Representations of spaces (Q2479727)

This article is a contribution to abstract homotopy theory and continues the authors' memoir [Mem. Am. Math. Soc. 736 (2002; Zbl 1006.18015)]. Suppose that \(\mathcal{C}\) is a category with a chosen class of morphisms \(W\). Under suitable conditions on \((\mathcal{C},W)\), it is possible to invert the morphisms in \(W\) in a universal way, yielding the homotopy category \(Ho(\mathcal{C})\). One prominent set of conditions was introduced by \textit{D. G. Quillen} [``Homotopical algebra'', Lect. Notes Math. 43 (1967; Zbl 0168.20903)] under the name ``closed model category''. An important feature of Quillen's theory is the ability to construct derived functors, that is, descend functors given on the level of closed model categories to the homotopy category. Doing so for the functor ``(co)limit'' yields the ``homotopy (co)limit''. Building on the authors' notion of a model approximation, which is an adjoint pair from \(\mathcal{C}\) to some model category satisfying certain conditions (loc. cit.), the following theorem is proved. Suppose that \((\mathcal{C},W)\) admits a left model approximation and \(X\in \mathcal{C}\). Then there is a left adjoint functor \(Ho(sSet)\to Ho(\mathcal{C})\) sending a simplicial set \(K\) to the homotopy colimit over \(K\) of the constant diagram \(X\). The right adjoint can be interpreted as sending \(Y\) to the space of maps from \(X\) to \(Y\). If \((\mathcal{C},W)\) admits a right model approximation as well, the functor \(Ho(\mathcal{C})\to Ho(\mathcal{C})\) sending \(X\) to the homotopy colimit over \(K\) of \(X\) has the homotopy limit over \(K\) as a right adjoint. This applies in particular to a model category itself. As an application, the authors prove a conjecture of Hovey, saying that the action of the homotopy category of simplicial sets on the homotopy category of a monoidal model category is always central.