Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2003 / iii / Paper 18 / 9

A functor-split coequalizer pair for $G$ is a parallel pair $f,g:A\rightrightarrows B$ in $\mathcal{D}$ whose image has a split coequalizer in $\mathcal{C}$. Explicitly there are $q:GB\to Q$, $s:Q\to GB$, $t:GB\to GA$ withThese equations give the coequalizer property: if $hGf=hGg$, then $h=h(Gf)t=h(Gg)t=hsq$, and $q$ is split epic so the factor through it is unique. Every functor preserves such a split diagram, since it preserves these equations.

Reflection means that, for such a pair, any existing arrow $e:B\to D$ whose image is a coequalizer is itself a coequalizer in $\mathcal{D}$. A coequalizer of the image pair is isomorphic to the specified split one and inherits its splitting. This is reflection of an existing quotient, not an assertion that every base quotient has a lift.

For $T=GF$, define the Eilenberg-Moore comparison functorThe algebra unit law is a triangle identity. Naturality of the counit at ${\epsilon }_D$ gives its algebra associativity law; naturality at $h:D\to E$ gives $Gh{a}_D=a_{E}T(Gh)$, making $K(h)$ an algebra morphism.

Suppose first that $G$ reflects G-split coequalizers. For every $D$, consider the counit presentationIt equalizes the pair by counit naturality. After applying $G$ it becomes $T^{2}GD\rightrightarrows TGD\stackrel{a_D}{\to }GD$, with parallel maps ${\mu }_{GD},T(a_D)$. This is split: take $s={\eta }_{GD}$ and $t={\eta }_{TGD}$. The identities $a_{D}s=1$, ${\mu }_{GD}t=1$ and $T(a_D)t={\eta }_{GD}{a}_D$ follow from the algebra law, a monad unit law, and naturality of $\eta$. Reflection therefore makes ${\epsilon }_D$ a coequalizer in $\mathcal{D}$.

For faithfulness, if $Gh=Gk$ then naturality gives $h{\epsilon }_D={\epsilon }_{E}FGh={\epsilon }_{E}FGk=k{\epsilon }_D$. Coequalizers are epic, so $h=k$.

For fullness, let $\alpha :GD\to GE$ be an algebra morphism, so $\alpha a_D=a_{E}T\alpha$. Put $h_0={\epsilon }_{E}F\alpha :FGD\to E$. Its two composites with the counit-presentation pair are equal: by counit naturality they are ${\epsilon }_{E}F(a_{E}T\alpha )$ and ${\epsilon }_{E}F(\alpha a_D)$. Hence there is a unique $h:D\to E$ with $h{\epsilon }_D=h_0$. Applying $G$ gives $Gh{a}_D=a_{E}T\alpha =\alpha a_D$. Since $a_D$ is split epic, $Gh=\alpha$. This proves full faithfulness directly by descent.

Conversely suppose $K$ is full and faithful. We need the following explicit algebra lifting fact. For algebra morphisms $f,g:(A,a)\rightrightarrows (B,b)$ with a split underlying coequalizer $q:B\to Q$, the arrow $qb:TB\to Q$ equalizes $Tf,Tg$. The split diagram is preserved by $T$, so $Tq$ is their coequalizer and there is a unique $c:TQ\to Q$ with $cTq=qb$. Precomposing the unit equation with the epimorphism $q$ gives $c{\eta }_{Q}q=q$; precomposing the associativity equation with the epimorphism $T^{2}q$ gives equality by $bT(b)=b{\mu }_B$. Thus $c$ is an algebra action. If an algebra map $h:B\to (Z,z)$ equalizes $f,g$, its unique underlying factor $k:Q\to Z$ satisfies $kcTq=hb=zTh=zTkTq$. Cancelling $Tq$ shows $kc=zTk$. This proves monad algebra forgetful functor creates split coequalizers.

Now take any existing equalizing arrow $e:B\to D$ in $\mathcal{D}$ whose image is such a coequalizer. The lifting fact makes the unique compatible action on $GD$ its already given action $a_D$, since $Ke$ preserves that action. Hence $Ke$ is a coequalizer of $Kf,Kg$ in the algebra category. For any arrow $h:B\to Z$ equalizing the pair, its unique algebra factor $KD\to KZ$ lifts to an arrow $D\to Z$ by fullness of $K$; faithfulness gives its factorization equation and uniqueness. Therefore $e$ is a coequalizer in $\mathcal{D}$. We have proved the full comparison and reflection of split coequalizers equivalence