Techniques,computations, and conjectures for semi-topological <Emphasis Type="Italic">K</Emphasis>-theory

We establish the existence of an Atiyah-Hirzebruch-like spectral sequence relating the morphic cohomology groups of a smooth, quasi-projective complex variety to its semi-topological K-groups. This spectral sequence is compatible with (and, indeed, is built from) the motivic spectral sequence that relates the motivic cohomology and algebraic K-theory of varieties, and it is also compatible with the classical Atiyah-Hirzebruch spectral sequence in algebraic topology. In the second part of this paper, we use this spectral sequence in conjunction with another computational tool that we introduce — namely, a variation on the integral weight filtration of the Borel-Moore (singular) homology of complex varieties introduced by H. Gillet and C. Soulé – to compute the semi-topological K-theory of a large class of varieties. In particular, we prove that for curves, surfaces, toric varieties, projective rational three-folds, and related varieties, the semi-topological K-groups and topological K-groups are isomorphic in all degrees permitted by cohomological considerations. We also formulate integral conjectures relating semi-topological K-theory to topological K-theory analogous to more familiar conjectures (namely, the Quillen-Lichtenbaum and Beilinson-Lichtenbaum Conjectures) concerning mod-n algebraic K-theory and motivic cohomology. In particular, we prove a local vanishing result for morphic cohomology which enables us to formulate precisely a conjectural identification of morphic cohomology by A. Suslin. Our computations verify that these conjectures hold for the list of varieties above.Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 19E20, 19E15, 14F43The first author was partially supported by the NSF and the NSAThe second author was supported by the Helen M. Galvin Fellowship of Northwestern UniversityThe third author was partially supported by the NSF and the NSA     

On a spectral sequence for equivariant K-theory

We apply the “homotopy coniveau” machinery developed by the first-named author to the K-theory of coherent G-sheaves on a finite type G-scheme X over a field, where G is a finite group. This leads to a definition of G-equivariant higher Chow groups (different from the Chow groups of classifying spaces constructed by Totaro and generalized to arbitrary X by Edidin–Graham) and an Atiyah–Hirzebruch spectral sequence from the G-equivariant higher Chow groups to the higher K-theory of coherent G-sheaves on X. This spectral sequence generalizes the spectral sequence from motivic cohomology to K-theory constructed by Bloch–Lichtenbaum and Friedlander–Suslin. The first-named author gratefully acknowledges the support of the Humboldt Foundation through the Wolfgang Paul Program, and support of the NSF via grants DMS-0140445 and DMS-0457195.     

Oriented cohomology and motivic decompositions of relative cellular spaces

For an oriented cohomology theory A and a relative cellular space X, we decompose the A-motive of X into a direct sum of twisted motives of the base spaces. We also obtain respective decompositions of the A-cohomology of X. Applying them, one can compute A(X), where X is an isotropic projective homogeneous variety and A means algebraic K-theory, motivic cohomology or algebraic cobordism MGL.     

K-Theory of Surfaces at the Prime 2

We prove that for smooth surfaces over real closed fields, and a class of smooth projective surfaces over a real number field, the map between mod 2 algebraic and étale K-theory is an isomorphism in sufficiently large degrees. For a class of smooth projective surfaces over a real closed field, including rational surfaces, complete intersections and K3-surfaces over the real numbers, we explicate the abutment of the mod 2 motivic cohomology to algebraic K-theory spectral sequence.     

Rigidity for orientable functors

In the following paper we introduce the notion of orientable functor (orientable cohomology theory) on the category of projective smooth schemes and define a family of transfer maps. Applying this technique, we prove that with finite coefficients orientable cohomology of a projective variety is invariant with respect to the base-change given by an extension of algebraically closed fields. This statement generalizes the classical result of Suslin, concerning algebraic K-theory of algebraically closed fields. Besides K-theory, we treat such examples of orientable functors as etale cohomology, motivic cohomology, algebraic cobordism. We also demonstrate a method to endow algebraic cobordism with multiplicative structure and Chern classes.     

Motivic cohomology of the simplicial motive of a Rost variety

We compute the motivic cohomology groups of the simplicial motive X_θ of a Rost variety for an n-symbol θ in Galois cohomology of a field. As an application we compute the kernel and cokernel of multiplication by θ in Galois cohomology. We also show that the reduced norm map on K₂ of a division algebra of square-free degree is injective.     

A Gersten-Witt spectral sequence for regular schemes

A spectral sequence is constructed whose non-zero E₁-terms are the Witt groups of the residue fields of a regular scheme X, arranged in Gersten-Witt complexes, and whose limit is the four global Witt groups of X. This has several immediate consequences concerning purity for Witt groups of low-dimensional schemes. We also obtain an easy proof of the Gersten Conjecture in dimension smaller than 5. The Witt groups of punctured spectra of regular local rings are also computed.     

Rational isomorphisms between K-theories and cohomology theories

The well known isomorphism relating the rational algebraic K-theory groups and the rational motivic cohomology groups of a smooth variety over a field of characteristic 0 is shown to be realized by a map (the Segre map) of infinite loop spaces. Moreover, the associated Chern character map on rational homotopy groups is shown to be a ring isomorphism. A technique is introduced that establishes a useful general criterion for a natural transformation of functors on quasi-projective complex varieties to induce a homotopy equivalence of semi-topological singular complexes. Since semi-topological K-theory and morphic cohomology can be formulated as the semi-topological singular complexes associated to algebraic K-theory and motivic cohomology, this criterion provides a rational isomorphism between the semi-topological K-theory groups and the morphic cohomology groups of a smooth complex variety. Consequences include a Riemann-Roch theorem for the Chern character on semi-topological K-theory and an interpretation of the topological filtration on singular cohomology groups in K-theoretic terms.     

Finiteness theorems for the shifted Witt and higher Grothendieck–Witt groups of arithmetic schemes

For smooth varieties over finite fields, we prove that the shifted (aka derived) Witt groups of surfaces are finite and the higher Grothendieck–Witt groups (aka Hermitian K-theory) of curves are finitely generated. For more general arithmetic schemes, we give conditional results, for example, finite generation of the motivic cohomology groups implies finite generation of the Grothendieck–Witt groups.     

Oriented Cohomology Theories of Algebraic Varieties

This article contains proofs of the results announced by Panin and Smirnov (http://www. math.uiuc.edu/k-theory/0459/2000) in the part concerning general properties of oriented cohomology theories of algebraic varieties. It is constructed one-to-one correspondences between orientations, Chern structures and Thom structures on a given ring cohomology theory. The theory is illustrated by motivic cohomology, algebraic K-theory, algebraic cobordism theory and by other examples.     

An operadic model for a mapping space and its associated spectral sequence

Let X and Y be simplicial sets and K a field. In [B. Fresse, Derived division functors and mapping spaces, 2002, Preprint arXiv:math.At/0208091], Fresse has constructed an algebra model over an E_∞K-operad E for the mapping space F(X,Y), whose source X is finite, provided the homotopy groups of the target Y are finite. In this paper, we show that if the underlying field K is the closure of the finite field F_p and the given mapping space is connected, then the finiteness assumption of the homotopy group of Y can be dropped in constructing the E-algebra model. Moreover, we give a spectral sequence converging to the cohomology of F(X,Y) with coefficients in , whose E₂-term is expressed via Lannes’ division functor in the category of unstable -algebra over the Steenrod algebra.     

Higher Chern Classes and Steenrod Operations in Motivic Cohomology

In this short paper we investigate the relation between higher Chern classes and reduced power operations in motivic cohomology. More precisely, we translate the well-known arguments [5] into the context of motivic cohomology and define higher Chern classes c_p,q : K _p(X) → H^2q-p (X,Z(q)) → H^2q-p(X, Z/l(q)), where X is a smooth scheme over the base field k, l is a prime number and char(k) ≠ l. The same approach produces the classes for K-theory with coefficients as well. Let further Pⁱ : H^m(X, Z/l(n)) → H^m+2i(l-1) (X, Z/l(n + i(l - 1))) denote the ith reduced power operation in motivic cohomology, constructed in [2]. The main result of the paper looks as follows.     

A Quillen-type spectral sequence for the K-theory of varieties with isolated singularities

We construct a spectral sequence to compute the algebraic K-theory of any quasiprojective scheme X, when X has isolated singularities, using an explicit flasque resolution of the K-theory sheaves. This is a generalization of Quillen's construction for nonsingular varieties. The explicit resolution makes it possible to relate K-theory to intersection theory on singular schemes.Partially supported by NSF grants.Dedicated to A. Grothendieck on his sixtieth birthday     

The K-theory of fields in characteristic p

We show that for a field k of characteristic p, H ⁱ (k,ℤ(n)) is uniquely p-divisible for i≠n (we use higher Chow groups as our definition of motivic cohomology). This implies that the natural map K _n ^M (k)?K _n (k) from Milnor K-theory to Quillen K-theory is an isomorphism up to uniquely p-divisible groups, and that K _n ^M (k) and K _n (k) are p-torsion free. As a consequence, one can calculate the K-theory mod p of smooth varieties over perfect fields of characteristic p in terms of cohomology of logarithmic de Rham Witt sheaves, for example K _n (X,ℤ/p ^r )=0 for n>dimX. Another consequence is Gersten’s conjecture with finite coefficients for smooth varieties over discrete valuation rings with residue characteristic p. As the last consequence, Bloch’s cycle complexes localized at p satisfy all Beilinson-Lichtenbaum-Milne axioms for motivic complexes, except possibly the vanishing conjecture. Oblatum 21-I-1998 & 26-VII-1999 / Published online: 18 October 1999     

Inverting the Motivic Bott Element

We prove a version for motivic cohomology of Thomason's theorem on Bott-periodic K-theory, namely, that for a field k containing the nth roots of unity, the mod n motivic cohomology of a smooth k-scheme agrees with mod n étale cohomology, after inverting the element in H⁰(k,(1)) corresponding to a primitive nth root of unity.     

Topological K-Theory of Algebraic K-Theory Spectra

Let KX denote the algebraic K-theory spectrum of a regular Noetherian scheme X. Under mild additional hypotheses on X, we construct a spectral sequence converging to the topological K-theory of KX. The spectral sequence starts from the étale homology of X with coefficients in a certain copresheaf constructed from roots of unity. As examples we consider number rings, number fields, local fields, smooth curves over a finite field, and smooth varieties over the complex numbers.     

ON THE STRUCTURE OF COHOMOLOGY RINGS OF p-NILPOTENT LIE ALGEBRAS

In this paper the authors investigate the structure of the restricted Lie algebra cohomology of p-nilpotent Lie algebras with trivial p-power operation. Our study is facilitated by a spectral sequence whose E ₂-term is the tensor product of the symmetric algebra on the dual of the Lie algebra with the ordinary Lie algebra cohomology and converges to the restricted cohomology ring. In many cases this spectral sequence collapses, and thus, the restricted Lie algebra cohomology is Cohen–Macaulay. A stronger result involves the collapsing of the spectral sequence and the cohomology ring identifying as a ring with the E ₂-term. We present criteria for the collapsing of this spectral sequence and provide some examples where the ring isomorphism fails. Furthermore, we show that there are instances when the spectral sequence does not collapse and yields cohomology rings which are not Cohen-Macaulay.     

The syntomic regulator for the K-theory of fields

We define complexes analogous to Goncharov's complexes for the K-theory of discrete valuation rings of characteristic zero. Under suitable assumptions in K-theory, there is a map from the cohomology of those complexes to the K-theory of the ring under consideration. In case the ring is a localization of the ring of integers in a number field, there are no assumptions necessary. We compute the composition of our map to the K-theory with the syntomic regulator. The result can be described in terms of a p-adic polylogarithm. Finally, we apply our theory in order to compute the regulator to syntomic cohomology on Beilinson's cyclotomic elements. The result is again given by the p-adic polylogarithm. This last result is related to one by Somekawa and generalizes work by Gros.     

Nondurable K-Theory Equivalence and Bousfield Localization*

In this paper we consider what happens when Adams self maps are modified by adding certain unstable maps. The unstable maps which are added are trivial after a single suspension. We can choose the modification so that the maps are still K-theory equivalences but the loops on the map are no longer K-theory equivalences. As a corollary we note that the maps are K-theory equivalences but not v ₁-periodic equivalences. Another consequence is the behavior of the cobar spectral sequences for generalized homology theories. Tamaki shows that in certain cases a cobar-type spectral sequence for generalized homology theories is well behaved. The maps we construct give an example where despite the connectivity of the spaces the cobar spectral sequence is still poorly behaved. Finally we use our maps to construct spaces whose Bousfield class is distinct from the cofiber of the Adams map but which becomes the same after one suspension.