Moduli spaces of 2-stage Postnikov systems (Q554382)

A \(\Pi\)-algebra is the algebraic data modeling the homotopy groups of a space together with the primary homotopy operations induced by maps between wedges of spheres (precomposition with a map \(S^n \rightarrow S^k\), Whitehead products). \textit{D. Blanc, W. G. Dwyer} and \textit{P. G. Goerss} [Topology 43, No.~4, 857--892 (2004; Zbl 1054.55007)] developed methods to get hold of the moduli space of realizations of a \(\Pi\)-algebra (a realization being a space \(X\) such that \(\pi_* X\) is isomorphic to the given \(\Pi\)-algebra). The set of components of this moduli space is the set of homotopy types of realizations, but the higher homotopy gives additional information about self-equivalences. When \(A\) is a \(\Pi\)-algebra concentrated in dimensions \(1\) and \(n\), all Blanc-Dwyer-Goerss Quillen cohomology obstructions vanish, so there are always realizations. The moduli space is identified as the space of maps \(\text{Map}_{BA_1}(BA_1, EA_1 \times_{A_1} K(A_n, n+1))\). The study of \(n\)-connected covers of \(\Pi\)-algebras and the model structure on such simplicial objects then allows the author to deal with a \(\Pi\)-algebra \(A\) concentrated in two consecutive dimensions \(n\) and \(n+1\). Again, all obstructions vanish. In fact the moduli space of realizations is connected (there is a unique homotopy type realizing \(A\)), its fundamental group is an extension of \(\text{Aut}(A)\) by \(\text{Ext}(A_n, A_{n+1})\), so all automorphisms of \(A\) are realizable, and its second homotopy group is \(\text{Hom}(A_n, A_{n+1})\); all higher homotopy groups are trivial.