Pivotal Brauer-Picard groupoids and graded extensions

Abstract

We develop pivotal and spherical versions of graded extension theory. We define the corresponding analogues of Brauer-Picard $2$-categorical groups and realize them as fixed points of natural $\mathbb{Z}$ and $\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}$ $2$-categorical actions. We classify graded extensions of a pivotal tensor category by monoidal $2$-functors into the pivotal Brauer-Picard $2$-categorical group. A similar statement is proven for spherical (unimodular) tensor categories. We also develop an obstruction theory for determining when pivotal and spherical structures can be extended.