On the loop space of a 2-category (Q659891)

Given any category \(C\), we may define a loop in \(C\) at an object \(c\) to be an endomorphism of \(c\). The set \(C(c,c)\) of all such loops has a monoid structure with product given by composition. If \(C\) is not just a category but a 2-category, then \(C(c,c)\) is not just a set but a category, with morphisms given by 2-cells in \(C\); and now composition of loops provides this category with a monoidal structure. A category \(C\) has a classifying space \(BC\), given by the geometric realization of its nerve, and this definition may also be extended to define the classifying space \(B_2C\) of a 2-category \(C\). This paper studies the extent to which the classifying space construction is compatible with taking loops. More precisely, for a 2-category \(C\), a sufficient but not necessary condition is given under which the loop space \(\Omega B_2C\) of the classifying space \(B_2C\) of \(C\) is weakly equivalent to the classifying space \(BC(c,c)\) of the loop category \(C(c,c)\). The definition of \(B_2C\), as well as the proof of the main result, use tools from 2-category theory such as lax functors.