The period-index problem for twisted topological \(K\)-theory (Q2444365): Difference between revisions

An Azumaya algebra \(\mathcal{A}\) of degree \(n\) on \(X\) is a free noncommutative algebra of rank \(n\) over the sheaf \(\mathcal{C}\) of complex-valued functions on \(X\) such that \(\mathcal{A}\otimes_\mathcal{C}\mathcal{A}^\circ\) is isomorphic to the matrix algebra \(\mathrm{End}_\mathcal{C}(\mathcal{A})=M_n(\mathbb{C})\), where \(X\) is a connected CW-complex. The Brauer group \(\mathrm{Br}(X)\) is defined as the group of all equivalence classes of Azumaya algebras on \(X\). From this we see that the algebras used therein can be regarded as \(\text{PGL}_n\)-bundles over \(X\). This also indicates that there is an inclusion of \(\mathrm{Br}(X)\) into the cohomological Brauer group \(\mathrm{Br}'(X)=\text{H}^3(X, \mathbb{Z})_{\text{tors}}\). In particular, we know that \(\mathrm{Br}(X)=\text{Br}'(X)\) holds when \(X\) is finite. Let now \(X\) be a finite CW-complex of dimension \(d\) and for any \(\alpha\in \mathrm{Br}'(X)\) we define \(\mathrm{ind}(\alpha)\) to be the greatest common divisor of degrees of Azumaya algebras representing \(\alpha\). Then the main theorem of this paper is that \[ \mathrm{ind}(\alpha) \, | \, \textstyle \prod^{d-1}_{j=1}e^\alpha_j \] where \(e^\alpha_j\) denotes the exponent of \(\pi^s_j(B\mathbb{Z}/r)\), \(r\) being the order of \(\alpha\) in \(\mathrm{Br}'(X)\). This result tells us that the upper bound on \(\mathrm{ind}(\alpha)\) can be specified based only on \(r\) and \(d\). To prove this theorem the authors study the Atiyah-Hirzebruch spectral sequence for the twisted \(K\)-theory \(\mathrm{KU}(X)_\alpha\). It is due to the fact that \(\mathrm{ind}(X)\) becomes the generator of the image of its edge homomorphism \(\mathrm{KU}^0(X)_\alpha \to \mathrm{H}^0(X, \mathbb{Z})\). So, in fact, the differentials are examined in order to look for permanent cycles in \(\mathrm{H}^0(X, \mathbb{Z})\). For this the authors introduce a spectrum \(\mathrm{S}[\mathbb{Z}/r]\) having homotopy groups such that \(\pi_q\mathrm{S}[\mathbb{Z}/r] \cong \pi^S_q\oplus \pi^S_q(B\mathbb{Z}/r)\), equipped with a natural map \(\iota : \mathrm{S}[\mathbb{Z}/r]\to \mathrm{KU}\) which extends the unit \(\mathrm{S} \to \mathrm{KU}\) and can be twisted. Then the above is done by considering the morphism of Atiyah-Hirzebruch spectral sequences induced by \(\iota\). Using the previous computation of \textit{B. Antieau} [J. K-Theory 8, No. 3, 419--435 (2011; Zbl 1236.14023)] the above theorem yields the following corollary: \(\mathrm{ind}(\alpha) \, | \, r^{[d/2]}\) if \(\alpha\) satisfies \(r=\ell^k\) where \(\ell\) denotes a prime such that \(2\ell >d+1\). Finally, this paper concludes with a discussion of the cohomology of \(\mathrm{PU}_a\) and its application to \(K(\mathbb{Z}/\ell, 2)\).