Strict quantum 2-groups

Abstract

A crossed module is (A,H,d,\la) where d:A\to H is a homomorphism of groups and H acts on A, with conditions leading to a groupoid A\lcross H{\to\atop \to}H as an example of a strict 2-group. We give the corresponding notion of a quantum 2-group where we replace the above by Hopf algebras and introduce a new version of quantum groupoid. The work also suggests a natural notion of braided crossed module where A a braided-Hopf algebra in the braided category Z({}_H\CM) of crossed H-modules, although without the full groupoid picture in this more general case.