Stably spherical classes in the K-homology of a finite group (Q1123439)

For simplicity assume that p is an odd prime number, that G is a finite p-group, and that l generates \(({\mathbb{Z}}/p^ 2)^*\). If \(h_ k: \pi^ s_ n(BG)\to K_ n(BG)\) denotes the Hurewicz map induced by the unit map from the sphere spectrum to that of complex K-theory, then the author proves that for sufficiently large (odd) values of n \(Im(h_ k)=Ker(\psi^ l_ n-1).\) It is not hard to see that \(Im(h_ k)\) is invariant under the Adams operation, but the proof of equality depends on the truth of the Adams conjecture and knowledge of the skeletal filtration for \(K_ 1(BG)\). He also gives detailed calculations for some p-groups of low rank (such as \(C_{p^ 2})\), which serve to illustrate the complexity of the situation for small values of n. It seems to the reviewer that this paper becomes much more interesting when combined with the identification of \(Ker(\psi^ l_ n-1)\) with \(K{\mathbb{F}}_{l,n}(BG)\) and David Rector's (implicit) description of the latter group in terms of objects associated with the modular representation ring \(R{\mathbb{F}}_ l(G)\). Up to completion this gives a purely algebraic description of the stable homotopy groups \(\pi^ s_ n(BG)\), which (passing to cohomotopy) should be compared to that provided by the Burnside ring A(G).