Symmetric brace algebras (Q816656)

In this note the authors develop the theory of symmetric brace algebras in which the brace operations possess the property of graded symmetry. Just as \(A_\infty\)-algebraic relations may be neatly encoded in the brace algebraic context, \(L_\infty\)-algebra data is given by symmetric brace algebra relations. Both brace and symmetric brace algebra structures yield pre-Lie algebra structures on the underlying vector space. However, a major difference is that pre-Lie algebras may be used to defined symmetric algebra structures as proved by \textit{D. Guin} and \textit{J.-M. Oudom} [C. R., Math., Acad. Sci. Paris 340, No. 5, 331--336 (2005; Zbl 1146.17305)]. Here the authors provide a conceptual proof of this fact and along the way exhibit a construction of a model of a free symmetric algebra. As an application, symmetric braces are used to describe transfers of strong homotopy structures and to study the \(L_\infty\)-structure of a gauge algebra.