Questions tagged [ring-spectra]
For questions about ring spectra (in homotopy theory).
102 questions
41
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Why not a Roadmap for Homotopy Theory and Spectra?
MO has seen plenty of roadmap questions but oddly enough I haven't seen one for homotopy theory. As an algebraic geometer who's fond of derived categories I would like some guidance on how to build up ...
- 1,162
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2
answers
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Has anyone seen a nice map of multiplicative cohomology theories?
I have seen lots of descriptions of this map in the literature but never seen it nicely drawn anywhere.
I could try to do it myself but I really lack expertise, hence am afraid to miss something or ...
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1
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From the perspective of bordism categories, where does the ring structure on Thom spectra come from?
To fix ideas, let's consider the Thom spectrum of framed bordism $M$, the spectrum whose homotopy groups are the framed bordism groups. $M$ has a ring spectrum structure inducing the product of ...
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21
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1
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Motivation and potential applications of spectral algebraic geometry
Nowadays there is a lot of talk about derived algebraic geometry, but not so much about the related subject of spectral algebraic geometry.
Now I'm curious what future is there for spectral algebraic ...
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A sheaf is a presheaf that preserves small limits
There is a common misconception that a sheaf is simply a presheaf that preserves limits. This has been discussed here before many times and I believe I understand it well enough.
However when reading ...
19
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1
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What are explicit obstructions to realizability of formal group laws as complex-oriented ring spectra?
Recall that a complex-oriented spectrum is a ring spectrum E with a map $MU \to E$.
Analogously, a ring with a (1-d commutative) formal group law is (represented by) a ring $R$ with a map $L \to R$ (...
- 3,539
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Is the $\infty$-category of spectra “convenient”?
A 1991 paper of Lewis, titled “Is there a convenient category of spectra?” proves that there is no category $\mathrm{Sp}$ satisfying the following desiderata$^1$:
There is a symmetric monoidal smash ...
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18
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When do the polynomial algebra and free algebra coincide in brave new algebra?
Given an $\mathbb E_\infty$-ring (highly structured commutative ring spectrum if you want) $R$, we have the free $R$-algebra (on one generation) $R\{t\}\simeq \bigoplus_{n\ge 0} R_{\mathrm h\Sigma_n}$ ...
- 2,011
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Idempotent ring spectrum
Is there a lot of ring spectrum which are idempotent in the sense that the multiplication map $R \wedge R \rightarrow R$ is an equivalence ?
The sphere spectrum $\mathbb{S}$ and the $0$ spectrum are ...
- 42.4k
16
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1
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Multiplicative Brown representability?
The Brown representability theorem can be convenient way to construct a spectrum. But to get a ring spectrum of even a very unstructured form seems to be harder. There's even currently a statement on ...
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15
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0
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What to expect from spectral algebraic geometry
So I've been trying to learn some derived algebraic geometry, and I've chosen to approach the subject from the perspective of spectral or "brave new" algebraic geometry. Without having to go through ...
- 3,019
14
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1
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Are Thom spectra MU, MSO and K-theory spectra KU, KO modules over some truncations of the sphere spectrum?
The Thom spectrum MO is a module over the ring spectrum π≤0S=HZ, where S is the sphere spectrum.
In particular, MO is equivalent to the Eilenberg-MacLane spectrum Hπ*(MO).
On the other hand, MU and ...
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14
votes
2
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Truncations of E_infinity algebras
In section 4.1 of Lurie's DAG VIII, he implies the existence of an $E_\infty$-ring spectrum $A$ such that the coconnective truncation $\tau_{\leq 0} (A)$ does not admit the structure of an $E_\infty$-...
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Does the category of G-spectra know G?
I was recently in the situation of having access to the category of $G$-modules (for some group $G$ which I had forgotten), as just a category, i.e. no monoidal structure, together with the forgetful ...
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930
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$E_{\infty}$ $R$-algebras vs commutative DG $R$-algebras vs simplicial commutative $R$-algebras
I've been trying to understand better the relation between the basic blocks of derived algebraic geometry. More precisely, I'm trying to understand the relation between the DG approach, the spectral ...
- 2,227
13
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1
answer
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Equivalent definitions of Thom spectra
Background and notations:
Recall the classical contruction and definition of Thom spectra. To a spherical fibration $S^{n-1} \to \xi \to B$, we can associate the data of a Thom space $T_n(\xi)$, given ...
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13
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1
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On the stable splitting of loops on a suspension
Let $X$ be a connected, based CW complex. Then the James splitting
of $\Sigma\Omega\Sigma X$ gives, in particular, a weak equivalence of spectra
$$
\Sigma^{\infty} \Omega\Sigma X_+ \quad \simeq \quad ...
- 18.9k
12
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3
answers
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What is the symmetric monoidal structure on the $(\infty,1)$-category of spectra?
The $(\infty, 1)$ category $Sp$ of spectra as defined by Lurie in Higher Algebra has the structure of a symmetric monoidal category. Although I know the definition of symmetric monoidal category in ...
- 3,019
12
votes
2
answers
2k
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Connective spectra and infinite loop spaces
It seems to be standard that connective spectra are "the same" as infinite loop space. However, I do not understand the reason why the associated spectrum is connective.
For me, an infinite loop ...
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12
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1
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703
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Does the spectrum of Morava E-theory depend only on height?
I almost expect the answer to this question to be no, but I can't find it explicitly said anywhere.
Given a formal group law $f$ of height $n$ over a perfect field $k$ of characteristic $p$, we can ...
12
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1
answer
661
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Nonunital $E_\infty$-rings
An elementary fact of algebra is that the category of nonunital commutative rings is equivalent to that of $\mathbb{Z}$-augmented unital commutative rings, the equivalence being given by forming ...
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10
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2
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648
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Computing a cobordism group of manifolds endowed with a real vector bundle with constraints on the Stiefel-Whitney classes
I am interested in computing the cobordism group of oriented manifolds $M$ of dimension 7 endowed with real vector bundles $N$ of rank 5 with the following conditions on the Siefel-Whitney classes:
$ ...
- 1,582
10
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1
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655
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Generalized Thom spectra
I am currently trying to wrap my head around all kinds of different definitions of the notion of (generalized) Thom spectrum. My setup is as follows: Suppose I have a commutative (symmetric) ring ...
- 7,637
9
votes
1
answer
3k
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Topological Hochschild cohomology?
Let $A$ be a $E_\infty$-ring spectrum. By EKMM, it may be treated as a commutative algebra in the appropriate category. In particular, one may define topological Hochschild homology as $A\wedge_{A\...
- 743
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votes
1
answer
725
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Schwede-Shipley theorem for monoidal categories?
The Schwede-Shipley theorem gives a criterion for a presentable stable $\infty$-category to be the category of modules over an $\mathcal{E}_1$-algebra. Is there any similar criterion for a monoidal ...
- 141
9
votes
1
answer
516
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K-theory on finite-dimensional (possibly not finite) CW complexes
I am trying to understand why (at least my most elementary understanding of) topological K-theory breaks down for non-compact things (which I have seen asserted in various places). In particular, as ...
- 1,225
9
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0
answers
223
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Two $\mathbb Z$-algebra structures on $\mathbb Z\otimes_{\mathbb S} R$
$\newcommand{\Sph}{\mathbb S} \newcommand{\Z}{\mathbb Z} \newcommand{\F}{\mathbb F}$
In this question I will abuse notation by writing $A$ for the (generalized) Eilenberg-MacLane spectrum associated ...
- 15.9k
9
votes
0
answers
317
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Are there non-obvious finite $E_\infty$ ring spectra?
I see two "obvious" classes of nonzero finite $E_\infty$ ring spectra $R$:
$R = \Sigma^\infty_+ (S^1)^{\times n}$
$R = D\Sigma^\infty_+ X$ ($X$ a finite space)
Questions:
Are there any others?
In ...
- 64k
8
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3
answers
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Why did Ravenel define a ring spectrum to be flat if its smash-square splits into copies of itself?
In appendix A.2 of the orange book, Ravenel defines a ring spectrum $E$ to be flat if $E\wedge E$ is equivalent to a coproduct of suspensions of $E$. (Call this definition (1).) I've seen this ...
- 1,969
8
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2
answers
294
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Morphisms of $\mathbb E_l$-rings between $\mathbb E_k$-rings for $l<k$
Given two commutative rings $A$ and $B$, any map of rings $A\to B$ will automatically preserve the commutative structure. This is to say, the forgetful functor $\operatorname{CRing}\to \operatorname{...
- 2,011
8
votes
1
answer
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How is topological André-Quillen homology (TAQ) a "stabilization", exactly?
Let $S\to A\to B$ be cofibrations of commutative $S$-algebras. Then the topological André-Quillen $B$-module $TAQ(B|A)$ can be computed as a stabilization. Precisely, I think it means the following: ...
- 3,004
8
votes
1
answer
399
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A Thom spectrum from "doubled" tautological bundles?
Let us consider real vector bundles, and denote by $V_k$ the tautological bundle $V_k\to BO(k)$. From
$$
Thom(V\oplus 1_{\mathbb{R}}\to X)=\Sigma Thom(V\to X)
$$
and from $j^*V_{k+1}=V_k\oplus1_{\...
- 6,777
8
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0
answers
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Descent vs effective descent for morphisms of ring spectra
Define a homomorphism $\varphi : A \to B$ of commutative discrete rings or commutative ring spectra to be a (effective) descent morphism if the comparison functor from $\mathsf{Mod}_A$ to the category ...
- 448
8
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0
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What can I say about an $E_\infty$ ring spectrum with an odd invertible element?
I have an $E_\infty$ ring spectrum $R$. I suspect it is trivial, but I'm not sure. What I do know is that there is an $R$-linear equivalence $R \simeq \Sigma R$. Unless I am very confused, this ...
- 54.6k
8
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0
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Did the Goerss-Hopkins manuscript "Multiplicative stable homotopy theory" ever appear?
A citation to "M. J. Hopkins and P. Goerss, Multiplicative stable homotopy theory, unpublished manuscript, 1996" appears in the Hill, Hopkins, Ravenel Annals paper on the Kervaire invariant. It was ...
- 30.3k
7
votes
1
answer
247
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Module spectrum maps up to stable homotopy
Let $R$ be a commutative ring spectrum, $M$ and $N$ be a $R$-module spectra.
Let us consider $R$-module maps from $M$ to $N$ up to stable homotopy, that is maps $M \to N$ such that the composites $R \...
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1
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Interesting "epimorphisms" of $E_\infty$-ring spectra
$\newcommand{\Mod}{\mathbf{Mod}} \newcommand{\map}{\mathrm{map}_{E_\infty-A}}$ Suppose $i:A\to B$ is a map of $E_\infty$-ring spectra. It induces a functor of $\infty$-categories $\Mod_B\to\Mod_A$ by ...
- 15.9k
7
votes
0
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223
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Duality of Hopf algebras and duality of spectra
Let $S$ be the sphere spectrum, and for $X$ a topological space, let $S(X)$ be the mapping spectrum from the free loop spectrum on $X$ to the sphere spectrum. This is an $E_\infty$ ring spectrum (also ...
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6
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2
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Ring structures on algebraic K-theory spectrum, and its non-connective counterpart
I have a few naive questions on the algebraic K-theory spectrum construction, but whose answers I couldn't figure out using the internet. I'm mostly interested in the case of a commutative ring, but I ...
- 2,054
6
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3
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465
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How does one rigorously lift a map $Sp \rightarrow Sp$ of spectra to equivariant spectra?
This is in part motivated from my attempt to understand tate diagonal in III.1 of Thomas Nikolaus, Peter Scholze, On topological cyclic homology, arXiv:1707.01799. I just want to make my ...
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6
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1
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575
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Two definitions of power operations --- how do they relate?
Below are two different stories about power operations for $\mathbb{E}_\infty$-ring spectra, and I am struggling to see how they relate. In the following we let $R$ be an $\mathbb{E}_\infty$-ring ...
- 317
6
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1
answer
257
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$p$-adic equivalence of spectra with $G$-action
In Krause and Nikolaus' "Lectures on topological Hochschild homology and cyclotomic spectra" (which can be found here), there is a lemma I'm trying to understand, but one line in the proof ...
- 1,349
6
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1
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390
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What is the topological Hochschild cohomology of $\mathbb{F}_p$?
Following the computation of the THH (topological Hochschild homology) of $\mathbb{F}_p$ as outlined in Krause-Nikolaus.
We use the fact that $\mathbb{F}_p$ is initial $E_2$ ring with $0=p$ to compute
...
- 2,356
6
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1
answer
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Morphisms from $bstring$ to $X\otimes \mathbb{Q}$ and sequences $s_n\in\pi_n(X)\otimes \mathbb{Q}$
I'm currently studying Ando-Hopkins-Rezk's work Multiplicative orientations of KO-theory and of the spectrum of TMFs. At a point a presumably obvious isomorphism is mentioned, which I'm however not ...
- 6,777
6
votes
1
answer
381
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State of knowledge on the Commutative W-spaces which appear in "Model Categories of Diagram Spectra"
This is a follow-up question to another question I asked last month. In MMSS's "Model Categories of Diagram Spectra," the authors consider many different models for spectra and prove monoidal Quillen ...
- 30.3k
6
votes
0
answers
155
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Homotopy groups of certain geometric fixed point spectrum
Let $G$ be a finite group and $E$ be a genuine $H$-spectrum for $H\leq G.$ Then for any subgroup $K$ of $G$, consider the $K$-spectrum $X=Res^G_K Ind^G_H(E).$
Is there any reference for computing the ...
- 745
6
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0
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135
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$E_\infty$-maps of diagrams
I'm asking my question for a general symmetric monoidal $\infty$-category $ V$ and a general indexing simplicial set $I$, but my specific interest is for $ V = Sp$ with the usual smash product and $I =...
- 15.9k
6
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0
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201
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Which ring spectra are homotopy limits of simpler ones?
Most surely I will tag this by reference request: I am sure very much is known about this question, I am just too ignorant to even guess where to look. What makes me feel especially foolish is the ...
- 18.4k
5
votes
2
answers
598
views
Group of units of a ring spectrum vs of its connective cover
Let $R$ be a commutative ring spectrum (interpret this as you will; as an $E_\infty$-ring or as a commutative $S$-algebra etc.) and $\operatorname{GL}_1(R)$ as usual denote its space of units. If $\...
- 2,011
5
votes
1
answer
347
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$KO_*$ groups of $\mathbb{R}P^\infty$, "Snaiths" theorem for $KO$
I posted this question some days ago at math.stackexchange, but didn't receive an answer.
I have two questions:
I wonder whether anyone has taken the time to compute $KO_*(\mathbb{R}P^\infty)$?
The ...
- 301