Relation morphisms of directed graphs

Abstract: Associating graph algebras to directed graphs leads to both covariant and contravariant functors from suitable categories of graphs to the category k-Alg of algebras and algebra homomorphims. As both functors are often used at the same time, one needs a new category of graphs that allows a "common denominator" functor unifying the covariant and contravariant constructions. Herein, we solve this problem by first introducing the relation category of graphs RG, and then determining the concept of admissible graph relations that yields a subcategory of RG admitting a contravariant functor to k-Alg simultaneously generalizing the aforementioned covariant and contravariant functors. Although we focus on Leavitt path algebras and graph C*-algebras, on the way we unravel functors given by path algebras, Cohn path algebras and Toeplitz graph C*-algebras from suitable subcategories of RG to k-Alg. Better still, we illustrate relation morphisms of graphs by naturally occuring examples, including Cuntz algebras, quantum spheres and quantum balls.