Does the "Leibniz multicategory over $R$" have an accepted name?

80 Views Asked by At

Let $R$ denote a commutative ring.

Definition. The "Leibniz multicategory" over $R$ is given as follows:

Objects. $R[D]$-modules (where $D$ is a formal symbol; an 'indeterminate').

Multiarrows. $R$-multilinear functions satisfying the "Leibniz Law." For example, if we're given an $R$-multilinear function $f : X, Y \rightarrow Z$, the Leibniz law reads:

$$Df(x,y) = f(Dx,y) + f(x,Dy)$$

The $n=3$ case is:

$$Df(x,y,z) = f(Dx,y,z) + f(x,Dy,z)+f(x,y,Dz)$$

etc.

For illustration purposes, lets show that if we're given multiarrows $$f : X,Y \rightarrow J, \quad g : J,Z \rightarrow K,$$ then the function $$h : X,Y,Z \rightarrow K \quad x,y,z \mapsto g(f(x,y),z)$$ is also a multiarrow.

We have:

$$Dh(x,y,z) = Dg(f(x,y),z) = g(Df(x,y),z)+g(f(x,y),Dz)$$

But

$$g(Df(x,y),z) = g(f(Dx,y)+f(x,Dy),z) = g(f(Dx,y),z)+g(f(x,Dy),z)$$

So

$$Dh(x,y,z) = g(f(Dx,y),z)+g(f(x,Dy),z)+g(f(x,y),Dz)$$

In other words:

$$Dh(x,y,z) = h(Dx,y,z)+h(x,Dy,z)+h(x,y,Dz)$$

as required.

Motivation. A differential $R$-algebra with one derivation is just a monoid object in the above multicategory. The obvious variant of the above multicategory to many $D's$ gives us differential algebras with many derivations.

Question. Does this multicategory (and/or its obvious generalizations) have an accepted name?

If not, is there at least somewhere I can learn more about it?