Higher homotopy categories, higher derivators, and K-theory

Abstract

For every $\infty$-category $\mathscr{C}$, there is a homotopy $n$-category $\mathrm{h}_n \mathscr{C}$ and a canonical functor $\gamma_n \colon \mathscr{C} \to \mathrm{h}_n \mathscr{C}$. We study these higher homotopy categories, especially in connection with the existence and preservation of (co)limits, by introducing a higher categorical notion of weak colimit. Using homotopy $n$-categories, we introduce the notion of an $n$-derivator and study the main examples arising from $\infty$-categories. Following the work of Maltsiniotis and Garkusha, we define $K$-theory for $\infty$-derivators and prove that the canonical comparison map from the Waldhausen $K$-theory of $\mathscr{C}$ to the $K$-theory of the associated $n$-derivator $\mathbb{D}_{\mathscr{C}}^{(n)}$ is $(n+1)$-connected. We also prove that this comparison map identifies derivator $K$-theory of $\infty$-derivators in terms of a universal property. Moreover, using the canonical structure of higher weak pushouts in the homotopy $n$-category, we also define a $K$-theory space $K(\mathrm{h}_n \mathscr{C}, \mathrm{can})$ associated to $\mathrm{h}_n \mathscr{C}$. We prove that the canonical comparison map from the Waldhausen $K$-theory of $\mathscr{C}$ to $K(\mathrm{h}_n \mathscr{C}, \mathrm{can})$ is $n$-connected.