English

Deformation Theory of $\mathbb{E}_n$-Monoidal Categories

Algebraic Geometry 2026-02-27 v2 Category Theory Quantum Algebra

Abstract

In this paper, we prove that the naive deformation problem of an En\mathbb{E}_n-monoidal stable kk-linear \infty-category C\mathcal{C} is a 22-proximate formal En+2\mathbb{E}_{n+2}-moduli problem, whose corresponding formal moduli problem is controlled by the non-unital En+2\mathbb{E}_{n+2}-algebra fib(EndZEn(C)(1)EndC(1))\mathrm{fib}\big(\mathrm{End}_{\mathcal{Z}_{\mathbb{E}_n}(\mathcal{C})}(1)\rightarrow \mathrm{End}_{\mathcal{C}}(1)\big), where ZEn(C)\mathcal{Z}_{\mathbb{E}_n}(\mathcal{C}) is the En\mathbb{E}_n-center of C\mathcal{C}. If C\mathcal{C} is rigid monoidal and tamely compactly generated by unobstructible objects, then this naive deformation problem is equivalent to the formal moduli problem. We also prove a uniqueness theorem for formal deformations of certain formal moduli problems, which can be applied to the E1\mathbb{E}_1 and E2\mathbb{E}_2-monoidal deformation problems of Rep(G)\mathbf{Rep}(G) for a reductive algebraic group GG with a simple Lie algebra g=TeG\mathfrak{g}=T_e G. Finally, we show factorization homology is compatible with deformations.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2602.21431,
  title  = {Deformation Theory of $\mathbb{E}_n$-Monoidal Categories},
  author = {Yining Chen},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2602.21431},
  year   = {2026}
}
R2 v1 2026-07-01T10:50:50.703Z