The loop space of the Q-construction (Q1093208)

Quillen's Q-construction associates to an exact category M a new category QM, and the \((i+1)st\) homotopy group of \(| QM|\) is the ith algebraic K-group, \(K_ iM\). In this paper the authors provide us with a simplicial set GM which is homotopy-equivalent to the loop space of \(| QM|\); thus \(K_ iM=\pi_ i| GM|\). The paper contains three applications of this construction: (1) A simplified proof that \(S^{-1}S\) is homotopy equivalent to the loops on \(| QM|\); (2) an explicit algebraic representation for elements of \(K_ 1M\); and (3) a new definition of products in K-theory. Erratum: We correct an error in our paper, and provide a new shorter proof of Theorem B'.