Semi-orthogonal and derived decompositions for gentle algebras

Abstract

We study semi-orthogonal decompositions of perfect derived categories of gentle algebras via marked ribbon surfaces. We characterize such decompositions in terms of suitable disjoint union decompositions of full formal arc systems, and relate this description to good cuts of the corresponding surfaces. For gentle algebras, rotations of curves induce fully faithful functors from extension-closed subcategories of module categories to the components of the associated semi-orthogonal decompositions. Under additional Abelian and extension-comparison conditions, these constructions give derived decompositions of the module categories.