14 May
2010
14 May
'10
3:34 p.m.
I don't know if this is what people were thinking when they first applied "compact" to categories
As far as I'm aware, the terminology "compact" for categories came about via representation theory: the finite-dimensional unitary representations of a group form a category with certain properties, and the group can be reconstructed from that category when the group is compact. It seems the name transferred from groups to such categories. But I wouldn't claim historical correctness; perhaps someone has the definitive word about the origin of this terminology? Best, Chris [For admin and other information see: http://www.mta.ca/~cat-dist/ ]