Crossed modules as homotopy normal maps (Q1044867)

The authors generalize the notion of a normal subgroup as follows. Of course, a subgroup \(N\) of a group \(G\) is normal if the quotient map (which is the colimit in the category of sets) \(G\rightarrow G/N\) can be made into a group homomorphism. The authors embed the category of sets into the category of simplicial sets, where one can do homotopy theory, and define a map \(f: N\to G\) of groups to be a homotopy normal map if the homotopy quotient map \(G\to G//N\) to the homotopy colimit can be made into a homomorphism of simplicial groups. If \(f\) is an inclusion, then \(f\) is homotopy normal if and only if \(N\) is normal, and in this case, there is only one way to put a simplicial group structure on \(G//N\cong G/N\). In general, though, there may be several different group structures on \(G//N\) if \(f\) is homotopy normal. In fact, the authors prove that \(f\) is homotopy normal if and only if it is part of a crossed module structure, and then the other part of the crossed module structure \(G\rightarrow \Aut (N)\) determines the simplicial group structure up to homotopy. Once they have this theory in place, they can then apply it to any model category (that is, place to do homotopy theory) with a compatible monoidal structure. They only begin this process in this paper by extending it to all simplicial groups.