A note on the homotopy theory of pro-G-spectra

This paper represents a step toward a model structure on pro-spectra in which the weak equivalences are the maps inducing pro-isomorphisms of all pro-homotopy groups. We construct a category in which these weak equivalences are inverted and show that we have not inverted “too much,” in the sense that isomorphic objects still give pro-isomorphic cohomology groups.     

Calculus of functors and model categories

The category of small covariant functors from simplicial sets to simplicial sets supports the projective model structure [B. Chorny, W.G. Dwyer, Homotopy theory of small diagrams over large categories, preprint, 2005]. In this paper we construct various localizations of the projective model structure and also give a variant for functors from simplicial sets to spectra. We apply these model categories in the study of calculus of functors, namely for a classification of polynomial and homogeneous functors. In the n-homogeneous model structure, the nth derivative is a Quillen functor to the category of spectra with Σn-action. After taking into account only finitary functors—which may be done in two different ways—the above Quillen map becomes a Quillen equivalence. This improves the classification of finitary homogeneous functors by T.G. Goodwillie [T.G. Goodwillie, Calculus. III. Taylor series, Geom. Topol. 7 (2003) 645-711 (electronic)].     

A van Kampen theorem for equivariant fundamental groupoids

The equivariant fundamental groupoid of a G-space X is a category which generalizes the fundamental groupoid of a space to the equivariant setting. In this paper, we prove a van Kampen theorem for these categories: the equivariant fundamental groupoid of X can be obtained as a pushout of the categories associated to two open G-subsets covering X. This is proved by interpreting the equivariant fundamental groupoid as a Grothendieck semidirect product construction, and combining general properties of this construction with the ordinary (non-equivariant) van Kampen theorem. We then illustrate applications of this theorem by showing that the equivariant fundamental groupoid of a G-CW complex only depends on the 2-skeleton and also by using the theorem to compute an example.     

A Borsuk-Ulam type theorem for sphere bundles over stunted projective spaces

A CW complex B is described as I-trivial if there does not exist a Z₂-map from Si−1 to S(α) for any vector bundle α over B and any integer i with i>dimα. For n>1, we determine all positive integers m for which the stunted projective space is I-trivial, where F=R,C or H.     

Three models for the homotopy theory of homotopy theories

Given any model category, or more generally any category with weak equivalences, its simplicial localization is a simplicial category which can rightfully be called the “homotopy theory” of the model category. There is a model category structure on the category of simplicial categories, so taking its simplicial localization yields a “homotopy theory of homotopy theories”. In this paper we show that there are two different categories of diagrams of simplicial sets, each equipped with an appropriate definition of weak equivalence, such that the resulting homotopy theories are each equivalent to the homotopy theory arising from the model category structure on simplicial categories. Thus, any of these three categories with the respective weak equivalences could be considered a model for the homotopy theory of homotopy theories. One of them in particular, Rezk’s complete Segal space model category structure on the category of simplicial spaces, is much more convenient from the perspective of making calculations and therefore obtaining information about a given homotopy theory.     

A generalization of Quillen's small object argument

We generalize the small object argument in order to allow for its application to proper classes of maps (as opposed to sets of maps in Quillen's small object argument). The necessity of such a generalization arose with appearance of several important examples of model categories which were proven to be non-cofibrantly generated [J. Adámek, H. Herrlich, J. Rosický, W. Tholen, Weak factorization systems and topological functors, Appl. Categ. Structures 10 (3) (2002) 237-249 [2]; Papers in honour of the seventieth birthday of Professor Heinrich Kleisli (Fribourg, 2000); B. Chorny, The model category of maps of spaces is not cofibrantly generated, Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 131 (2003) 2255-2259; J.D. Christensen, M. Hovey, Quillen model structures for relative homological algebra, Math. Proc. Cambridge Philos. Soc. 133 (2) (2002) 261-293; D.C. Isaksen, A model structure on the category of pro-simplicial sets, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 353 (2001) 2805-2841]. Our current approach allows for construction of functorial factorizations and localizations in the equivariant model structures on diagrams of spaces [E.D. Farjoun, Homotopy theories for diagrams of spaces, Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 101 (1987) 181-189] and diagrams of chain complexes. We also formulate a non-functorial version of the argument, which applies in two different model structures on the category of pro-spaces [D.A. Edwards, H.M. Hastings, ?ech and Steenrod homotopy theories with applications to geometric topology, Lecture Notes in Mathematics, vol. 542, Springer, Berlin, 1976; D.C. Isaksen, A model structure on the category of pro-simplicial sets, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 353 (2001) 2805-2841].The examples above suggest a natural extension of the framework of cofibrantly generated model categories. We introduce the concept of a class-cofibrantly generated model category, which is a model category generated by classes of cofibrations and trivial cofibrations satisfying some reasonable assumptions.     

Representability theorems for presheaves of spectra

Suppose that M is a simplicial model category and that F is a contravariant simplicial functor defined on M which takes values in pointed simplicial sets. This note displays conditions on the simplicial model category M and the functor F such that F is representable up to weak equivalence. The conditions on F are homotopy coherent versions of the classical conditions for Brown representability, while M should have the fundamental properties of the stable model structure for presheaves of spectra on a Grothendieck site.     

A fiberwise analogue of the Borsuk-Ulam theorem for sphere bundles over a 2-cell complex

For a vector bundle α, let indα denote the largest integer m for which there exists a Z/2-map from Sm−1 to S(α). We prove that the equality indα=dimα holds for every vector bundle α over the complex Sn−1k_∪en, where n?2 and k≠0, if and only if either k is even and n≠2,3,4,8 or k is odd.     

A fiberwise analogue of the Borsuk-Ulam theorem for sphere bundles over a 2-cell complex II

We describe a finite complex B as I-trivial if there does not exist a Z₂-map from Si−1 to S(α) for any vector bundle α over B and any integer i with i>dimα. We prove that the m-fold suspension of projective plane FP² is I-trivial if and only if m≠0,2,4 for F=C, m≠0,4 for F=H. In the case where F is the Cayley algebra, the m-fold suspension is shown to be I-trivial for every m>0.     

Obstruction theory in model categories

Many examples of obstruction theory can be formulated as the study of when a lift exists in a commutative square. Typically, one of the maps is a cofibration of some sort and the opposite map is a fibration, and there is a functorial obstruction class that determines whether a lift exists. Working in an arbitrary pointed proper model category, we classify the cofibrations that have such an obstruction theory with respect to all fibrations. Up to weak equivalence, retract, and cobase change, they are the cofibrations with weakly contractible target. Equivalently, they are the retracts of principal cofibrations. Without properness, the same classification holds for cofibrations with cofibrant source. Our results dualize to give a classification of fibrations that have an obstruction theory.     

The Balmer spectrum of rational equivariant cohomology theories

The category of rational G-equivariant cohomology theories for a compact Lie group G is the homotopy category of rational G-spectra and therefore tensor-triangulated. We show that its Balmer spectrum is the set of conjugacy classes of closed subgroups of G, with the topology corresponding to the topological poset of [7]. This is used to classify the collections of subgroups arising as the geometric isotropy of finite G-spectra. The ingredients for this classification are (i) the algebraic model of free spectra of the author and B. Shipley [14], (ii) the Localization Theorem of Borel–Hsiang–Quillen [21] and (iii) tom Dieck's calculation of the rational Burnside ring [4].     

Localization and completion of nilpotent groups of automorphisms

We study nilpotent subgroups of automorphism groups in the category of groups and the homotopy category of spaces. We establish localization and completion theorems for nilpotent groups of automorphisms of nilpotent groups. We then apply these algebraic theorems to prove analogous results for certain groups of self-homotopy equivalences of spaces.     

On the universal coefficients formula for shape homology

In this paper it is investigated whether various shape homology theories satisfy the Universal Coefficients Formula (UCF). It is proved that pro-homology and strong homology satisfy UCF in the class FAB of finitely generated abelian groups, while they do not satisfy UCF in the class AB of all abelian groups. Two new shape homology theories (called UCF-balanced) are constructed. It is proved that balanced pro-homology satisfies UCF in the class AB, while balanced strong homology satisfies UCF only in the class FAB.     

A spectral sequence for string cohomology

Let X be a 1-connected space with free-loop space ΛX. We introduce two spectral sequences converging towards H^*(ΛX;Z/p) and H^*((ΛX)_hT;Z/p). The E₂-terms are certain non-Abelian-derived functors applied to H^*(X;Z/p). When H^*(X;Z/p) is a polynomial algebra, the spectral sequences collapse for more or less trivial reasons. If X is a sphere it is a surprising fact that the spectral sequences collapse for p=2.     

On cellularization for simplicial presheaves and motivic homotopy

We construct cellular homotopy theories for categories of simplicial presheaves on small Grothendieck sites and discuss applications to the motivic homotopy category of Morel and Voevodsky.     

A Cartan-Eilenberg approach to homotopical algebra

In this paper we propose an approach to homotopical algebra where the basic ingredient is a category with two classes of distinguished morphisms: strong and weak equivalences. These data determine the cofibrant objects by an extension property analogous to the classical lifting property of projective modules. We define a Cartan-Eilenberg category as a category with strong and weak equivalences such that there is an equivalence of categories between its localisation with respect to weak equivalences and the relative localisation of the subcategory of cofibrant objects with respect to strong equivalences. This equivalence of categories allows us to extend the classical theory of derived additive functors to this non additive setting. The main examples include Quillen model categories and categories of functors defined on a category endowed with a cotriple (comonad) and taking values on a category of complexes of an abelian category. In the latter case there are examples in which the class of strong equivalences is not determined by a homotopy relation. Among other applications of our theory, we establish a very general acyclic models theorem.     

The Boardman-Vogt resolution of operads in monoidal model categories

We extend the -construction of Boardman and Vogt to operads of an arbitrary monoidal model category with suitable interval, and show that it provides a cofibrant resolution for well-pointed Σ-cofibrant operads. The standard simplicial resolution of Godement as well as the cobar-bar chain resolution are shown to be particular instances of this generalised -construction.     

A symmetric monoidal and equivariant Segal infinite loop space machine

In [12], we reworked and generalized equivariant infinite loop space theory, which shows how to construct G-spectra from G-spaces with suitable structure. In this paper, we construct a new variant of the equivariant Segal machine that starts from the category

of finite sets rather than from the category

of finite G-sets and which is equivalent to the machine studied in [19], [12]. In contrast to the machine in [19], [12], the new machine gives a lax symmetric monoidal functor from the symmetric monoidal category of

–G-spaces to the symmetric monoidal category of orthogonal G-spectra. We relate it multiplicatively to suspension G-spectra and to Eilenberg–Mac?Lane G-spectra via lax symmetric monoidal functors from based G-spaces and from abelian groups to

–G-spaces. Even non-equivariantly, this gives an appealing new variant of the Segal machine. This new variant makes the equivariant generalization of the theory essentially formal, hence likely to be applicable in other contexts.