We give an account of Bousfield localisation and colocalisation for one-dimensional model categories---ones enriched over the model category of $0$-types. A distinguishing feature of our treatment is that it builds localisations and colocalisations using only the constructions of projective and injective transfer of model structures along right and left adjoint functors, and without any reference to Smiths theorem.
We study the category of algebras of substitudes (also known to be equivalent to the regular patterns of Getzler) equipped with a (semi)model structure lifted from the model structure on the underlying presheaves. We are especially interested in the case when the model structure on presheaves is a Cisinski style localisation with respect to a proper Grothendieck fundamental localiser. For example, for $mathtt{W}=mathtt{W}_{infty}$ the minimal fundamental localiser, the local objects in such a localisation are locally constant presheaves, and local algebras of substitudes are exactly algebras whose underlying presheaves are locally constant. We investigate when this localisation has nice properties. We single out a class of such substitudes which we call left localisable and show that the substitudes for $n$-operads, symmetric, and braided operads are in this class. As an application we develop a homotopy theory of higher braided operads and prove a stabilisation theorem for their $mathtt{W}_k$-localisations. This theorem implies, in particular, a generalisation of the Baez-Dolan Stabilisation Hypothesis for higher categories.
We introduce acyclic polygraphs, a notion of complete categorical cellular model for (small) categories, containing generators, relations and higher-dimensional globular syzygies. We give a rewriting method to construct explicit acyclic polygraphs from convergent presentations. For that, we introduce higher-dimensional normalisation strategies, defined as homotopically coherent ways to relate each cell of a polygraph to its normal form, then we prove that acyclicity is equivalent to the existence of a normalisation strategy. Using acyclic polygraphs, we define a higher-dimensional homotopical finiteness condition for higher categories which extends Squiers finite derivation type for monoids. We relate this homotopical property to a new homological finiteness condition that we introduce here.
We study convergent (terminating and confluent) presentations of n-categories. Using the notion of polygraph (or computad), we introduce the homotopical property of finite derivation type for n-categories, generalizing the one introduced by Squier for word rewriting systems. We characterize this property by using the notion of critical branching. In particular, we define sufficient conditions for an n-category to have finite derivation type. Through examples, we present several techniques based on derivations of 2-categories to study convergent presentations by 3-polygraphs.
We generalize the notion of identities among relations, well known for presentations of groups, to presentations of n-categories by polygraphs. To each polygraph, we associate a track n-category, generalizing the notion of crossed module for groups, in order to define the natural system of identities among relations. We relate the facts that this natural system is finitely generated and that the polygraph has finite derivation type.