Units of equivariant ring spectra (Q538636)

The category of very special \(\Gamma\)-spaces and the category of group-like \(E_\infty\)-spaces both model connective spectra. These two constructions are equivalent as shown in [\textit{J. P. May} and \textit{R. Thomason}, Topology 17, 205--224 (1978; Zbl 0391.55007)], so it is natural to ask if these two categories can be equipped with model structures that make them Quillen equivalent. Similarly, for finite groups \(G\), both categories have \(G\)-equivariant analogues and the second is known to model equivariant connective spectra. So it is worth asking if very special equivariant \(\Gamma\)-spaces also model equivariant connective spectra and if these two categories of models are Quillen equivalent with respect to suitable model structures. This paper provides both positive answers to these interesting questions and is an important addition to the study of equivariant infinite loop space theory. It builds on the work of \textit{K. Shimakawa} [Publ. Res. Inst. Math. Sci. 25, No.~2, 239--262 (1989; Zbl 0677.55013)] and shows that very special equivariant \(\Gamma\)-spaces are equivalent to equivariant infinite loop spaces. Using model structures the author relates this to the work of \textit{S. Costenoble} and \textit{S. Waner} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 326, No.~2, 485--505 (1991; Zbl 0769.54041)] and shows that the model category of equivariant \(\Gamma\)-spaces is Quillen equivalent to the model category of equivariant \(E_\infty\)-spaces. As an application this paper shows how to construct the the units of an equivariant \(E_\infty\)-ring spectrum as a connective equivariant spectrum.