum polynomials for the exceptional Lie algebras on these knots. We can perform these computations for all links of Conway width less than $6$, which includes all prime knots with 12 or fewer crossings. Finally, we prove several specialization results relating our conjectural family to certain quantum group categories, and conjecture a number of exceptional analogues of level-rank duality.

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arXiv2025

Interpolation categories for Conformal Embeddings

In this paper we give a diagrammatic description of the categories of modules coming from the conformal embeddings $\mathcal{V}(\mathfrak{sl}_N,N) \subset \mathcal{V}(\mathfrak{so}_{N^2-1},1)$. A small variant on this construction (morally corresponding to a conformal embedding of $\mathfrak{gl}_N$ level $N$ into $\mathfrak{o}_{N^2-1}$ level $1$) has uniform generators and relations which are rational functions in $q = e^{2 \pi i/4N}$, which allows us to construct a new continuous family of tensor categories at non-integer level which interpolate between these categories. This is the second example of such an interpolation category for families of conformal embeddings after Zhengwei Liu's interpolation categories $\mathcal{V}(\mathfrak{sl}_N, N\pm 2) \subset \mathcal{V}(\mathfrak{sl}_{N(N\pm 1)/2},1)$ which he constructed using his classification Yang-Baxter planar algebras. Our approach is different from Liu's, we build a two-color skein theory, with one strand coming from $X$ the image of defining representation of $\mathfrak{sl}_N$ and the other strand coming from an invertible object $g$ in the category of local modules, and a trivalent vertex coming from a map $X \otimes X^* \rightarrow g$. We anticipate small variations on our approach will yield interpolation categories for every infinite discrete family of conformal embeddings.

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arXiv2024

Invertible Fusion Categories

A tensor category $\mathcal{C}$ over a field $\mathbb{K}$ is said to be invertible if there's a tensor category $\mathcal{D}$ such that $\mathcal{C}\boxtimes\mathcal{D}$ is Morita equivalent to $\mathrm{Vec}_{\mathbb{K}}$. When $\mathbb{K}$ is algebraically closed, it is well-known that the only invertible fusion category is $\mathrm{Vec}_{\mathbb{K}}$, and any invertible multi-fusion category is Morita equivalent to $\mathrm{Vec}_{\mathbb{K}}$. By contrast, we show that for general $\mathbb{K}$ the invertible multi-fusion categories over a field $\mathbb{K}$ are classified (up to Morita equivalence) by $H^3(\mathbb{K};\mathbb{G}_m)$, the third Galois cohomology of the absolute Galois group of $\mathbb{K}$. We explicitly construct a representative of each class that is fusion (but not split fusion) in the sense that the unit object is simple (but not split simple). One consequence of our results is that fusion categories with braided equivalent Drinfeld centers need not be Morita equivalent when this cohomology group is nontrivial.

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arXiv2023

The circular Delannoy category

Let $G$ (resp. $H$) be the group of orientation preserving self-homeomorphisms of the unit circle (resp. real line). In previous work, the first two authors constructed pre-Tannakian categories $\underline{\mathrm{Rep}}(G)$ and $\underline{\mathrm{Rep}}(H)$ associated to these groups. In the predecessor to this paper, we analyzed the category $\underline{\mathrm{Rep}}(H)$ (which we named the ``Delannoy category'') in great detail, and found it to have many special properties. In this paper, we study $\underline{\mathrm{Rep}}(G)$. The primary difference between these two categories is that $\underline{\mathrm{Rep}}(H)$ is semi-simple, while $\underline{\mathrm{Rep}}(G)$ is not; this introduces new complications in the present case. We find that $\underline{\mathrm{Rep}}(G)$ is closely related to the combinatorics of objects we call Delannoy loops, which seem to have not previously been studied.

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arXiv2023

The Delannoy category

Let $G$ be the group of all order-preserving self-maps of the real line. In previous work, the first two authors constructed a pre-Tannakian category $\underline{\mathrm{Rep}}(G)$ associated to $G$. The present paper is a detailed study of this category, which we name the Delannoy category. We classify the simple objects, determine branching rules to open subgroups, and give a combinatorial rule for tensor products. The Delannoy category has some remarkable features: it is semi-simple in all characteristics; all simples have categorical dimension $\pm 1$; and the Adams operations on its Grothendieck group are trivial. We also give a combinatorial model for $\underline{\mathrm{Rep}}(G)$ based on Delannoy paths.

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arXiv2022

Graded extensions of generalized Haagerup categories

We classify certain $\mathbb{Z}_2 $-graded extensions of generalized Haagerup categories in terms of numerical invariants satisfying polynomial equations. In particular, we construct a number of new examples of fusion categories, including: $\mathbb{Z}_2 $-graded extensions of $\mathbb{Z}_{2n} $ generalized Haagerup categories for all $n \leq 5 $; $\mathbb{Z}_2 \times \mathbb{Z}_2 $-graded extensions of the Asaeda-Haagerup categories; and extensions of the $\mathbb{Z}_2 \times \mathbb{Z}_2 $ generalized Haagerup category by its outer automorphism group $A_4 $. The construction uses endomorphism categories of operator algebras, and in particular, free products of Cuntz algebras with free group C$^*$-algebras.

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arXiv2021

Kashaev--Reshetikhin Invariants of Links

Kashaev and Reshetikhin previously described a way to define holonomy invariants of knots using quantum $\mathfrak{sl}_2$ at a root of unity. These are generalized quantum invariants depend both on a knot $K$ and a representation of the fundamental group of its complement into $\mathrm{SL}_2(\mathbb{C})$; equivalently, we can think of $\mathrm{KR}(K)$ as associating to each knot a function on (a slight generalization of) its character variety. In this paper we clarify some details of their construction. In particular, we show that for $K$ a hyperbolic knot $\mathrm{KaRe}(K)$ can be viewed as a function on the geometric component of the $A$-polynomial curve of $K$. We compute some examples at a third root of unity.

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arXiv2020

Invertible braided tensor categories

We prove that a finite braided tensor category A is invertible in the Morita 4-category BrTens of braided tensor categories if, and only if, it is non-degenerate. This includes the case of semisimple modular tensor categories, but also non-semisimple examples such as categories of representations of the small quantum group at good roots of unity. Via the cobordism hypothesis, we obtain new invertible 4-dimensional framed topological field theories, which we regard as a non-semisimple framed version of the Crane-Yetter-Kauffman invariants, after Freed--Teleman and Walker's construction in the semisimple case. More generally, we characterize invertibility for E_1- and E_2-algebras in an arbitrary symmetric monoidal oo-category, and we conjecture a similar characterization of invertible E_n-algebras for any n. Finally, we propose the Picard group of BrTens as a generalization of the Witt group of non-degenerate braided fusion categories, and pose a number of open questions about it.

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arXiv2018

The Extended Haagerup fusion categories

In this paper we construct two new fusion categories and many new subfactors related to the exceptional Extended Haagerup subfactor. The Extended Haagerup subfactor has two even parts EH1 and EH2. These fusion categories are mysterious and are the only known fusion categories which appear to be unrelated to finite groups, quantum groups, or Izumi quadratic categories. One key technique which has previously revealed hidden structure in fusion categories is to study all other fusion categories in the Morita equivalence class, and hope that one of the others is easier to understand. In this paper we show that there are exactly four categories (EH1, EH2, EH3, EH4) in the Morita equivalence class of Extended Haagerup, and that there is a unique Morita equivalence between each pair. The existence of EH3 and EH4 gives a number of interesting new subfactors. Neither EH3 nor EH4 appears to be easier to understand than the Extended Haaerup subfactor, providing further evidence that Extended Haagerup does not come from known constructions. We also find several interesting intermediate subfactor lattices related to Extended Haagerup. The method we use to construct EH3 and EH4 is interesting in its own right and gives a general computational recipe for constructing fusion categories in the Morita equivalence class of a subfactor. We show that pivotal module $\rm C^*$ categories over a given subfactor correspond exactly to realizations of that subfactor planar algebra as a planar subalgebra of a graph planar algebra. This allows us to construct EH3 and EH4 by realizing the Extended Haagerup subfactor planar algebra inside the graph planar algebras of two new graphs. This technique also answers a long-standing question of Jones: which graph planar algebras contain a given subfactor planar algebra?

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arXiv2018

On dualizability of braided tensor categories

We study the question of dualizability in higher Morita categories of locally presentable tensor categories and braided tensor categories. Our main results are that the 3-category of rigid tensor categories with enough compact projectives is 2-dualizable, that the 4-category of rigid braided tensor categories with enough compact projectives is 3-dualizable, and that (in characteristic zero) the 4-category of braided fusion categories is 4-dualizable. Via the cobordism hypothesis, this produces respectively 2, 3 and 4-dimensional framed local topological field theories. In particular, we produce a framed 3-dimensional local TFT attached to the category of representations of a quantum group at any value of $q$.

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arXiv2018

Dualizable tensor categories

We investigate the relationship between the algebra of tensor categories and the topology of framed 3-manifolds. On the one hand, tensor categories with certain algebraic properties determine topological invariants. We prove that fusion categories of nonzero global dimension are 3-dualizable, and therefore provide 3-dimensional 3-framed local field theories. We also show that all finite tensor categories are 2-dualizable, and yield categorified 2-dimensional 3-framed local field theories. On the other hand, topological properties of 3-framed manifolds determine algebraic equations among functors of tensor categories. We show that the 1-dimensional loop bordism, which exhibits a single full rotation, acts as the double dual autofunctor of a tensor category. We prove that the 2-dimensional belt-trick bordism, which unravels a double rotation, operates on any finite tensor category, and therefore supplies a trivialization of the quadruple dual. This approach produces a quadruple-dual theorem for suitably dualizable objects in any symmetric monoidal 3-category. There is furthermore a correspondence between algebraic structures on tensor categories and homotopy fixed point structures, which in turn provide structured field theories; we describe the expected connection between pivotal tensor categories and combed fixed point structures, and between spherical tensor categories and oriented fixed point structures.

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arXiv2018

The balanced tensor product of module categories

The balanced tensor product M (x)_A N of two modules over an algebra A is the vector space corepresenting A-balanced bilinear maps out of the product M x N. The balanced tensor product M [x]_C N of two module categories over a monoidal linear category C is the linear category corepresenting C-balanced right-exact bilinear functors out of the product category M x N. We show that the balanced tensor product can be realized as a category of bimodule objects in C, provided the monoidal linear category is finite and rigid.

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arXiv2016

Categories generated by a trivalent vertex

This is the first paper in a general program to automate skein theoretic arguments. In this paper, we study skein theoretic invariants of planar trivalent graphs. Equivalently, we classify trivalent categories, which are nondegenerate pivotal tensor categories over $\mathbb C$ generated by a symmetric self-dual simple object $X$ and a rotationally invariant morphism $1 \rightarrow X \otimes X \otimes X$. Our main result is that the only trivalent categories with $\dim \operatorname{Hom}(1, X^{\otimes n})$ bounded by $1,0,1,1,4,11,40$ for $0 \leq n \leq 6$ are quantum $SO(3)$, quantum $G_2$, a one-parameter family of free products of certain Temperley-Lieb categories (which we call ABA categories), and the $H3$ Haagerup fusion category. We also prove similar results where the map $1 \rightarrow X^{\otimes 3}$ is not rotationally invariant, and we give a complete classification of nondegenerate braided trivalent categories with dimensions of invariant spaces bounded by $1,0,1,1,4$. Our main techniques are a new approach to finding skein relations which can be easily automated using Gröbner bases, and evaluation algorithms which use the discharging method developed in the proof of the $4$-color theorem.

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arXiv2015

The Asaeda-Haagerup fusion categories

The classification of subfactors of small index revealed several new subfactors. The first subfactor above index 4, the Haagerup subfactor, is increasingly well understood and appears to lie in a (discrete) infinite family of subfactors where the Z/3Z symmetry is replaced by other finite Abelian groups. The goal of this paper is to give a similarly good description of the Asaeda-Haagerup subfactor which emerged from our study of its Brauer-Picard groupoid. More specifically, we construct a new subfactor S which is a Z/4Z x Z/2Z analogue of the Haagerup subfactor and we show that the even parts of the Asaeda-Haagerup subfactor are higher Morita equivalent to an orbifold quotient of S. This gives a new construction of the Asaeda-Haagerup subfactor which is much more symmetric and easier to work with than the original construction. As a consequence, we can settle many open questions about the Asaeda-Haagerup subfactor: calculating its Drinfel'd center, classifying all extensions of the Asaeda-Haagerup fusion categories, finding the full higher Morita equivalence class of the Asaeda-Haagerup fusion categories, and finding intermediate subfactor lattices for subfactors coming from the Asaeda-Haagerup categories. The details of the applications will be given in subsequent papers.

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arXiv2014

On cubes of Frobenius extensions

Given a hypercube of Frobenius extensions between commutative algebras, we provide a diagrammatic description of some natural transformations between compositions of induction and restriction functors, in terms of colored transversely-intersecting planar 1-manifolds. The relations arise in the first and third authors' work on (singular) Soergel bimodules.

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arXiv2014

Knot polynomial identities and quantum group coincidences

We construct link invariants using the $D_{2n}$ subfactor planar algebras, and use these to prove new identities relating certain specializations of colored Jones polynomials to specializations of other quantum knot polynomials. These identities can also be explained by coincidences between small modular categories involving the even parts of the $D_{2n}$ planar algebras. We discuss the origins of these coincidences, explaining the role of $SO$ level-rank duality, Kirby-Melvin symmetry, and properties of small Dynkin diagrams. One of these coincidences involves $G_2$ and does not appear to be related to level-rank duality.

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