On a theorem of Giffen (Q1086880): Difference between revisions

Let \(R\) be a ring with unit and an antiinvolution. For \(\epsilon =\pm 1\) let \(BGL(R)^+\) and \(B_{\epsilon}O(R)^+\) denote the (connected) classifying spaces of algebraic K-theory and \(\epsilon\)-hermitian K- theory, respectively. The standard forgetful map and the hyperbolic map induce mappings \(B_{\epsilon}O(R)^+\to BGL(R)^+\) and \(BGL(R)^+\to B_{\epsilon}O(R)^+\) whose fibres we denote \(_{\epsilon}V(R)\) and \(_{\epsilon}U(R)\). In the case that 2 is invertible in \(R\) these fibres are related by the ''periodicity'' result \(\Omega (_{\epsilon}U(R))\simeq_{-\epsilon}V(R)\). For the investigation of the general case Giffen introduced a category \(_{\epsilon}W(R)\) whose classifying space he claimed to be a delooping of \(_{\epsilon}U(R)\). The present paper is the first account of this statement in print. The authors establish a homotopy fibration of infinite loop spaces \[ K_ 0(R)\times BGL(R)^+\quad \to \quad K_ 0^ H(R)\times B_{\epsilon}O(R)^+\quad \to \quad B_{\epsilon}W(R) \] where \(K_ 0(R)\) is the projective class group and \(K_ 0^ H(R)\) the Grothendieck group of projective hyperbolic R-modules. The sequence allows the calculation of the homotopy groups of \(_{\epsilon}W(R)\) in terms of the algebraic and hermitian K-theory of \(R\). The authors moreover determine the rational cohomology ring of \(_{\epsilon}W(R)\) if \(R\) is the ring of integers in a number field.