The algebraic \(K\)-theory of the projective line associated with a strongly \(\mathbb{Z}\)-graded ring (Q2220175)

The algebraic \(K\)-theory of the projective line \(\mathbb{P}^1_R\) over a commutative ring \(R\) has been computed by Bass and Quillen. More precisely, there is an equivalence of spectra \(\mathrm{K}(\mathbb{P}^1_R) \simeq \mathrm{K}(R) \oplus \mathrm{K}(R)\), which uses that the projective line is covered by Zariski open subsets \(\mathrm{Spec}(R[t])\) and \(\mathrm{Spec}(R[t^{-1}])\) whose intersection is given by \(\mathrm{Spec}(R[t^{\pm 1}])\). It is an observation of [\textit{D. R. Grayson}, J. Algebra 113, No. 2, 358--372 (1988; Zbl 0656.16011)] that this splitting result for \(\mathrm{K}\)-theory still holds after replacing the Laurent polynomial ring \(R[t^{\pm 1}]\) with a twisted Laurent polynomial ring with respect to an automorphism of \(R\). The main result of the paper under review, is a further refinement of Grayson's result. Namely, the authors prove that if \(R\) is a strongly \(\mathbb{Z}\)-graded ring in the sense of [\textit{E. C. Dade}, Math. Z. 174, 241--262 (1980; Zbl 0424.16001)], then there is an equivalence \(\mathrm{K}(\mathbb{P}^1_R) \simeq \mathrm{K}(R) \oplus \mathrm{K}(R)\) as above. Concretely, if \(k\) is a field, then the commutative ring \[ k[a, b, c, d]/(ab+cd-1) \] with \(\mathrm{deg}(a) = \mathrm{deg}(c) = 1\) and \(\mathrm{deg}(b) = \mathrm{deg}(d) = -1\) is an example of a strongly graded \(\mathbb{Z}\)-ring which is not a twisted Laurent polynomial ring. Further examples of strongly \(\mathbb{Z}\)-graded rings are given by Leavitt path algebras associated with finite graphs without sink [\textit{R. Hazrat}, Isr. J. Math. 195, Part B, 833--895 (2013; Zbl 1308.16005)]. The first author uses the result of the present paper to establish a generalization of the fundamental theorem for algebraic \(K\)-theory to strongly graded \(\mathbb{Z}\)-rings.