Polynomial functors and polynomial monads

Abstract

We study polynomial functors over locally cartesian closed categories. After setting up the basic theory, we show how polynomial functors assemble into a double category, in fact a framed bicategory. We show that the free monad on a polynomial endofunctor is polynomial. The relationship with operads and other related notions is explored.Comment: 41 pages, latex, 2 ps figures generated at runtime by the texdraw package (does not compile with pdflatex). v2: removed assumptions on sums, added short discussion of generalisation, and more details on tensorial strength