2-groups, 2-characters, and Burnside rings (Q1789487)

The authors study \(2\)-representations, which are actions of \(2\)-groups on 2-vector spaces, in the sense of Kapranov and Voevodsky, by working with a \(2\)-group \(\mathcal{G}=\tilde{\mathcal{K}}\) arising from a crossed module \(\mathcal{K}\) whose fundamental group \(\pi_1(\mathcal{G})\) is finite. A \(2\)-module \(\Theta_A\) of \(\mathcal{G}\) arises from an action of the crossed module \(\mathcal{K}\)-action on an algebra \(A\). A Morita theorem for strict \(2\)-modules is proved: the \(2\)-modules \(\Theta_A\) and \(\Theta_B\) are equivalent if and only if \(A\) and \(B\) are \(\mathcal{K}\)-Morita equivalent. If \(\mathcal{K} = (H \to G)\) is a crossed module, then a \(2\)-representation of \(\mathcal{G}\) yields a \(2\)-cocycle for \(\mathcal{G}\). A structure theorem for \(2\)-representations is established in this context. The authors use here extended Burnside rings to describe the Grothendieck group of \(2\)-representations of \(\mathcal{G}\). The main result of the paper says that the Ganter-Kapranov \(2\)-character of a \(2\)-representation (obtained by using \(2\)-traces) is a particular mark homomorphism of the Burnside ring. Next, groups are considered as particular example of \(2\)-groups. An explicit formula for Shapiro isomorphism on the level of cocycles is deduced, which implies that two complexes are not only quasi-isomorphic but also homotopically equivalent. The Ganter-Kapranov \(2\)-character is explicitly calculated in this situation. As an application, a new proof of Osorno's formula for the Ganter-Kapranov 2-character is given in terms of cohomological data. Finaly, Lusztig's Conjecture about base sets for the double cells and the McKay Conjecture for the number of \(p'\)-characters of a finite group are restated on the level of \(2\)-representations.