The Picard group of topological modular forms via descent theory (Q511594)

Given an \(E_\infty\)-ring spectrum \(R\), the Picard group is the group of isomorphism classes of invertible objects in the homotopy category of \(R\)-modules, as studied in detail by \textit{A. Baker} and \textit{B. Richter} [Manuscr. Math. 118, No. 1, 99--119 (2005; Zbl 1092.55007)]. The paper under review begins by introducing the Picard spectrum \(\mathfrak{pic}(R)\) of an \(E_\infty\)-ring spectrum \(R\). This is a connective spectrum that is a delooping of the space of units of a ring spectrum, such that \(\pi_0\mathfrak{pic}(R)\) is isomorphic to the Picard group of invertible \(R\)-modules. The authors then use descent theoretic techniques to study these Picard groups. Of particular interest in the study of Picard groups arising from a faithful \(G\)-Galois extension of ring spectra \(f : A \to B\) in the sense of \textit{J. Rognes} [Mem. Am. Math. Soc. 898, 137 p. (2008; Zbl 1166.55001)], where \(G\) is a finite group. Given such an extension, the authors show that there is an equivalence \[ \mathfrak{pic}(A) \simeq \mathfrak{pic}(B)^{hG}, \] after taking connective covers. This gives rise to a descent spectral sequence \[ H^s(G; \pi_t\mathfrak{pic}(B)) \implies \pi_{t-s} \mathfrak{pic}(B)^{hG} \] whose abutment when \(t=s\) is precisely the Picard group of invertible \(A\)-modules. The Picard spectrum of \(B\) is often understandable by using results of Baker and Richter (for example, if it is even periodic with \(\pi_0B\) regular Noetherian), and so the \(E_2\)-term of the spectral sequence is computable. Moreover, the authors determine a `stable' range in the spectral sequence, for which the differentials in the Picard spectral sequence agree with those in the ordinary homotopy fixed point spectral sequence. They also determine the first differential outside of this stable range. Using this, the authors are able to compute many Picard groups of interest, including that of real \(K\)-theory, and of various versions of topological modular forms.