Thom spectra, higher THH and tensors in \(\infty\)-categories (Q2092750)

Let \(G\) be a grouplike \(\mathbb E_\infty\)-space, \(R\) an \(\mathbb E_\infty\)-ring spectrum, and \(f:G\to \operatorname{Pic}(R)\) an \(\mathbb E_\infty\)-map. Then, the Thom spectrum \[ Mf:=\operatorname{colim}(G\to\operatorname{Pic}(R)\to\mathrm{Mod}_R) \] is an \(\mathbb E_\infty\)-ring spectrum. Here, \(\mathrm{Mod}_R\) denotes the category of (left) \(R\)-modules and \(\operatorname{Pic}(R)\) the full subcategory of invertible \(R\)-modules. See [\textit{M. Ando} et al., J. Topol. 7, No. 4, 1077--1117 (2014; Zbl 1316.55005); \textit{M. Ando} et al., ibid. 7, No. 3, 869--893 (2014; Zbl 1312.55011); \textit{O. Antolín-Camarena} and \textit{T. Barthel}, ibid. 12, No. 1, 56--78 (2019; Zbl 1417.55007)] for the theory of Thom spectra. Let \(X\) be a pointed space. This paper proves the natural equivalence \[ X\otimes Mf = Mf \wedge \mathbb S[X\odot G] \] as \(\mathbb E_\infty\)-\(R\)-algebras. Here, the symbol \(\otimes\) denotes the tensor of \(\mathbb E_\infty\)-\(R\)-algebras with unpointed spaces and \(\odot\) denotes the tensor of grouplike \(\mathbb E_\infty\)-spaces with pointed spaces. More precisely, \(X\otimes Mf\) is the colimit in the category of \(\mathbb E_\infty\)-\(R\)-algebras of the constant diagram at \(Mf\) indexed by \(X\), and \(X\odot G\) is \(\Omega^\infty(\Sigma^\infty X\wedge B^\infty G)\) where \(B^\infty G\) is the connective spectrum associated with \(G\). This extends the result in [\textit{C. Schlichtkrull}, ibid. 4, No. 1, 161--189 (2011; Zbl 1228.55006)] from \(\operatorname{BGL}_1(R)\) to \(\operatorname{Pic}(R)\). It is also meaningful that this paper is written in the modern language of \(\infty\)-categories. For example, when \(X\) is a point, we obtain the Thom isomorphism \(Mf\wedge_R Mf=Mf\wedge \mathbb S[G]\), and when \(X=S^1\) is the circle, we obtain the formula \(\operatorname{THH}^R(Mf) = Mf \wedge\mathbb S[BG]\) for the topological Hochschild homology relative to \(R\). Finally, the paper discusses some general things one could say when \((X\otimes A)\wedge_A B\to X\otimes B\) is an equivalence for a pointed space \(X\) and an \(\mathbb E_\infty\)-ring map \(A\to B\). When it is an equivalence, we say that \(A\to B\) satisfies \emph{\(X\)-base change}. Notably, if \(A\) and \(B\) are fixed, then it is proved that the collection of pointed spaces \(X\) making \(A\to B\) to satisfy \(X\)-base change is closed under colimits. Therefore, the paper concludes that if \(A\to B\) satisfies \(S^1\)-base change, then it satisfies \(X\)-base change for any connected pointed space \(X\). The case \(X=S^1\), i.e. the base change \(\operatorname{THH}(A)\wedge_AB\to \operatorname{THH}(B)\), has been studied by many authors. See, for example, [\textit{A. Mathew}, Algebr. Geom. Topol. 17, No. 2, 693--704 (2017; Zbl 1370.55002)]. The simplest example discussed in the paper is the case \(B=A[x^{-1}]\) for \(x\in\pi_\ast(A)\). Applying this to a Thom spectrum \(A=Mf\), we obtain an equivalence \[ (X\otimes Mf)[x^{-1}] = Mf[x^{-1}]\wedge \mathbb S[X\odot G] \] of \(\mathbb E_\infty\)-\(R\)-algebras.