Algebraic K-theory and abstract homotopy theory

We decompose the K-theory space of a Waldhausen category in terms of its Dwyer–Kan simplicial localization. This leads to a criterion for functors to induce equivalences of K-theory spectra that generalizes and explains many of the criteria appearing in the literature. We show that under mild hypotheses, a weakly exact functor that induces an equivalence of homotopy categories induces an equivalence of K-theory spectra.     

Homotopy theory of associative rings

A kind of unstable homotopy theory on the category of associative rings (without unit) is developed. There are the notions of fibrations, homotopy (in the sense of Karoubi), path spaces, Puppe sequences, etc. One introduces the notion of a quasi-isomorphism (or weak equivalence) for rings and shows that—similar to spaces—the derived category obtained by inverting the quasi-isomorphisms is naturally left triangulated. Also, homology theories on rings are studied. These must be homotopy invariant in the algebraic sense, meet the Mayer-Vietoris property and plus some minor natural axioms. To any functor X from rings to pointed simplicial sets a homology theory is associated in a natural way. If X=GL and fibrations are the GL-fibrations, one recovers Karoubi-Villamayor's functors KVi, i>0. If X is Quillen's K-theory functor and fibrations are the surjective homomorphisms, one recovers the (non-negative) homotopy K-theory in the sense of Weibel. Technical tools we use are the homotopy information for the category of simplicial functors on rings and the Bousfield localization theory for model categories. The machinery developed in the paper also allows to give another definition for the triangulated category kk constructed by Cortiñas and Thom [G. Cortiñas, A. Thom, Bivariant algebraic K-theory, preprint, math.KT/0603531]. The latter category is an algebraic analog for triangulated structures on operator algebras used in Kasparov's KK-theory.     

The 1-type of a Waldhausen K-theory spectrum

We give a small functorial algebraic model for the 2-stage Postnikov section of the K-theory spectrum of a Waldhausen category and use our presentation to describe the multiplicative structure with respect to biexact functors.     

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 note on K-theory and triangulated categories

We provide an example of two closed model categories having equivalent homotopy categories but different Waldhausen K-theories. We also show that there cannot exist a functor from small triangulated categories to spaces which recovers Quillen’s K-theory for exact categories and which satisfies localization. Oblatum 28-V-2001 & 7-III-2002?Published online: 17 June 2002     

Krull-Schmidt decompositions for thick subcategories

Following H. Krause [Decomposing thick subcategories of the stable module category, Math. Ann. 313 (1) (1999) 95-108], we prove Krull-Schmidt type decomposition theorems for thick subcategories of various triangulated categories including the derived categories of rings, Noetherian stable homotopy categories, stable module categories over Hopf algebras, and the stable homotopy category of spectra. In all these categories, it is shown that the thick ideals of small objects decompose uniquely into indecomposable thick ideals. We also discuss some consequences of these decomposition results. In particular, it is shown that all these decompositions respect K-theory.     

Lifting homotopy T-algebra maps to strict maps

The settings for homotopical algebra—categories such as simplicial groups, simplicial rings, _A∞$A_{\infty }$ spaces, _E∞$E_{\infty }$ ring spectra, etc.—are often equivalent to categories of algebras over some monad or triple T. In such cases, T is acting on a nice simplicial model category in such a way that T descends to a monad on the homotopy category and defines a category of homotopy T-algebras. In this setting there is a forgetful functor from the homotopy category of T-algebras to the category of homotopy T-algebras.     

Negative K-theory of derived categories

We define negative K-groups for exact categories and for ``derived categories' in the framework of Frobenius pairs, generalizing definitions of Bass, Karoubi, Carter, Pedersen-Weibel and Thomason. We prove localization and vanishing theorems for these groups. Dévissage (for noetherian abelian categories), additivity, and resolution hold. We show that the first negative K-group of an abelian category vanishes, and that, in general, negative K-groups of a noetherian abelian category vanish. Our methods yield an explicit non-connective delooping of the K-theory of exact categories and chain complexes, generalizing constructions of Wagoner and Pedersen-Weibel. Extending a theorem of Auslander and Sherman, we discuss the K-theory homotopy fiber of ε^⊕→ ε and its implications for negative K-groups. In the appendix, we replace Waldhausen's cylinder functor by a slightly weaker form of non-functorial factorization which is still sufficient to prove his approximation and fibration theorems.     

Operations in A-theory

A construction for Segal operations for K-theory of categories with cofibrations, weak equivalences and a biexact pairing is given and coherence properties of the operations are studied. The model for K-theory, which is used, allows coherence to be studied by means of (symmetric) monoidal functors. In the case of Waldhausen A-theory it is shown how to recover the operations used in Waldhausen (Lecture Notes in Mathematics, Vol. 967, Springer, Berlin, 1982, pp. 390-409) for the A-theory Kahn-Priddy theorem. The total Segal operation for A-theory, which assembles exterior power operations, is shown to carry a natural infinite loop map structure. The basic input is the un-delooped model for K-theory, which has been developed from a construction by Grayson and Gillet for exact categories in Gunnarsson et al. (J. Pure Appl. Algebra 79 (1992) 255), and Grayson's setup for operations in Grayson (K-theory (1989) 247). The relevant material from these sources is recollected followed by observations on equivariant objects and pairings. Grayson's conditions are then translated to the context of categories with cofibrations and weak equivalences. The power operations are shown to be well behaved w.r.t. suspension and are extended to algebraic K-theory of spaces. Staying close with the philosophy of Waldhausen (1982) Waldhausen's maps are found. The Kahn-Priddy theorem follows from splitting the “free part” off the equivariant theory. The treatment of coherence of the total operation in A-theory involves results from Laplaza (Lecture Notes in Mathematics, Vol. 281, Springer, Berlin, 1972, pp. 29-65) and restriction to spherical objects in the source of the operation.     

A note on K-theory and triangulated derivators

In this paper we show an example of two differential graded algebras that have the same derivator K-theory but non-isomorphic Waldhausen K-theory. We also prove that Maltsiniotis?s comparison and localization conjectures for derivator K-theory cannot be simultaneously true.     

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.     

Isomorphism Conjecture for homotopy K-theory and groups acting on trees

We discuss an analogon to the Farrell-Jones Conjecture for homotopy algebraic K-theory. In particular, we prove that if a group G acts on a tree and all isotropy groups satisfy this conjecture, then G satisfies this conjecture. This result can be used to get rational injectivity results for the assembly map in the Farrell-Jones Conjecture in algebraic K-theory.     

Homotopical algebraic geometry I: topos theory

This is the first of a series of papers devoted to lay the foundations of Algebraic Geometry in homotopical and higher categorical contexts. In this first part we investigate a notion of higher topos.For this, we use S-categories (i.e. simplicially enriched categories) as models for certain kind of ∞-categories, and we develop the notions of S-topologies, S-sites and stacks over them. We prove in particular, that for an S-category T endowed with an S-topology, there exists a model category of stacks over T, generalizing the model category structure on simplicial presheaves over a Grothendieck site of Joyal and Jardine. We also prove some analogs of the relations between topologies and localizing subcategories of the categories of presheaves, by proving that there exists a one-to-one correspondence between S-topologies on an S-category T, and certain left exact Bousfield localizations of the model category of pre-stacks on T. Based on the above results, we study the notion of model topos introduced by Rezk, and we relate it to our model categories of stacks over S-sites.In the second part of the paper, we present a parallel theory where S-categories, S-topologies and S-sites are replaced by model categories, model topologies and model sites. We prove that a canonical way to pass from the theory of stacks over model sites to the theory of stacks over S-sites is provided by the simplicial localization construction of Dwyer and Kan. As an example of application, we propose a definition of étale K-theory of ring spectra, extending the étale K-theory of commutative rings.     

CoHochschild homology of chain coalgebras

Generalizing the work of Doi and of Idrissi, we define a coHochschild homology theory for chain coalgebras over any commutative ring and prove its naturality with respect to morphisms of chain coalgebras up to strong homotopy. As a consequence we obtain that if the comultiplication of a chain coalgebra C is itself a morphism of chain coalgebras up to strong homotopy, then the coHochschild complex admits a natural comultiplicative structure. In particular, if K is a reduced simplicial set and C_∗K is its normalized chain complex, then is naturally a homotopy-coassociative chain coalgebra. We provide a simple, explicit formula for the comultiplication on when K is a simplicial suspension.The coHochschild complex construction is topologically relevant. Given two simplicial maps g,h:K→L, where K and L are reduced, the homology of the coHochschild complex of C_∗L with coefficients in C_∗K is isomorphic to the homology of the homotopy coincidence space of the geometric realizations of g and h, and this isomorphism respects comultiplicative structure. In particular, there is an isomorphism, respecting comultiplicative structure, from the homology of to H_∗L|K|, the homology of the free loops on the geometric realization of K.     

Simple homotopy types and finite spaces

We present a new approach to simple homotopy theory of polyhedra using finite topological spaces. We define the concept of collapse of a finite space and prove that this new notion corresponds exactly to the concept of a simplicial collapse. More precisely, we show that a collapse X↘Y of finite spaces induces a simplicial collapse K(X)↘K(Y) of their associated simplicial complexes. Moreover, a simplicial collapse K↘L induces a collapse X(K)↘X(L) of the associated finite spaces. This establishes a one-to-one correspondence between simple homotopy types of finite simplicial complexes and simple equivalence classes of finite spaces. We also prove a similar result for maps: We give a complete characterization of the class of maps between finite spaces which induce simple homotopy equivalences between the associated polyhedra. This class describes all maps coming from simple homotopy equivalences at the level of complexes. The advantage of this theory is that the elementary move of finite spaces is much simpler than the elementary move of simplicial complexes: It consists of removing (or adding) just a single point of the space.     

Homotopy algebras and the inverse of the normalization functor

In this paper, we investigate multiplicative properties of the classical Dold-Kan correspondence. The inverse of the normalization functor maps commutative differential graded algebras to E_∞-algebras. We prove that it in fact sends algebras over arbitrary differential graded E_∞-operads to E_∞-algebras in simplicial modules and is part of a Quillen adjunction. More generally, this inverse maps homotopy algebras to weak homotopy algebras. We prove the corresponding dual results for algebras under the conormalization, and for coalgebra structures under the normalization resp. the inverse of the conormalization.     

Levels in the toposes of simplicial sets and cubical sets

The essential subtoposes of a fixed topos form a complete lattice, which gives rise to the notion of a level in a topos. In the familiar example of simplicial sets, levels coincide with dimensions and give rise to the usual notions of n-skeletal and n-coskeletal simplicial sets. In addition to the obvious ordering, the levels provide a stricter means of comparing the complexity of objects, which is determined by the answer to the following question posed by Bill Lawvere: when does n-skeletal imply k-coskeletal? This paper, which subsumes earlier unpublished work of some of the authors, answers this question for several toposes of interest to homotopy theory and higher category theory: simplicial sets, cubical sets, and reflexive globular sets. For the latter, n-skeletal implies (n+1)-coskeletal but for the other two examples the situation is considerably more complicated: n-skeletal implies (2n−1)-coskeletal for simplicial sets and 2n-coskeletal for cubical sets, but nothing stronger. In a discussion of further applications, we prove that n-skeletal cyclic sets are necessarily (2n+1)-coskeletal.     

Rings, modules, and algebras in infinite loop space theory

We give a new construction of the algebraic K-theory of small permutative categories that preserves multiplicative structure, and therefore allows us to give a unified treatment of rings, modules, and algebras in both the input and output. This requires us to define multiplicative structure on the category of small permutative categories. The framework we use is the concept of multicategory (elsewhere also called colored operad), a generalization of symmetric monoidal category that precisely captures the multiplicative structure we have present at all stages of the construction. Our method ends up in the Hovey-Shipley-Smith category of symmetric spectra, with an intermediate stop at a category of functors out of a particular wreath product.     

The localization sequence for the algebraic <Emphasis Type="Italic">K</Emphasis>-theory of topological <Emphasis Type="Italic">K</Emphasis>-theory

We verify a conjecture of Rognes by establishing a localization cofiber sequence of spectra \(K(\mathbb{Z})\to K(ku)\to K(KU) \to\Sigma K(\mathbb{Z})\) for the algebraic K-theory of topological K-theory. We deduce the existence of this sequence as a consequence of a dévissage theorem identifying the K-theory of the Waldhausen category of finitely generated finite stage Postnikov towers of modules over a connective \(A_\infty\) ring spectrum R with the Quillen K-theory of the abelian category of finitely generated \(\pi_{0}R\)-modules.