The loop-stable homotopy category of algebras (Q2174536)

Topological \(K\)-theory for \(C^*\)-algebras was generalised by Kasparov to a bivariant theory. This powerful tool for the study of \(C^*\)-algebra \(K\)-theory was characterised by Cuntz and Higson through a universal property. And this universal property was used by \textit{J. Cuntz} [\(K\)-Theory 35, No. 1--2, 93--137 (2005; Zbl 1111.19003)] to define analogues of Kasparov's bivariant \(K\)-theory for certain topological algebras that need not be \(C^*\)-algebras. By construction, Cuntz's bivariant \(K\)-theory is an additive category, and it receives a functor from the underlying category of algebras and homomorphisms. This functor universal among functors that are exact for extensions with a continuous linear section, invariant under smooth homotopies, and invariant under tensoring with a smooth algebra of compact operators. Several authors have adapted Cuntz's construction to other categories of algebras. In particular, \textit{G. Cortiñas} and \textit{A. Thom} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 610, 71--123 (2007; Zbl 1152.19002)] defined a bivariant \(K\)-theory for algebras over a unital ground ring, replacing smooth by polynomial homotopies and the smooth compact operators by the algebra of finite matrices. More recently, \textit{G. Garkusha} [J. Homotopy Relat. Struct. 8, No. 1, 67--116 (2013; Zbl 1278.19005); Doc. Math. 19, 1207--1269 (2014; Zbl 1314.19005)] studied the universal exact and homotopy invariant functor on various categories of algebras. He was interested, among others, in the category of commutative algebras and thus was forced to use different techniques to build it. In this paper, the universal functor exact, homotopy invariant functor on the category of all algebras over a fixed ground ring is built in great detail and using the machinery going back to Cuntz's bivariant \(K\)-theory. It is also shown that the resulting category is triangulated and that the mapping cone construction or semi-split extensions of algebras both give the same class of exact triangles.