Math 2.0

Category theory; homological algebra Definition

Classifying topos

Builds on Grothendieck toposGeometric morphismEquivalence of categories

Definition

Let 𝕋\mathbb{T} be a geometric theory. This is a first-order theory whose axioms are sequents between formulas built from finite conjunctions, arbitrary disjunctions and existential quantifiers. For a Grothendieck topos β„°\mathcal{E}, let 𝕋-Mod(β„°)\mathbb{T}\text{-}\mathrm{Mod}(\mathcal{E}) be the category of models of 𝕋\mathbb{T} in β„°\mathcal{E}. For Grothendieck toposes β„°\mathcal{E} and β„±\mathcal{F}, let π†πžπ¨π¦(β„°,β„±)\mathbf{Geom}(\mathcal{E}, \mathcal{F}) be the category of geometric morphisms β„°β†’β„±\mathcal{E} \to \mathcal{F}, and write fβˆ—f^* for the inverse image part of ff. A classifying topos of 𝕋\mathbb{T} is a Grothendieck topos π’πžπ­[𝕋]\mathbf{Set}[\mathbb{T}] together with a model U𝕋U_{\mathbb{T}} of 𝕋\mathbb{T} in it with the following property. For every Grothendieck topos β„°\mathcal{E} the functor π†πžπ¨π¦(β„°,π’πžπ­[𝕋])→𝕋-Mod(β„°),f↦fβˆ—(U𝕋)\mathbf{Geom}(\mathcal{E}, \mathbf{Set}[\mathbb{T}]) \to \mathbb{T}\text{-}\mathrm{Mod}(\mathcal{E}), \qquad f \mapsto f^*(U_{\mathbb{T}}) is an equivalence of categories. The model U𝕋U_{\mathbb{T}} is called the generic model of 𝕋\mathbb{T}.

Remarks

Example: let 𝕆\mathbb{O} be the theory with one sort, no symbols and no axioms, so that a model of 𝕆\mathbb{O} in β„°\mathcal{E} is just an object of β„°\mathcal{E}. The functor category [π…π’π§π’πžπ­,π’πžπ­][\mathbf{FinSet}, \mathbf{Set}], with the inclusion functor as generic model, is a classifying topos for 𝕆\mathbb{O}; it is called the object classifier. Non-example: π’πžπ­\mathbf{Set} is not a classifying topos for 𝕆\mathbb{O}. For every Grothendieck topos β„°\mathcal{E} there is, up to isomorphism, only one geometric morphism β„°β†’π’πžπ­\mathcal{E} \to \mathbf{Set}, while β„°\mathcal{E} has in general many non-isomorphic objects. Every geometric theory has a classifying topos, and it is unique up to equivalence. For a discrete group GG, the topos of GG-sets classifies GG-torsors.

Reading path

To understand this page from the ground up, read these 4 pages in order. The foundations come first.

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  1. Equivalence of categories concept
  2. Geometric morphism concept
  3. Grothendieck topos concept
  4. Classifying topos definition

Further reading

  1. Web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classifying_topos
About this page
TagYV297TR3SC
URIm2://YV297TR3SC
Kinddefinition
WritingW0 stub
MSC18F10, 03G30, 18B25
DefinesClassifying topos
UsesGrothendieck topos, Geometric morphism, Equivalence of categories
Changed2 November 2026

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