Abstract Goerss-Hopkins theory (Q2065945): Difference between revisions

This paper gives an abstract version of Goerss-Hopkins obstruction theory [\textit{P. G. Goerss} and \textit{M. J. Hopkins}, Lond. Math. Soc. Lect. Note Ser. 315, 151--200 (2004; Zbl 1086.55006)], working with \(\infty\)-categories and using deformation theory \textit{à la Lurie}. For the general theory, the authors work with a graded symmetric monoidal Grothendieck prestable \(\infty\)-category, \(\mathcal{C}\), so that its heart is Grothendieck abelian. For the applications, it is important that \(\mathcal{C}\) be complete (i.e., that Postnikov towers in \(\mathcal{C}\) converge). First they set up the linear obstruction theory, exploiting ideas of Hopkins and Lurie. For a `shift algebra' \(A\), they consider the tower of \(\infty\)-categories \[ \mathcal{M}_\infty \rightarrow \cdots \rightarrow \mathcal{M}_n \rightarrow \mathcal{M}_{n-1} \rightarrow \cdots \rightarrow \mathcal{M}_0, \] where \(\mathcal{M}_n \) is the \(\infty\)-category of potential \(n\)-stages, \(\mathcal{M}_0\) is equivalent to the category of discrete \(\pi_0A\)-modules and \(\mathcal{M}_\infty \) to the category of `periodic \(A\)-modules'. If \(\mathcal{C}\) is complete, then \(\mathcal{M}_\infty \simeq \lim_\leftarrow \mathcal{M}_n\). The obstruction to lifting a potential \((n-1)\)-stage \(M\) lives in \(\mathrm{Ext}^{n+2,n}_{\pi_0 A} (\pi_0M, \pi_0M)\). They then pass to the multiplicative theory, considering \(\mathbf{E}_k\)-algebras in \(A\)-modules. The \(\infty\)-category of potential \(n\)-stages for an \(\mathbf{E}_k\)-algebra is denoted \(\mathrm{Alg}_{\mathbf{E}_k} (\mathcal{M}_n)\) and they consider the `Goerss-Hopkins tower' of \(\infty\)-categories \[ \mathrm{Alg}_{\mathbf{E}_k} (\mathcal{M}_\infty) \rightarrow \cdots \rightarrow \mathrm{Alg}_{\mathbf{E}_k} (\mathcal{M}_n) \rightarrow \mathrm{Alg}_{\mathbf{E}_k} (\mathcal{M}_{n-1}) \rightarrow \cdots \rightarrow \mathrm{Alg}_{\mathbf{E}_k}(\mathcal{M}_0). \] If \(\mathcal{C}\) is complete, then \(\mathrm{Alg}_{\mathbf{E}_k} (\mathcal{M}_\infty) \simeq \lim_\leftarrow \mathrm{Alg}_{\mathbf{E}_k} (\mathcal{M}_n) \). The obstruction to lifting a potential \((n-1)\)-stage \(R\) lives in the André-Quillen cohomology group \[\mathrm{Ext}^{n+2,n}_{\pi_0 A} (\mathbb{L}^{\mathbf{E}_k}_{\pi_0 R}, \pi_0R ).\] The authors also treat mapping spaces by these methods. Applying the abstract theory requires exhibiting an appropriate \(\mathcal{C}\) and shift algebra \(A\). For Goerss-Hopkins theory (for a homotopy commutative ring spectrum \(E\) satisfying the Adams condition), one desires that the \(\infty\)-category of periodic modules be equivalent to \(E\)-local spectra and the category of discrete \(\pi_0 A\)-modules equivalent to the category of \(E_*E\)-comodules as symmetric monoidal categories. A suitable \(\infty\)-category is provided by the synthetic spectra of [\textit{P. Pstrągowski}, ``Synthetic spectra and the cellular motivic category'', Preprint, \url{arXiv:1803.01804}] (more precisely, the category of connective, hypercomplete synthetic spectra based on \(E\)). For the case of Morava \(E\)-theory, this category is complete, so the abstract theory applies. (The authors point out a gap concerning this convergence in the original work of Goerss and Hopkins.) They also give a homological version of Toda's obstruction theory working with the Eilenberg-MacLane spectrum \(H \mathbb{F}_p\), giving an obstruction theory for realizing a bounded-below \(\mathcal{A}\)-module. To establish convergence of Postnikov towers, the authors use vanishing lines in the Adams spectral sequence; they observe that these techniques also apply, for example, working with \(BP\).