Constructing the determinant sphere using a Tate twist (Q2126065)

In this paper, the authors construct a determinant sphere \(S\langle \mathrm{det}\rangle\) in the \(K(n)\)-local stable homotopy category for every prime \(p\) and every positive integer \(n\). The motivation for this comes from the Gross-Hopkins dual \(I_n\) of the \(K(n)\)-local sphere and its \(E\)-homology -- we write \(E\) for the Lubin-Tate spectrum associated to the Honda formal group law of height \(n\) over \(\mathbf{F}_{p^n}\) and \(K(n)\) for the height \(n\) Morava \(K\)-theory at the prime \(p\). Indeed, as a continuous representation of the height \(n\) Morava stabiliser group \(\mathbf{G}\), the \(E\)-homology of \(I_n\) is isomorphic to the \(E\)-homology of \(S^{n^2-n}\) twisted by the determinant representation \(\mathbf{Z}_p\langle \mathrm{det}\rangle\). The \emph{determinant sphere} is an invertible object in the \(K(n)\)-local stable homotopy category with a chosen equivariant isomorphism between its \(E\)-homology and \(E_\ast\otimes_{\mathbf{Z}_p}\mathbf{Z}_p\langle \mathrm{det}\rangle=E_\ast\langle \mathrm{det}\rangle\). To formulate the main theorem, two \(K(n)\)-local spectra are constructed: the \(\mathbf{G}\)-equivariant Tate sphere \(S(1)\) which is nonequivariantly equivalent to the sphere, and the determinant sphere \(S\langle \mathrm{det}\rangle\) defined as the continuous \(\mathbf{G}\)-homotopy fixed points of \(E\wedge S(1)\) equipped with the diagonal \(\mathbf{G}\)-action. The main theorem states that the canonical map \(E\wedge S\langle \mathrm{det}\rangle\to E\wedge S(1)\) is a \(\mathbf{G}\)-equivariant equivalence; \(\mathbf{G}\) acts on \(E\) in the domain. In particular, this implies that the \(E\)-homology of \(S\langle \mathrm{det}\rangle\) is isomorphic to \(E_\ast\langle \mathrm{det}\rangle\), as desired. For large primes, \(2p> \mathrm{max}\{n^2+1,2n+2\}\), this equivalence determines the homotopy type of the Gross-Hopkins dual \(I_n\). A prominent advantage of this construction compared to all others in the current literature is a uniform definition for all primes \(p\) and heights \(n\). The background required to study continuous actions of the profinite group \(\mathbf{G}\) in the \(K(n)\)-local stable homotopy category is discussed at length, including definitions and basic properties of continuous \(\mathbf{G}\)-actions and homotopy fixed points, inspired by the classical work of \textit{E. S. Devinatz} and \textit{M. J. Hopkins} [Topology 43, No. 1, 1--47 (2004; Zbl 1047.55004)]. A deconstruction of the determinant sphere is also carried out, showing that it also occurs as the fibre of certain endomorphisms of the continuous \(\mathrm{S}\mathbf{G}\)-homotopy fixed points of \(E\), where \(\mathrm{S}\mathbf{G}\) is the kernel of the determinant map \(\mathbf{G}\to \mathbf{Z}_p^\times\); at the prime \(p=2\) a slight variant is given. This allows the authors to identify \(S\langle \mathrm{det}\rangle\) when the height \(n=1\).