Synthetic differential geometry
Encyclopedia
In mathematics
, synthetic differential geometry is a reformulation of differential geometry in the language of topos theory, in the context of an intuitionistic logic characterized by a rejection of the law of excluded middle
. There are several insights that allow for such a reformulation. The first is that most of the analytic data for describing the class of smooth manifolds can be encoded into certain fibre bundles on manifolds: namely bundles of jets
(see also jet bundle
). The second insight is that the operation of assigning a bundle of jets to a smooth manifold is functorial
in nature. The third insight is that over a certain category
, these are representable functor
s. Furthermore, their representatives are related to the algebras of dual numbers, so that smooth infinitesimal analysis
may be used.
Synthetic differential geometry can serve as a platform for formulating certain otherwise obscure or confusing notions from differential geometry. For example, the meaning of what it means to be natural (or invariant) has a particularly simple expression, even though the formulation in classical differential geometry may be quite difficult.
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, synthetic differential geometry is a reformulation of differential geometry in the language of topos theory, in the context of an intuitionistic logic characterized by a rejection of the law of excluded middle
Law of excluded middle
In logic, the law of excluded middle is the third of the so-called three classic laws of thought. It states that for any proposition, either that proposition is true, or its negation is....
. There are several insights that allow for such a reformulation. The first is that most of the analytic data for describing the class of smooth manifolds can be encoded into certain fibre bundles on manifolds: namely bundles of jets
Jet (mathematics)
In mathematics, the jet is an operation which takes a differentiable function f and produces a polynomial, the truncated Taylor polynomial of f, at each point of its domain...
(see also jet bundle
Jet bundle
In differential geometry, the jet bundle is a certain construction which makes a new smooth fiber bundle out of a given smooth fiber bundle. It makes it possible to write differential equations on sections of a fiber bundle in an invariant form...
). The second insight is that the operation of assigning a bundle of jets to a smooth manifold is functorial
Functor
In category theory, a branch of mathematics, a functor is a special type of mapping between categories. Functors can be thought of as homomorphisms between categories, or morphisms when in the category of small categories....
in nature. The third insight is that over a certain category
Category theory
Category theory is an area of study in mathematics that examines in an abstract way the properties of particular mathematical concepts, by formalising them as collections of objects and arrows , where these collections satisfy certain basic conditions...
, these are representable functor
Representable functor
In mathematics, particularly category theory, a representable functor is a functor of a special form from an arbitrary category into the category of sets. Such functors give representations of an abstract category in terms of known structures In mathematics, particularly category theory, a...
s. Furthermore, their representatives are related to the algebras of dual numbers, so that smooth infinitesimal analysis
Smooth infinitesimal analysis
Smooth infinitesimal analysis is a mathematically rigorous reformulation of the calculus in terms of infinitesimals. Based on the ideas of F. W. Lawvere and employing the methods of category theory, it views all functions as being continuous and incapable of being expressed in terms of discrete...
may be used.
Synthetic differential geometry can serve as a platform for formulating certain otherwise obscure or confusing notions from differential geometry. For example, the meaning of what it means to be natural (or invariant) has a particularly simple expression, even though the formulation in classical differential geometry may be quite difficult.
Further reading
- John Lane BellJohn Lane BellJohn Bell is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Western Ontario in Canada. He is an outstanding figure in mathematical logic and philosophy...
, Two Approaches to Modelling the Universe: Synthetic Differential Geometry and Frame-Valued Sets (PDF file) - F.W. LawvereWilliam LawvereFrancis William Lawvere is a mathematician known for his work in category theory, topos theory and the philosophy of mathematics.-Biography:...
, Outline of synthetic differential geometry (PDF file) - Anders Kock, Synthetic Differential Geometry (PDF file), Cambridge University Press, 2nd Edition, 2006.
- R. Lavendhomme, Basic Concepts of Synthetic Differential Geometry, Springer-Verlag, 1996.
- Michael Shulman, Synthetic Differential Geometry