Towards a Thomason model structure on the category of strict \(n\)-categories (Q2450113)

This paper is concerned with the following questions. Is there a model category structure on the category of strict \(n\)-categories such that the weak equivalences are the morphisms inducing weak equivalences between nerves (the Thomason weak equivalences)? If so, is the resulting homotopy category Quillen equivalent to the homotopy category of simplicial sets? In the case \(n=1\), \textit{R. W. Thomason} [Cah. Topologie Géom. Différ. Catégoriques 21, 305--324 (1980; Zbl 0473.18012)] has shown that these questions have affirmative answers. The authors now prove an abstract Thomason theorem giving sufficient conditions for affirmative answers in general, and they show that these conditions are satisfied in the case \(n=2\).