The Schur multiplier of a pair of groups (Q1273641)

In this article the author develops the theory of a Schur multiplier for pairs of groups and he shows that it leads to a more systematic treatment of a number of results on the usual multiplier. In several instances this treatment yields sharper results. The Schur multiplier of the pair \((G,N)\), where \(N\) is a normal subgroup of \(G\), is defined as a functorial Abelian group \({\mathcal M}(G,N)\) whose principal feature is a natural exact sequence \[ \begin{multlined} H_3(G,\mathbb{Z})\to H_3(G/N,\mathbb{Z})\to{\mathcal M}(G,N)\to{\mathcal M}(G)\to\\ \to{\mathcal M}(G/N)\to N/[N,G]\to(G)^{ab}\to(G/N)^{ab}\to 0\end{multlined} \] (\({\mathcal M}(K)={\mathcal M}(K,K)\)). The definition is given via classifying spaces of groups but a purely homological algebraic definition and proof of the exactness of the above sequence is also given by the author [in Glasg. Math. J. 29, 13-19 (1987; Zbl 0631.20040)].