Definition. Cyclic shift and forward difference [fdip-00AN]

Let \(R\) be a commutative unital ring, let \(n\ge 1\), and take \(V=\mathbb Z/n\mathbb Z\) and \(E=\{e_i:i\in V\}\), with \(s(e_i)=i\) and \(h(e_i)=i+1\). The edge-label bijection gives an \(R\)-algebra isomorphism \[j:\mathcal F_R(E)\to \mathcal F_R(V),\qquad j(a)(i)=a(e_i).\] Its inverse sends \(f\) to the edge field \(e_i\mapsto f(i)\); both preserve the pointwise operations. With the ring-valued incidence map, the cyclic shift and forward difference are \[\,(Tf)(i)=f(i+1),\qquad \Delta =jd=T-I.\] The shift is an algebra automorphism, with \(\,(T^{-1}f)(i)=f(i-1)\). Vertex and edge fields are identified only through the displayed map \(j\).