A projective homotopy theory of crossed \(G\)-modules (Q1899872)

A crossed \(G\)-module (where \(G\) is a fixed group) is a group homomorphism \(\partial : M \to G\) with a group action of \(G\) on \(M\), \((g, m) \mapsto {^gm}\), satisfying (i) \(\partial (^gm) = g(\partial m) g^{-1}\), and (ii) \(^{\partial m} m' = mm'm^{-1}\) for all \(g \in G\), \(m,m' \in M\). The notion is due to \textit{J. H. C. Whitehead} [Bull. Am. Math. Soc. 55, 453-496 (1949; Zbl 0040.38801)] and plays an important role in the theory of algebraic models for homotopy types of spaces. The obvious category of crossed \(G\)-modules can be viewed as a generalization of the category of \(\mathbb{Z} G\)-modules. In the paper Hilton's projective homotopy theory of \(\mathbb{Z} G\)-modules [\textit{P. J. Hilton}, Homotopy theory and duality (1967; Zbl 0155.50801)] is extended to a homotopy theory of crossed \(G\)-modules. In particular, certain homotopy groups of crossed \(G\)-modules are investigated and homological characterizations of the homotopy type of a crossed \(G\)-module are given. Furthermore, the authors observe that the category of crossed \(G\)-modules is a fibration category in the sense of \textit{H. J. Baues} [Algebraic homotopy, Camb. Stud. Adv. Math. 15 (1989; Zbl 0688.55001)].