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Wednesday, July 15, 2026

A Seven-Term Adjoint Chain in the Arrow Category

A Seven-Term Adjoint Chain in the Arrow Category (with Commutative Squares)

A Seven-Term Adjoint Chain in the Arrow Category

A direct proof with every relevant commutative square drawn explicitly.

Let $\mathcal A$ be an abelian category. Its arrow category $\mathcal A^{[1]}$ is the functor category associated with

$$ [1]=(0\longrightarrow 1). $$

It is also often denoted by $\mathcal A^2$. An object of $\mathcal A^{[1]}$ is simply a morphism

$$ f:X_0\longrightarrow X_1 $$

in $\mathcal A$.

A morphism $$ (a,b):f\longrightarrow g $$ from $f:X_0\to X_1$ to $g:Y_0\to Y_1$ is a commutative square, equivalently a pair of morphisms

$$ a:X_0\longrightarrow Y_0, \qquad b:X_1\longrightarrow Y_1 $$

satisfying $ga=bf$. In diagrammatic form:

A morphism in the arrow category.

$$ \begin{CD} X_0 @>{a}>> Y_0 \\ @V{f}VV @VV{g}V \\ X_1 @>{b}>> Y_1 \end{CD} $$
The arrow category carries the seven-term adjoint chain $$ \boxed{ \operatorname{coker} \dashv L_1 \dashv \operatorname{ev}_1 \dashv H \dashv \operatorname{ev}_0 \dashv L_0 \dashv \ker }. $$

Here

$$ \operatorname{ev}_i(X_0\xrightarrow{f}X_1)=X_i, \qquad L_1(A)=(0\to A), \qquad H(A)=(A\xrightarrow{\operatorname{id}_A}A), \qquad L_0(A)=(A\to 0). $$

1. The complete statement

For every arrow $f:X_0\to X_1$ and every object $A\in\mathcal A$, there are natural bijections

$$ \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A}(\operatorname{coker}f,A) \cong \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A^{[1]}}(f,L_1A), $$ $$ \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A^{[1]}}(L_1A,f) \cong \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A}(A,\operatorname{ev}_1f), $$ $$ \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A}(\operatorname{ev}_1f,A) \cong \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A^{[1]}}(f,HA), $$ $$ \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A^{[1]}}(HA,f) \cong \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A}(A,\operatorname{ev}_0f), $$ $$ \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A}(\operatorname{ev}_0f,A) \cong \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A^{[1]}}(f,L_0A), $$

and

$$ \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A^{[1]}}(L_0A,f) \cong \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A}(A,\ker f). $$

2. The adjunction $\operatorname{coker}\dashv L_1$

We prove

$$ \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A}(\operatorname{coker}f,A) \cong \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A^{[1]}}(f,L_1A). $$

Let $q_f:X_1\to\operatorname{coker}f$ be the cokernel morphism. A morphism $f\to L_1A$ is a commutative square

A morphism $f\to L_1A$.

$$ \begin{CD} X_0 @>{0}>> 0 \\ @V{f}VV @VV{0}V \\ X_1 @>{b}>> A \end{CD} $$

Since the top arrow is necessarily zero, commutativity is exactly the condition $bf=0$. By the universal property of the cokernel, this is equivalent to the existence of a unique morphism

$$ \overline b:\operatorname{coker}f\longrightarrow A $$

such that $b=\overline b\,q_f$. Hence

$$ \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A^{[1]}}(f,L_1A) \cong \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A}(\operatorname{coker}f,A). $$

So

$$ \boxed{\operatorname{coker}\dashv L_1}. $$

3. The adjunction $L_1\dashv\operatorname{ev}_1$

We prove

$$ \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A^{[1]}}(L_1A,f) \cong \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A}(A,X_1). $$

A morphism $L_1A\to f$ is a commutative square

A morphism $L_1A\to f$.

$$ \begin{CD} 0 @>{0}>> X_0 \\ @V{0}VV @VV{f}V \\ A @>{b}>> X_1 \end{CD} $$

The commutativity condition $f\circ 0=b\circ 0$ is automatic, so the square is determined uniquely by $b:A\to X_1$. Therefore

$$ \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A^{[1]}}(L_1A,f) \cong \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A}(A,X_1) = \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A}(A,\operatorname{ev}_1f). $$

Thus

$$ \boxed{L_1\dashv\operatorname{ev}_1}. $$

4. The adjunction $\operatorname{ev}_1\dashv H$

We prove

$$ \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A}(X_1,A) \cong \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A^{[1]}}(f,HA). $$

A morphism $f\to HA$ is a commutative square

A morphism $f\to HA$.

$$ \begin{CD} X_0 @>{a}>> A \\ @V{f}VV @VV{\operatorname{id}_A}V \\ X_1 @>{b}>> A \end{CD} $$

Commutativity means $\operatorname{id}_A\circ a=bf$, hence $a=bf$. So once $b:X_1\to A$ is chosen, the top arrow is forced. Therefore

$$ \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A^{[1]}}(f,HA) \cong \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A}(X_1,A). $$

Hence

$$ \boxed{\operatorname{ev}_1\dashv H}. $$

5. The adjunction $H\dashv\operatorname{ev}_0$

We prove

$$ \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A^{[1]}}(HA,f) \cong \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A}(A,X_0). $$

A morphism $HA\to f$ is a commutative square

A morphism $HA\to f$.

$$ \begin{CD} A @>{a}>> X_0 \\ @V{\operatorname{id}_A}VV @VV{f}V \\ A @>{b}>> X_1 \end{CD} $$

Commutativity means $fa=b\,\operatorname{id}_A$, hence $b=fa$. So once $a:A\to X_0$ is chosen, the bottom arrow is forced. Therefore

$$ \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A^{[1]}}(HA,f) \cong \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A}(A,X_0). $$

Hence

$$ \boxed{H\dashv\operatorname{ev}_0}. $$

6. The adjunction $\operatorname{ev}_0\dashv L_0$

We prove

$$ \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A}(X_0,A) \cong \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A^{[1]}}(f,L_0A). $$

A morphism $f\to L_0A$ is a commutative square

A morphism $f\to L_0A$.

$$ \begin{CD} X_0 @>{a}>> A \\ @V{f}VV @VV{0}V \\ X_1 @>{0}>> 0 \end{CD} $$

The commutativity condition $0\circ a=0\circ f$ is automatic, so such a square is determined uniquely by $a:X_0\to A$. Therefore

$$ \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A^{[1]}}(f,L_0A) \cong \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A}(X_0,A) = \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A}(\operatorname{ev}_0f,A). $$

Hence

$$ \boxed{\operatorname{ev}_0\dashv L_0}. $$

7. The adjunction $L_0\dashv\ker$

We prove

$$ \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A^{[1]}}(L_0A,f) \cong \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A}(A,\ker f). $$

Let $i_f:\ker f\to X_0$ be the kernel morphism. A morphism $L_0A\to f$ is a commutative square

A morphism $L_0A\to f$.

$$ \begin{CD} A @>{a}>> X_0 \\ @V{0}VV @VV{f}V \\ 0 @>{0}>> X_1 \end{CD} $$

Commutativity means $fa=0$. By the universal property of the kernel, this is equivalent to the existence of a unique morphism

$$ \overline a:A\longrightarrow\ker f $$

such that $a=i_f\overline a$. Hence

$$ \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A^{[1]}}(L_0A,f) \cong \operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal A}(A,\ker f). $$

Therefore

$$ \boxed{L_0\dashv\ker}. $$

8. Summary of all six special squares

For convenience, here are the six special commuting squares that appear in the proof:

$$ \begin{CD} X_0 @>{0}>> 0 \\ @V{f}VV @VV{0}V \\ X_1 @>{b}>> A \end{CD} \qquad \begin{CD} 0 @>{0}>> X_0 \\ @V{0}VV @VV{f}V \\ A @>{b}>> X_1 \end{CD} $$ $$ \begin{CD} X_0 @>{a}>> A \\ @V{f}VV @VV{\operatorname{id}_A}V \\ X_1 @>{b}>> A \end{CD} \qquad \begin{CD} A @>{a}>> X_0 \\ @V{\operatorname{id}_A}VV @VV{f}V \\ A @>{b}>> X_1 \end{CD} $$ $$ \begin{CD} X_0 @>{a}>> A \\ @V{f}VV @VV{0}V \\ X_1 @>{0}>> 0 \end{CD} \qquad \begin{CD} A @>{a}>> X_0 \\ @V{0}VV @VV{f}V \\ 0 @>{0}>> X_1 \end{CD} $$

9. Conceptual explanation via Kan extensions

The middle five functors come from restriction along the endpoint inclusions

$$ i_0:\{0\}\hookrightarrow [1], \qquad i_1:\{1\}\hookrightarrow [1]. $$

Restriction gives

$$ i_0^*=\operatorname{ev}_0, \qquad i_1^*=\operatorname{ev}_1. $$

For $i_1$ one gets

$$ \operatorname{Lan}_{i_1}=L_1, \qquad \operatorname{Ran}_{i_1}=H, $$

hence

$$ L_1\dashv\operatorname{ev}_1\dashv H. $$

For $i_0$ one gets

$$ \operatorname{Lan}_{i_0}=H, \qquad \operatorname{Ran}_{i_0}=L_0, $$

hence

$$ H\dashv\operatorname{ev}_0\dashv L_0. $$

The overlap $H=\operatorname{Ran}_{i_1}=\operatorname{Lan}_{i_0}$ glues the two triples into the five-term chain

$$ L_1\dashv\operatorname{ev}_1\dashv H\dashv\operatorname{ev}_0\dashv L_0. $$

Finally, kernel and cokernel extend the chain at the ends:

$$ \operatorname{coker}\dashv L_1, \qquad L_0\dashv\ker. $$
So the seven-term chain is built from two overlapping Kan-extension triples, completed by cokernel and kernel.

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