# nLab K-theory spectrum

### Context

#### Stable Homotopy theory

stable homotopy theory

# Contents

#### Higher algebra

higher algebra

universal algebra

# Contents

## Idea

The K-theory spectrum $KU$ (for complex K-theory) or $KO$ (for orthogonal K-theory) in the strict sense is the spectrum that represents the generalized (Eilenberg-Steenrod) cohomology theory topological K-theory. For complex topological K-theory this is periodic with period 2 (reflect Bott periodicity) of the form

$\mathbb{Z} \times B U ,\; U ,\; \cdots \,.$

More generally, to every stable (infinity,1)-category $C$ is associated a K-theory space which in good cases, such as when the category is presented by a Waldhausen category is the degree 0 piece of a corresponding algebraic K-theory spectrum. The detailed construction is known as the Waldhausen S-construction.

## Properties

### Periodicity

$KU$ is a 2-periodic ring spectrum. This is the original Bott periodicity.

### As a localization of an $\infty$-group $\infty$-ring

Snaith's theorem asserts that the K-theory spectrum for periodic complex K-theory is the ∞-group ∞-ring of the circle 2-group localized away from the Bott element $\beta$:

$KU \simeq \mathbb{S}[B U(1)][\beta^{-1}] \,.$

### Relation between $KU$, $KO$ and $KR$-

#### $KO$ as homotopy-fixed points of $KU$

Complex conjugation on complex vector bundles induces on the complex K-theory spectrum $KU$ an involutive automorphism. KR-theory is the corresponding $\mathbb{Z}_2$-equivariant cohomology theory.

In particular, the homotopy fixed point of KU under this automorphism is KO

$KO \simeq (KU)^{\mathbb{Z}/2}$

and this way where in complex K-theory one has KU-modules (∞-modules), so in KR-theory one has $KO$-modules.

#### Wood’s theorem

$KO \wedge \Sigma^{-2}\mathbb{CP}^2 \simeq KU$

a proof in terms of moduli stacks is given in Mathew 13, section 3

cohomology theories of string theory fields on orientifolds

string theoryB-field$B$-field moduliRR-field
bosonic stringline 2-bundleordinary cohomology $H\mathbb{Z}^3$
type II superstringsuper line 2-bundle$Pic(KU)//\mathbb{Z}_2$KR-theory $KR^\bullet$
type IIA superstringsuper line 2-bundle$B GL_1(KU)$KU-theory $KU^1$
type IIB superstringsuper line 2-bundle$B GL_1(KU)$KU-theory $KU^0$
type I superstringsuper line 2-bundle$Pic(KU)//\mathbb{Z}_2$KO-theory $KO$
type $\tilde I$ superstringsuper line 2-bundle$Pic(KU)//\mathbb{Z}_2$KSC-theory $KSC$

## References

Discussion of $KO$ in analogy to the construction of tmf is in

with a summary in

• Akhil Mathew, The homotopy groups of $TMF$ (pdf)

Revised on November 1, 2014 22:45:43 by Urs Schreiber (141.0.9.61)