Papers
Normed idempotence of spectra and distributivity in equivariant higher algebra (2026). j.w. Kaif Hilman and Branko Juran. [arxiv]
In short, this paper is about versions of the Lurie tensor product for norms indexed along transfer systems, i.e. "atomic orbital subcategories," and developing the Lurie and Gepner-Groth-Nikolaus project concerning the relvant normed versions of modes; an upshot is existence and uniqueness of the normed structure encapsulating finite-index Hill-Hopkins-Ravanel norms for compact Lie groups.Eckmann-Hilton arguments in equivariant higher algebra (2025). [arxiv]
If you're familiar with Schlank-Yanovski, this works similarly; whereas connectivity of a space is a function on the orbit category, connectivity of a unital \(G\)-operad is most naturally viewed as a function on the poset of unital weak indexing systems (meaning minimum connectivity of \(I\)-admissible \(H\)-sets), and it turns out that connectivity function yields the obvious analog of Schlank-Yanovski's lower bound on Boardman-Vogt tensor products. We acquire probably the most _algebraic_ intrinsic characterization you can get for (almost unital weak) \(\mathcal{N}_\infty\)-operads: they are the targets of \(G\)-\(\infty\)-categorical Eckmann-Hilton arguments, or equivalently, they are the smashing localizations on (almost unital) \(G\)-operads.On tensor products with equivariant commutative operads (2025). [arxiv]
We study cartesian and cocartesian structures in equivariant higher algebra, leading to computations of tensor products of \(G\)-operads with weak \(\mathcal{N}_\infty\)-operads. In particular, we find that- The category of (co)cartesian structures on a \(G\)-category with finite indexed (co)products is contractible.
- Cartesian \(\mathcal{O}\)-algebras can be presented as "\(\mathcal{O}\)-monoids;" in particular, \(\mathcal{O}\)-algebras in the catesian structure on coefficient systems are Segal objects over either of the associated algebraic patterns.
- If \(\mathcal{C}^{\otimes}\) is cocartesian over all arities at which a reduced \(G\)-operad \(\mathcal{O}^{\otimes}\) has nonempty structure spaces and the underlying \(G\)-category of colors of \(\mathcal{O}\) is contractible, then objects of \(\mathcal{C}\) admit contractible moduli of \(\mathcal{O}\)-algbera structures; moreover, the converse is true, if you generalize to unital \(I\)-operads.
- If \(I\) is almost essentially unital and \(\mathcal{O}^{\otimes}\) is almosst essentially reduced, then there is an equivalence \(\mathcal{O} \otimes \mathcal{N}_{I\infty} \simeq \mathcal{N}_{I\infty}\) if and only if \(A\mathcal{O} \leq I\). Moreover, the assumptions were necessary: if \(I\) is not almost essentially unital, then \(\mathcal{N}_{I\infty}^{\otimes 2}\) is not connected, let alone equivalent to \(\mathcal{N}_{I \infty}^{\otimes}\). Hence almost-unital weak \(\mathcal{N}_\infty\)-operads are idempotent algebras, i.e. they classify smashing localizations.
- There is an equivalence \(\mathcal{O} \otimes \mathcal{N}_{I\infty} \simeq \mathcal{O}\) if and only if the underlying \(I\)-operad of \(\mathcal{O}\) is cocartesian--equivalently, if and only if \(\mathcal{O}\)-algebra \(G\)-spaces have \(I\)-indexed Wirthmüller isomorphisms.
- The above point allows you to compute \(\mathcal{N}_{I\infty} \otimes \mathcal{N}_{J \infty} \simeq \mathcal{N}_{I \vee J \infty}\) in the almost-unital setting, affirming the remaining conjecture of Blumberg-Hill.
- \(\otimes\)-idempotence of \(\mathrm{Comm}^{\otimes}_G\) allows for the sliced equifibered perspective to be symmetric monoidal, leading to an easy construction of a canonical lift of the Boardman-Vogt tensor product to a presentably symmetric monoidal \(G\)-\(\infty\)-category of \(G\)-operads.
- Lurie's Disintegration and assembly procedure works for \(G\)-space colored \(G\)-operads, on the level of giving natural \(G\)-colimit presentations via one-color \(G\)-operads; \(G\)-functorial distributivity of \(\otimes\) allows us to compute tensor products of \(G\)-space colored \(G\)-operads in terms of one-colored \(G\)-operads. Put a pin in this--we'll use it for equivariant Dunn additivity with tangential structure.
- \(A \mapsto \mathrm{RMod}_A\) takes \(\mathcal{O} \otimes \mathbb{E}_1\)-algebras to \(\mathcal{O}\)-monoidal \(\infty\)-categories; in particular, right modules over an \(I\)-commutative algebra are given a natural \(I\)-symmetric monoidal structure when \(I\) is an indexing category.
- Factorization homology is \(G\)-symmetric monoidal; in particular, the above computation lifts \(\mathrm{THR}\) to a natural endofunctor of \(\mathbb{E}_{\infty\sigma}\)-rings. As a bit of service, we show how to lift this to a lax \(C_2\)-symmetric monoidal cyclotomic structure, constructing a lax \(C_2\)-symmetric monoidal functor whose induced endofunctor of \(C_2\)-commutative rings is Quigley-Shah's Real topological cyclic homology.
Equivariant operads, symmetric sequences, and Boardman-Vogt tensor products (2025). [arxiv] [v1.5]
The purpose of this paper is to set the stage to study the homotopy theory of \(G\)-operads and their Boardman-Vogt tensor products. The important constructions are the underlying \(G\)-symmetric sequence and the Boardman-Vogt tensor product of \(G\)-operads. The important facts are the following:- The underlying \(G\)-symmetric sequence is monadic.
- There is a well-behaved localizing subcategory of \(G\)-\(d\)-operads (whose structure spaces are \((d-1)\)-truncated), compatible with all of the constructions.
- The \(\mathcal{O}\)-\(G\)-coefficient systems functor \(\mathcal{O} \mapsto \mathrm{Alg}_{\mathcal{O}}(\mathrm{Coeff}^G\mathcal{C})\) detects equivalences on the base change of the underlying \(G\)-symmetric sequence to \(\mathcal{C}\); in particular, evaluation on \(n\)-truncated \(G\)-spaces detects \(n\)-equivalences of \(G\)-operads and evaluation on \(G\)-spaces is conservative.
- The equivariant operadic nerve intertwines everything in sight, so it has a conservative right-derived functor; moreover, it's only the coherences that make things annoying, so it's easy to verify that it's an equivalence on one-color \(G\)-1-operads.
- The Boardman-Vogt tensor product works as you expect it to and intertwines with the Day convolution structure on \(G\)-symmetric monoidal \(\infty\)-categories via the envelope.
Orbital categories and weak indexing systems (2024). [arxiv]
This paper is an exposé on weak indexing systems, the combinatorics behind weak \(\mathcal{N}_\infty\) operads. The main point here is to show that, even though it's somewhat more complicated, you can run some version almost all of the homotopical combinatorics you know and love in the more general setting of subterminal \(G\)-operads, perhaps under mild unitality assumptions.
Submitted to tAMS in May, 2025.
In-progress projects to look out for
Connectivity of equivariant configuration spaces and \(\mathbb{E}_V\)-algebraic Wirthmüller maps. [draft]
The results in this draft keep getting stronger, and the dependencies heavier; as of right now, the _point_ is that you can lift the Fadell-Neuwirth fibration to equivariant configurations, reducing connectivity statements for configurations in \(G\)-manifolds to connectivity and dimension statements in their strata with fixed isotropy. In the case of orthogonal representations, this itself is completely determined by the dimensions of various fixed point spaces; surprisingly, this means that the collection of arities \(S\) for which \(\mathbb{E}_V(S)\) is \(n\)-connected is closed under self-indexed coproducts and restruction, i.e. it's a _unital weak indexing system_. As a consequence, an easy dimension-counting condition completely classifies the connectivity of the fibers of semiadditive norm maps in the \(G\)-category of \(\mathbb{E}_V\)-\(G\)-spaces, quantifying how close these things are to \(G\)-semiadditivity (and hence how close \(\mathbb{E}_V\)-algebras are to weak \(\mathcal{N}_\infty\)-algebras).Dimension-shifting multiplicative norms in equivariant homotopy theory.
In ongoing work with Branko Juran, we hope to use equivariant higher algebra to fulfill the conjectures of Blumberg-Hill-Mandell in the \(\infty\)-categorical setting, replacing strictly commutative algebras with normed algebras (having finite-index norms).
Homotopical additivity of equivariant little disk operads. [rough draft]
</summary> A not-quite-complete draft which nevertheless does what it says on the tin: we prove \(\mathbb{E}_V \otimes \mathbb{E}_W \simeq \mathbb{E}_{V \oplus W}\).Modules and cotangent complexes in equivariant higher algebra.
I hope to relitigate Higher Algebra chapter 7 in the setting of \(G\)-operads; the aim is to lift the characterization of cotangent complexes from Basterra-Mandell in the setting \(G = C_2\) using the (dihedral) Bar construction of e.g. Knoll-Gerhardt-Hill, in preparation for computations in Real deformation theory. This is ongoing joint work with Ryan Quinn.All models for \(G\)-operads agree.
In ongoing work with Gregoire Marc, we hope to show that the Nardin-Shah and Bonventre-Pereira models for \(G\)-operads agree, ultimately verifying that one can use "monoids in \(G\)-symmetric sequences" in equivariant higher algebra arguments exactly when it's convenient.
The rational cohomology of equivariant iterated loop spaces
In a looping Mainz project, Bikramjit Kundu, Alex Waugh, and I have started to work out the rational cohomology of equivariant iterated loop spaces, as well as the integral cohomology operad of \(\mathbb{E}_V\), in hopes of approaching an equivariant Cohen's theorem.
The multiplication on \(\mathrm{BP}_{\mathbb{R}}\) and \(\mathrm{BP}_{\mathbb{R}} \langle n \rangle\).
This is now ongoing work with Christian Carrick, Mike Hill, Ryan Quinn, and Qi Zhu.
After doing so, I hope to add \(\mathbb{R}\) and \(C_2\), as well as replace \(3\) with \(2 \rho - 1\), in section 2 of Hahn-Wilson and claim the new result as my own.
Thesis
Equivariant higher algebra. [harvard library]
Summary of many previous and future projects. Admittedly a bit rough; I'll polish it and post to the arxiv in the coming months.Notes and undergrad research
Slides: Homotopy-coherent interchange and equivariant little disk operads [source] [handout]
Slides for a talk in Belfast.Lower Bounds on Volumes of Hyperbolic 3-Manifolds via Decomposition (2021) with Colin Adams et al. [arxiv]
Lower bounds on the volumes of hyperbolic link complements are given via a new construction: a bracelet link is a link in \(S^3\) decomposed as a cycle of interconnected tangles, and it is proved that a bracelet link of \(2n\) tangles, such that each individual tangle may be replicated into a hyperbolic bracelet link of \(2n\) copies of the tangle, is hyperbolic, with volume at least the average of the replicated links.https://atwater.caltech.edu/team-member/miles-johnson
This replication is generalized to arbitrary 3-manifolds via a construction called starbursts, which separate the manifold into pieces, which have a well defined \(2n\)-replicant; if the resulting pieces from removing a regular neighborhood of a starburst have hyperbolic replicants, then the 3-manifold is hyperbolic, with volume at least the average of the volumes of the replicants.
Applications are presented to hyperbolicity of links in thickened surfaces and in the solid torus.