Realising formal groups (Q1810407)

Let \(E^*(\quad)\) be a cohomology theory. If \(E^*(\quad)\) is even periodic (i.e., \(E\) is a commutative associative ring spectrum with \(E^1 =0\) and \(E^2\) containing a unit) then associated to \(E^*(\quad)\) there is a formal group over spec\((E^0)\) and this construction is functorial [\textit{N. P. Strickland}, Homotopy Invariant Algebraic Structures (Baltimore, MD, 1998), Am. Math. Soc. Providence, RI, 263-352, (1999; Zbl 1101.14322)]. The paper under review is concerned with the inverse problem: Given the formal group \(G\) can a cohomology theory \(E^*(\enskip)\) be constructed having \(G\) as its associated formal group law, and can the construction of \(E^*(\quad)\) be made functorial? Previously it was known that the answer is yes for Landweber exact cohomology theories, and that a non-functorial construction of \(E^*(\quad)\) could be made in some cases using the Baas-Sullivan theory of bordism with singularities. The main result of the current paper is the description of a category of formal groups, called good formal groups, and a construction of complex oriented cohomology theories for these formal groups which is functorial. A formal group \((G,S)\) is good if, for a collection \(x_1 \ldots x_r\) of (possibly different) co-ordinates for \(G\), the coresponding algebra structure on the function ring \(O_S\) over the ring \(\pi_0(MP^r)\) (where \(MP\) is the periodic bordism spectrum \( \bigvee_{n \in {\mathbb Z}}\sum^{2n} (MU[\frac{1}{2}]))\) can be realized topologically as an \(MP^r\)-algebra.