Profinite \(\infty\)-operads (Q2675117)

Profinite completions of operads occur, for example, in the work of \textit{P. Boavida de Brito} et al. [Geom. Topol. 23, No. 1, 299--346 (2019; Zbl 1411.18015)] and \textit{G. Horel} [Adv. Math. 321, 326--390 (2017; Zbl 1385.55007)]. The goal of this paper is to construct a profinite completion functor for (simplicial or topological) operads, and to develop a corresponding homotopy theory of profinite operads. The authors show that a profinite completion functor for (simplicial or topological) operads with good homotopical properties can be constructed as a left Quillen functor from an appropriate model category of \(\infty\)-operads to a certain model category of profinite \(\infty\)-operads. The construction is based on a notion of lean \(\infty\)-operad, and the authors characterize those \(\infty\)-operads weakly equivalent to lean ones in terms of homotopical finiteness properties. Furthermore, several variants of the construction are also discussed, such as the cases of unital (or closed) \(\infty\)-operads and of \(\infty\)-categories.