omegacategories

Omega-categories, also known as ω-categories, are a generalization of categories in category theory, a branch of mathematics. In a category, objects are connected by morphisms, which can be composed. An omega-category extends this concept by allowing morphisms to be objects themselves, and these morphisms can have their own morphisms, and so on, up to an infinite level.

The concept of omega-categories was introduced by Ross Street in the 1970s as a way to formalize the idea of higher-dimensional categories. They provide a framework for studying higher-dimensional algebraic structures, which are important in various areas of mathematics and theoretical physics.

In an omega-category, each level of morphisms forms a category, and there is a functorial way to go from one level to the next. This structure allows for a rich and complex hierarchy of objects and morphisms. Omega-categories are also closely related to other concepts in higher category theory, such as bicategories and higher categories.

One of the key features of omega-categories is their ability to capture the essence of higher-dimensional phenomena. They have applications in topology, algebraic geometry, and other fields where higher-dimensional structures play a crucial role. The study of omega-categories continues to be an active area of research in category theory and related disciplines.