A geometrisation of $\mathbb N$-manifolds

Abstract

This paper proposes a geometrisation of $\mathbb N$-manifolds of degree $n$ as $n$-fold vector bundles equipped with a (signed) $S_n$-symmetry. More precisely, it proves an equivalence between the categories of $[n]$-manifolds and the category of symmetric $n$-fold vector bundles, by finding that symmetric $n$-fold vector bundle cocycles and $[n]$-manifold cocycles are identical. This extends the already known equivalences of $[1]$-manifolds with vector bundles, and of $[2]$-manifolds with involutive double vector bundles, where the involution is understood as an $S_2$-action.