The factorization theory of Thom spectra and twisted nonabelian Poincaré duality (Q1673629)

When \(M\) is an \(n\)-manifold and \(A\) is an \(E_n\)-space, the factorization homology \(\int_M A\) of \(M\) with coefficients in \(A\) can be defined as a certain derived coend. For fixed \(A\), this construction can be viewed as a homology theory for \(n\)-manifolds (see [\textit{D. Ayala} and \textit{J. Francis}, J. Topol. 8, No. 4, 1045--1084 (2015; Zbl 1350.55009)]). Analogously, one obtains a factorization homology spectrum \(\int_M A\) if \(A\) is an \(E_n\) ring spectrum. One main result of the present paper is an equivalence between the factorization homology \(\int_M \text{Th}(f)\) of the Thom spectrum of an \(n\)-fold loop map \(f: A \to BO\) and the Thom spectrum of a certain map \(\int_M A \to BO\) built from \(f\). Since factorization homology generalizes (higher) topological Hochschild homology of \(E_n\)-algebras, this result generalizes theorems by \textit{A. J. Blumberg} et al. [Geom. Topol. 14, No. 2, 1165--1242 (2010; Zbl 1219.19006)] and \textit{C. Schlichtkrull} [J. Topol. 4, No. 1, 161--189 (2011; Zbl 1228.55006)] about the topological Hochschild homology of Thom spectra. One immediate consequence of the main result is a description of the factorization homology of cobordism ring spectra. The author also provides a version of the above result for generalized Thom spectra associated with an \(E_n\)-map to the classifying space of the units of a commutative ring spectrum \(R\). The Eilenberg-Mac Lane spectra of \(\mathbb Z/p\) and \(\mathbb Z_{(p)}\) are known to be generalized Thom spectra of suitable maps to the classifying space of the units of the \(p\)-local sphere spectrum. Using this, the above results lead to explicit descriptions of the factorization homology of \(H\mathbb Z/p\) and \(H\mathbb Z_{(p)}\) when the manifold \(M\) is for example a genus \(g\) surface. The author also applies the present approach to describe the topological Hochschild cohomology of Thom spectra.