\(E_{\infty}\) obstruction theory (Q1707284)

Let \(\mathcal{C}\) be an operad in Kan spaces, and let \(\mu \in \mathcal{C}(2)\) be a binary operation which is associative, commutative, and unital -- up to homotopy. The author studies the moduli space of morphisms from an \(E_\infty\)-operad to \(\mathcal{C}\) which sends the binary generator to \(\mu\). For example, if \(\mathcal{C} = \mathsf{End}_V\) is the endomorphism operad of \(V\) and \(\mu : V^{\otimes 2} \to V\) is a multiplication which is homotopy associative/commutative/unital, then the focus is on the space of \(E_\infty\)-structures on \(V\) with the fixed binary product \(\mu\). The author develops an obstruction theory similar to Bousfield's obstruction theory for the totalization of a cosimplicial space [\textit{A. K. Bousfield}, Isr. J. Math. 66, No. 1--3, 54--104 (1989; Zbl 0677.55020)]. There is a homotopy spectral sequence converging to the homotopy groups of the space of \(E_\infty\)-structures on \(\mathcal{C}\). Obstructions to existence live in \(\pi^n \pi_{n-2} \mathcal{C}\), and obstructions to unicity live in \(\pi^n \pi_{n-1} \mathcal{C}\). Here, the cohomotopy is defined using the natural \(\Gamma\)-module structure on \(\pi_* \mathcal{C}\) coming from \(\mu\). The author applies this theorem to the endomorphism operad of a ring spectrum \(\mathcal{S}\), with an explicit computation of \(\pi_* \mathsf{End}_{\mathcal{S}}\).