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57 votes
2 answers
7k views

What arithmetic information is contained in the algebraic K-theory of the integers

I'm always looking for applications of homotopy theory to other fields, mostly as a way to make my talks more interesting or to motivate the field to non-specialists. It seems like most talks about ...
David White's user avatar
  • 30.3k
104 votes
10 answers
24k views

Motivation for algebraic K-theory?

I'm looking for a big-picture treatment of algebraic K-theory and why it's important. I've seen various abstract definitions (Quillen's plus and Q constructions, some spectral constructions like ...
24 votes
3 answers
4k views

Plus construction considerations.

In order to realise the K-groups of a ring as the homotopy groups of some space associated to that ring, Quillen proposed the following (roughly-sketched) construction: Recall that $K_1(R) = GL(R)/E(...
Joshua Seaton's user avatar
14 votes
1 answer
800 views

Is there a category whose isomorphisms are precisely the simple homotopy equivalences?

If we start with the category of finite complexes and continuous maps, and then identify two morphisms iff they are homotopic, we get the homotopy category of finite complexes, and it is trivial to ...
John Pardon's user avatar
  • 18.7k
19 votes
2 answers
702 views

Besides $F_q$, for which rings $R$ is $K_i(R)$ completely known?

With the exception of finite fields and "trivial examples", which rings $R$ are such that Quillen's algebraic $K$ groups $K_i(R)$ are completely known for all $i\geq 0$? Here, by "trivial examples" ...
user avatar
14 votes
1 answer
3k views

Entering to the K-theory realm

I am looking for a guidance in $K$-theory. My master thesis was in the field of Algebraic K-theory and its relation and interaction with the field of Algebraic Topology. I mainly had concentrated on ...
B.K-Theory's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
864 views

Solving polynomial equations in spectra?

Let $M$ be the mod-$p$ Moore spectrum where $p \geq 3$ is a (power of) a prime. Then $M$ satisfies the "polynomial equation" $M \wedge M \cong M \oplus \Sigma M$. Is this a general ...
Tim Campion's user avatar
  • 63.9k