Averaging t-structures and extension closure of aisles

We ask when a finite set of t-structures in a triangulated category can be `averaged' into one t-structure or, equivalently, when the extension closure of a finite set of aisles is again an aisle. There is a straightforward, positive answer for a finite set of compactly generated t-structures in a big triangulated category. For piecewise tame hereditary categories, we give a criterion for when averaging is possible, and an algorithm that computes truncation triangles in this case. A finite group action on a triangulated category gives a natural way of producing a finite set of t-structures out of a given one. If averaging is possible, there is an induced t-structure on the equivariant triangulated category.Comment: 26 pages, 11 figures. v2: fixed minor mistakes, improved presentation. Comments still welcome

Spherical subcategories in representation theory

We introduce a new invariant for triangulated categories: the poset of spherical subcategories ordered by inclusion. This yields several numerical invariants, like the cardinality and the height of the poset. We explicitly describe spherical subcategories and their poset structure for derived categories of certain finite-dimensional algebras.Comment: 36 pages, many changes to improve presentation, same content as published versio

Spherical subcategories in algebraic geometry

We study objects in triangulated categories which have a two-dimensional graded endomorphism algebra. Given such an object, we show that there is a unique maximal triangulated subcategory, in which the object is spherical. This general result is then applied to algebraic geometry.Comment: 21 pages. Identical to published version. There is a separate article with examples from representation theory, see arXiv:1502.0683