English

The A-infinity operad and the moduli space of curves

Algebraic Geometry 2007-05-23 v2 Quantum Algebra

Abstract

The modular envelope of a cyclic operad is the smallest modular operad containing it. A modular operad is constructed from moduli spaces of Riemann surfaces with boundary; this modular operad is shown to be the modular envelope of the A-infinity cyclic operad. This gives a new proof of the result of Harer-Mumford-Thurston-Penner-Kontsevich that a cell complex built from ribbon graphs is homotopy equivalent to the moduli space of curves.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.math/0402015,
  title  = {The A-infinity operad and the moduli space of curves},
  author = {Kevin Costello},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:math/0402015},
  year   = {2007}
}

Comments

14 pages. Version 2: references added, proofs cleaned up