Local Theory for 2-Functors on Path 2-Groupoids
arXiv:1303.4663 · doi:10.1007/s40062-016-0140-4
Abstract
In this article we discuss local aspects of 2-functors defined on the path 2-groupoid of a smooth manifold; in particular, local trivializations and descent data. This is a contribution to a project that provides an axiomatic formulation of connections on (possibly non-abelian) gerbes in terms of 2-functors. The main result of this paper establishes the first part of this formulation: we prove an equivalence between the globally defined 2-functors and their locally defined descent data. The second part appears in a separate publication; there we prove equivalences between descent data, on one side, and various existing versions of gerbes with connection on the other side.
47 pages. The content of this paper originally formed the Sections 1 and 2 of our paper "Connections on Non-Abelian Gerbes and their Holonomy" (arxiv:0808.1923)