English

Higher covering spaces in an $\infty$-topos

Algebraic Topology 2026-07-16 v1 Category Theory

Abstract

We develop a systematic theory of (n1)(n-1)-truncated maps, called nn-covering maps, in a fixed \infty-topos E\mathscr{E}, guided by the analogy with classical covering spaces. We prove an equivalence of nn-categories between nn-coverings over a pointed connected object (X,x)(X,x) and \infty-actions of the fundamental nn-group Πn(X,x)\Pi_n(X,x) on (n1)(n-1)-truncated objects, which restricts to a classification of pointed connected nn-coverings in terms of sub-nn-groups of Πn(X,x)\Pi_n(X,x). We study the nn-group of deck transformations Deck(p)\mathscr{D}\mathrm{eck}(p), identifying it with Πn(X,x)\Pi_n(X,x)-equivariant autoequivalences of the fiber FF. For normal nn-coverings, it is further described as a quotient of Πn(X,x)\Pi_n(X,x), yielding a classification of such coverings in terms of normal subgroups of πn(X,x)\pi_n(X,x). For an arbitrary nn-covering, the deck nn-group arises as a quotient of a suitable normalizer. Our approach relies on a careful study of nn-groups and their \infty-actions, on the use of univalent universes, and on an internal Yoneda embedding. When n=1n=1 and E\mathscr{E} is the \infty-category of homotopy types, our results recover the classical theory of covering spaces. We further illustrate the theory in sheaf and \'etale \infty-topoi, where the external deck group recovers cohomology of the base, and in cohesive \infty-topoi, where it recovers the 11-covering theory of manifolds.

Cite

@article{arxiv.2607.14773,
  title  = {Higher covering spaces in an $\infty$-topos},
  author = {Virgile Constantin},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2607.14773},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

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