Sheaf
Collection
context | ⟨X,T⟩ … topological space |
definiendum | F in it |
inclusion | F … seperated presheaf |
for all | U∈T |
for all | CU … open cover(U) |
for all | S:∏V∈CFV |
postulate | (∀(V,W∈CU). S(V)|V∩W=S(W)|V∩W)⟹∃(s∈FU). ∀V. S(V)=s|V |
Discussion
As in seperated presheaf, t|V denotes the image of t under F(i) with i:V→W.
Elaboration
Previously, we defined the 'Locality axiom' which makes a presheaf into a seperated presheaf. The postulate in this entry is the second axiom which makes a seperated presheaf into a sheaf.
Gluing axiom: If V∈CU are elements of a cover CU of an open set U, the function S selects one section S(V) from every FV. A seperated presheaf is a sheaf if such a collection of selected to-be-partions-of-a-section S(V), which locally agree with each other, indeed come from a globally defined section s which is an element of the big FU. So the postulate says that the image of F contains all sections which can arise from gluing together other available sections.
Example
From the Wikipedia page below:
“Any continuous map of topological spaces determines a sheaf of sets. Let f : Y → X be a continuous map. We define a sheaf Γ(Y/X) on X by setting Γ(Y/X)(U) equal to the sections U → Y, that is, Γ(Y/X)(U) is the set of all continuous functions s : U → Y such that f ∘ s = id_U. Restriction is given by restriction of functions. This sheaf is called the sheaf of sections of f, and it is especially important when f is the projection of a fiber bundle onto its base space. Notice that if the image of f does not contain U, then Γ(Y/X)(U) is empty. For a concrete example, take X = C \ {0}, Y = C, and f(z) = exp(z). Γ(Y/X)(U) is the set of branches of the logarithm on U.”
Reference
Wikipedia: Sheaf