Homology of \(E_n\) ring spectra and iterated THH (Q2431306)

This paper describes a construction of THH (= topological Hochschild homology) of \(E_n\)-ring spectra which is iterable without ``re-approximation''. For this purpose the authors introduce a mild generalization of an algebra over the little \(n\)-cubes operad which they call a partial \({\mathcal C}_n\)-algebra and prove: For a partial \({\mathcal C}_n\)-algebra \(A\) satisfying a mild technical hypothesis, the cyclic bar construction THH\((A)\) is naturally a partial \({\mathcal C}_{n-1}\)-algebra. Mild conditions are inherited on THH\((A)\) allowing iteration. A relative variant of this result is also proved. This relative construction admits a reduced version for augmented algebras which is the analog of the bar construction of an augmented algebra. The main theorem of the paper establishes that the reduced version is an iterable bar construction and its \(n\)-iterate gives a model for the shifted cotangent complex at the augmentation, representing reduced topological Quillen homology of an augmented \(E_n\)-algebra. The authors also announce a proof of the following result: BP is an \(E_4\)-ring spectrum.