\(L_\infty \) structures on mapping cones (Q1005846)

The authors define a functor from the category of morphisms of differential graded Lie algebras (DGLA's) to the category of \(L_{\infty}\)-algebras. This functor consists of an \(L_{\infty}\)-algebra structure on the cone, compatible with the usual DGLA structure on this cone. This structure is unique up to isomorphisms of \(L_{\infty}\)-algebras and is a particular case of a more general construction of an \(L_{\infty}\) structure on the total complex of a semicosimplicial DGLA. Moreover, the deformation structure associated to this \(L_{\infty}\)-algebra is shown to be isomorphic to a functor \(\mathrm{Def}\) defined by the second author in [``Lie description of higher obstructions to deforming manifolds'', \url{http://arxiv.org/abs/math/0507287}]. This result allows the use of \(L_{\infty}\) techniques for the study of \(\mathrm{Def}\) and concrete applications are given.