Category with a natural cone (Q2501209)

In this paper on axiomatic homotopy theory, the authors give full details of proofs and results already announced in their paper [Extracta Math. 16(2), 287--292 (2001; Zbl 1001.55021)]. In a suitable categorical setting, they introduce a homotopy theory (which can be dualized) via a cone functor together with a class of distinguished morphisms called cofibrations. The axioms the cofibrations satisfy are natural adaptations of those this class of morphisms satisfies in categories with a natural cylinder in the sense of \textit{H. J. Baues} [Algebraic Homotopy, Cambridge Studies in Advanced Mathematics 15, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge-New York (1989; Zbl 0688.55001)]. In this way the authors can define homotopy groups through suspensions of based objects and cofibrations and study their properties. These groups are related, as usual, through exact sequences connecting the homotopy groups associated with a based cofibration and a pair. There are categories with a natural cone that are not derived from categories with a natural cylinder but the well-known homotopy theories of topological spaces or chain complexes are examples of the axiomatic theory developed here.