For complex orientations preserving power operations, \(p\)-typicality is atypical (Q989109): Difference between revisions

Let \(MU_{(p)}\) be the \(p\)-local complex cobordism spectrum for some prime \(p\leq 13\), and let \(E\) be a \(p\)-local ring spectrum with a complex orientation \(f: MU_{(p)}\to E\). Suppose that \(f\)~induces a \(p\)-typical formal group law, that \(f\)~induces a Landweber exact module structure, and that the cohomology ring~\(E^*\) is not \(p\)-divisible. The authors show that \(f\)~cannot be a map of \(H^\infty\) ring spectra; that is, \(f\)~does not preserve power operations. It follows that the standard \(p\)-typical orientations on \(BP\) and on \(E(n)\) and~\(E_n\) for \(n\geq 1\) do not rigidify to maps of \(E_\infty\) ring spectra. The authors conjecture that their results are valid for all primes.