Abstract Tensor Systems as Monoidal Categories [article]

Aleks Kissinger
2013 arXiv   pre-print
The primary contribution of this paper is to give a formal, categorical treatment to Penrose's abstract tensor notation, in the context of traced symmetric monoidal categories. To do so, we introduce a typed, sum-free version of an abstract tensor system and demonstrate the construction of its associated category. We then show that the associated category of the free abstract tensor system is in fact the free traced symmetric monoidal category on a monoidal signature. A notable consequence of
more » ... is result is a simple proof for the soundness and completeness of the diagrammatic language for traced symmetric monoidal categories.
arXiv:1308.3586v1 fatcat:cehr2n3dordifppyzazidpwg7q