Equivariant Extensions of Categorical Groups

If is a group, then the category of -graded categorical groups is equivalent to the category of categorical groups supplied with a coherent left-action from . In this paper we use this equivalence and the homotopy classification of graded categorical groups and their homomorphisms to develop a theory of extensions of categorical groups when a fixed group of operators is acting. For this kind of extensions we show a suitable Schreiers theory and a precise theorem of classification, including obstruction theory, which generalizes both known results when the group of operators is trivial (categorical group extensions theory) or when the involved categorical groups are discrete (equivariant group extensions theory).Mathematics Subject Classifications (2000) 18D10, 18B40, 20J05, 20J06.Partially supported by MTM2004-01060.