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A comonad is an endofunctor $G$ with natural transformations $ϵ:G\to 1$ and $\delta :G\to G^2$ satisfying $Gϵ\delta ={ϵ}_G\delta =1_G$ and $G\delta \delta ={\delta }_G\delta$. It is the categorical dual of a monad. Its coalgebras for a comonad carry compatible maps into their image under $G$.

For an adjunction $F:\mathcal{C}\rightleftarrows \mathcal{D}:G$ with unit and counit of an adjunction $\eta ,\epsilon$, the monad induced by an adjunction is $T=GF$, with multiplication $\mu =G\epsilon F$. Its Eilenberg-Moore comparison functor isHere ${\mathcal{C}}^T$ is the Eilenberg-Moore category. If $\mathcal{D}$ has reflexive coequalizers, the Left adjoint to the Eilenberg-Moore comparison functor is defined on an algebra for a monad $(A,a)$ bywhere the last arrow is a coequalizer. The parallel pair has common section $F{\eta }_A$, so it is a reflexive pair. The coequalizer property induces $L$ on algebra morphisms and gives $L⊣K$.

Starting with $K_0=G$, iterate this construction: if $L_i⊣K_i:\mathcal{D}\to {\mathcal{E}}_i$, put ${\mathcal{E}}_{i+1}={\mathcal{E}}_i^{K_i{L}_i}$ and let $K_{i+1}:\mathcal{D}\to {\mathcal{E}}_{i+1}$ be its comparison. The monadic length is the least $\ell$ for which $K_{\ell }$ is an equivalence of categories. Thus an equivalence has length zero, and an already monadic adjunction whose right adjoint is not an equivalence has length one. The assumed reflexive coequalizers ensure the needed left adjoints; in the example we identify them explicitly.

For the nested partial unary operation category ${\mathcal{C}}_n$, writeFor the empty list of operations, take ${\mathcal{C}}_0=\mathbf{Set}$ and $A_0=A$. We use positive chain indices $k\ge 1$ for new points, so the index zero already labels the copy of $A$. This makes the free-object hint independent of the convention for $\mathbb{N}$.

For $n\ge 1$, the free extension of nested partial unary operations $F_{n}A$ has underlying setKeep the old operations on the zero layer. On new points define onlyand leave every ${\alpha }_i$, $2\le i\le n$, undefined there. Define the new top operation byand leave it undefined elsewhere. These are precisely the permitted domains: the first unary operation on every new point moves it, so none of the higher operations is defined there. When $n=0$, take $F_{0}A=A\times {\mathbb{N}}_{\ge 0}$ with ${\alpha }_1(a,k)=(a,k+1)$. In either case the unit is $a\mapsto (a,0)$.

For $B\in {\mathcal{C}}_{n+1}$, let its operations be ${\beta }_i$. Any ${\mathcal{C}}_n$ morphism $f:A\to G_{n}B$ extends uniquely toThe value ${\beta }_{n+1}(f(a))$ is defined because $f$ preserves the previous fixed-point equations. The extension respects the top operation at old fixed points and respects the first operation along each new chain; there are no other defined operations on those chains to check. Uniqueness follows from the same forced formulas. For $n=0$ the formula is $\bar{f}(a,k)={\beta }_1^k(f(a))$. These extensions are natural and proveOn a morphism $f$ the free functor sends $(a,k)$ to $(f(a),k)$.

Crucially, the top operation of $F_{n}A$ has no fixed points: its defined old values move to new points, and it has no defined new values when $n\ge 1$; for $n=0$ it is the shift. The next free extension therefore adds no points and equips the object with an everywhere-undefined next operation. The same remains true at every subsequent free extension. Hence, for $m>n$, the composite left adjoint $F_{m-1}\cdots F_n$ has the same first $n+1$ operations and underlying set as $F_n$.

This agreement includes the monad structure, not just its underlying endofunctor. The units are the same zero-layer inclusions. The composite counit on an object of ${\mathcal{C}}_m$ is the same forced extension formula, depending only on its first $n+1$ operations. Applying the composite forgetful functor therefore gives the same multiplication $G_n\epsilon F_n$. Thus

Next prove creation of the required split coequalizers. Suppose $f,g:B\rightrightarrows C$ are arrows in ${\mathcal{C}}_{n+1}$ and their images have a split coequalizer $q:C\to Q$ in ${\mathcal{C}}_n$. Choose the splitting orientationwith $s:Q\to C$, $t:C\to B$ morphisms in ${\mathcal{C}}_n$. Denote the top operations on $B,C$ by $b,c$. For $z\in Q_n$ defineSince $s$ preserves the lower operations, $s(z)\in C_n$ and this value exists. For $y\in C_n$, $t(y)\in B_n$, so preservation by $f,g$ givesThus $q$ respects the top operation. The splitting $s$ and $qs=1$ also show that this is the unique operation on its prescribed domain $Q_n$ for which $q$ is a morphism. For $n=0$ all these domains mean the whole underlying set.

If $u:C\to D$ is a ${\mathcal{C}}_{n+1}$ morphism equalizing $f,g$, its unique factor $v:Q\to G_{n}D$ in ${\mathcal{C}}_n$ satisfies, on $Q_n$,where $d$ is the top operation of $D$. Hence $v$ is a ${\mathcal{C}}_{n+1}$ morphism. This proves $G_n$ creates coequalizers of $G_n$-split pairs.

Moreover, $G_n$ reflects isomorphisms: an isomorphism of the first $n$ operations reflects their fixed-point conditions, hence the domain of the next operation; the inverse of a bijective top-operation-preserving map then preserves that operation too. The Beck monadicity theorem now givesUnder this equivalence, the first Eilenberg-Moore comparison functor for the long composite is exactly forgetting all operations after the $(n+1)$st: its algebra structure is the top-operation extension formula already computed. Repeating the argument identifies its monadic tower with the successive categoriesAt each stage the corresponding comparison has the remaining composite of the already constructed free extensions as a left adjoint.

No earlier stage can be an equivalence of categories. For $j<m$, take the two-point set with its first $j$ operations all identities. One extension to ${\mathcal{C}}_m$ has every later operation the identity; another has its $(j+1)$st operation interchange the two points, and all subsequent operations undefined. Both have the same image in ${\mathcal{C}}_j$, but the identity function between those images is not a morphism between the extensions. Thus forgetting from ${\mathcal{C}}_m$ to ${\mathcal{C}}_j$ is not full. The final comparison at $j=m$ is an equivalence. This proves the monadic tower for nested partial unary operations has