Clifford algebras from quotient ring spectra (Q636834)

Let \(R\) be an even \(E_\infty\)-ring spectrum. The main results of this paper are descriptions of homology and cohomology on the derived category of \(R\)-module spectra. For a regular ideal \(I\) of \(R_*\), a quotient ring is an \(R\)-ring spectrum \(F=R/I\) such that \(F_*=R_*/I\). For a unital map \(\pi: F=R/I\to k\) between quotient \(R\)-rings, the authors define the associated quadratic form \(q: k_*\otimes_{F_*} I/I^2[1] \to k_*\). Then, as a \(k_*\)-algebra, the homology \(k_*^R(F)\) is isomorphic to the Clifford algebra \(C\ell(k_*\otimes_{F_*} I/I^2[1],q)\) with respect to the quadratic form \(q\). In particular, setting \(k=F\) and \(\pi=id_F\) describes the homology \(F^R_*(F)\). For example, for Morava \(K\)-theory \(K(n)\) at an odd prime, \(K(n)_*^{\widehat E(n)}(K(n))\) is isomorphic to an exterior algebra over \(n\) elements, since the associated quadratic form is zero in this case. The prime two case is also described, though the quadratic form is not zero. For the cohomology algebra \(F_R^*(F)\), the authors show that the algebra is isomorphic to the exterior algebra on the group of derivations \(\mathcal Der_R^*(F,F)\), which they show to be homeomorphic to Hom\(^*_{F_*}(I/I^2[1],F_*)\). These are generalizations of results of \textit{N. P. Strickland} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 351, No.7, 2569--2606 (1999; Zbl 0924.55005)].