Central extensions in semi-abelian categories (Q1850093)

The main result of the paper characterizes central extensions in a semi-abelian category [in the sense of \textit{G. Janelidze}, \textit{L. Márki} and \textit{W. Tholen}, ibid. 168, 367-386 (2002; Zbl 0993.18008)] with respect to its full subcategory of abelian objects, displaying a beautiful coincidence of the categorical and algebraic notions of centrality, as studied by \textit{G. Janelidze} and \textit{G. M. Kelly} [ibid. 97, 135-161 (1994; Zbl 0813.18001)]. The authors also characterize central extensions for internal groupoids of a semi-abelian category, obtaining particularly the known description of central extensions of crossed modules.