Uniqueness of \(n\)-fold delooping machines (Q1817233)

This paper gives an axiomatic characterization of \(n\)-fold delooping constructions that leads to uniqueness theorems for these constructions. In particular the \(n\)-fold delooping constructions of May and Segal are equivalent. The proof is based on the use of an operad built using the tensor product. This operad has a universal property that provides a map to both May's and Segal's \(E_n\)-spaces.