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8.3 Spectral sequences of a double complex

3 min readaugust 7, 2024

Spectral sequences of double complexes are powerful tools for computing homology. They allow us to break down complex calculations into manageable steps, using filtrations to analyze the structure piece by piece.

By studying the pages of a spectral sequence, we can uncover hidden relationships between different parts of a . This approach often leads to surprising connections and simplifies seemingly difficult homological problems.

Double Complex and Filtrations

Definition and Structure of Double Complexes

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  • Double complex consists of a collection of abelian groups or modules Cp,qC_{p,q} arranged in a grid indexed by integers pp and qq
  • Equipped with horizontal differentials dh:Cp,qCp+1,qd_h: C_{p,q} \to C_{p+1,q} and vertical differentials dv:Cp,qCp,q+1d_v: C_{p,q} \to C_{p,q+1}
  • Satisfies the conditions dhdh=0d_h \circ d_h = 0, dvdv=0d_v \circ d_v = 0, and dhdv+dvdh=0d_h \circ d_v + d_v \circ d_h = 0 (anticommutativity)
  • Can be visualized as a commutative diagram with rows and columns connected by differentials

Total Complex and Its Properties

  • Tot(C)\text{Tot}(C) of a double complex CC is a single complex constructed by "flattening" the double complex
  • Defined as Tot(C)n=p+q=nCp,q\text{Tot}(C)_n = \bigoplus_{p+q=n} C_{p,q} with d=dh+dvd = d_h + d_v
  • Differential dd satisfies dd=0d \circ d = 0 due to the anticommutativity condition in the double complex
  • Allows studying the homology of the double complex by considering the homology of the total complex

Filtrations on Double Complexes

  • Row filtration on a double complex CC is a sequence of subcomplexes FpC=ipCi,F_p C = \bigoplus_{i \geq p} C_{i,*}
    • Obtained by considering the rows of the double complex from the pp-th row onwards
    • Satisfies FpCFp1CF_p C \subseteq F_{p-1} C for all pp
  • Column filtration on a double complex CC is a sequence of subcomplexes FqC=jqC,jF_q C = \bigoplus_{j \geq q} C_{*,j}
    • Obtained by considering the columns of the double complex from the qq-th column onwards
    • Satisfies FqCFq1CF_q C \subseteq F_{q-1} C for all qq
  • Filtrations provide a way to study the double complex by considering its "slices" along rows or columns

Spectral Sequences and Convergence

First Quadrant Spectral Sequence

  • is a spectral sequence {Erp,q,dr}\{E_r^{p,q}, d_r\} with Erp,q=0E_r^{p,q} = 0 for p<0p < 0 or q<0q < 0
  • Arises naturally from a double complex CC with Cp,q=0C_{p,q} = 0 for p<0p < 0 or q<0q < 0 (first quadrant double complex)
  • Pages of the spectral sequence are computed iteratively using the differentials dr:Erp,qErp+r,qr+1d_r: E_r^{p,q} \to E_r^{p+r,q-r+1}
  • Each page ErE_r is the homology of the previous page Er1E_{r-1} with respect to the differential dr1d_{r-1}

Convergence of Double Complex Spectral Sequence

  • Spectral sequence of a first quadrant double complex CC converges to the homology of the total complex Tot(C)\text{Tot}(C)
  • means that there exists an r0r_0 such that for all rr0r \geq r_0, the pages ErE_r stabilize (i.e., ErEr+1E_r \cong E_{r+1} \cong \cdots)
  • The stable page EE_\infty is isomorphic to the associated graded module of the homology of Tot(C)\text{Tot}(C) with respect to a certain filtration
  • Convergence provides a way to compute the homology of the total complex by studying the spectral sequence pages

Collapse of Spectral Sequence

  • Spectral sequence of a double complex is said to collapse at the rr-th page if dr=0d_r = 0 and di=0d_i = 0 for all i>ri > r
  • Collapsing implies that ErEr+1EE_r \cong E_{r+1} \cong \cdots \cong E_\infty
  • If the spectral sequence collapses at the rr-th page, the homology of the total complex can be read off directly from the rr-th page
  • Collapsing at an early page simplifies the computation of the homology of the total complex
  • Occurs in various situations, such as when the double complex has only a few non-zero terms or when certain vanishing conditions are satisfied (e.g., Cp,q=0C_{p,q} = 0 for p>p0p > p_0 or q>q0q > q_0)
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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.

© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.
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