Van Kampen theorems for diagrams of spaces (Q1090970)

Consider a commutative diagram of spaces formed by the vertices and edges of an \(n\)-cube. The fundamental groups of its iterated homotopy fibres form an algebraic object called a cat\(^ n\)-group. The authors show that under suitable connectedness hypotheses the functor from cubical diagrams to cat\(^ n\)-groups takes homotopy colimits to colimits. They study some related algebraic constructions, in particular a tensor product of non-abelian groups. There are various applications. Under suitable conditions a triad homotopy group \(\pi_ 3(X;A,B)\) (where \(X=A\cup B)\) is isomorphic to \(\pi_ 2(X,A)\otimes \pi_ 2(X,B)\), even if the groups involved are not abelian. The third homotopy group of a suspension is computed and exact sequences involving the homology of group extensions are constructed.