Enriched model categories and presheaf categories (Q2291185)

A leading question in enriched model category theory is the following: Given a nice enriching model category \(\mathscr{V}\) and a \(\mathscr{V}\)-model category \(\mathscr{M}\), is it possible to construct a Quillen adjunction, or even Quillen equivalence, to a model category of enriched presheaves in \(\mathscr{V}\) over a suitable \(\mathscr{V}\)-category \(\mathscr{D}\)? The paper at hand addresses this question, in several flavours and levels of generality. After developing a general framework for dealing with questions of this kind, it provides a positive answer in case that \(\mathscr{V}\) is stable and the unit is a compact generator of \(\mathrm{Ho}(\mathscr{V})\). This generalises the result of [\textit{S. Schwede} and \textit{B. Shipley}, Topology 42, No. 1, 103--153 (2003; Zbl 1013.55005)] which is arguably the most prominent result in the literature on this question. Moreover, as a preparation, the paper accomplishes some foundational work in enriched model category theory, unifying and collecting in one place the foundations which have been scattered across the literature so far. These include the model-theoretic setup of enriched presheaf categories, and a detailed study of the variance of these when the domain category, or the target (enriching) category is changed. Whereas the majority of the existing literature is biased towards the use of simplicial model categories, the setup presented here is more universal, facilitating the use of topological or arbitrary other enrichment. For instance, this is relevant for the paper's two sequels [\textit{B. Guillou} and \textit{J. P. May}, ``Models of \(G\)-spectra as presheaves of spectra'', Preprint, \url{arXiv:1110.3571}; \textit{B. Guillou} et al., Homology Homotopy Appl. 21, No. 1, 213--246 (2018; Zbl 1409.55011)].