On the \(K\)-theory of the norm functor (Q2390484)

Given two unitary (not necessarily commutative) rings \(A, B\) and an additive functor \(\varphi:{\mathcal P}roj (A)\to{\mathcal P}roj(B)\), the \(K\)-theory of the functor \(\varphi\) may be viewed as a ``relative'' \(K\)-theory which can contain information which are not a priori detected by the \(K\)-theory of the rings. After describing \(K_0 (\varphi)\) and showing the existence of a Mayer-Vietoris exact sequence arising from Milnor squares (i.e., essentially, pairs of ring homomorphisms \(A \to A'\) and \(B \to B'\) which are compatible with localization at the multiplicative set \(S = {\mathbb N} - (0)),\) the authors specialize to the case where \(A = {\mathcal O}_F\) and \(B = {\mathcal O}_L\) are the rings of integers of an extension \(F/L\) of number fields, and \(\varphi\) is the ``norm functor'' \(\displaystyle{\mathop{{\mathcal N}}}_{A/B}:{\mathcal P}roj(A)\to{\mathcal P}roj(B)\) induced by the restriction of scalars from \(A\) to \(B.\) The terminology is justified by the fact that on \(K_1\) and \(K_0,\) this functor gives the usual norm maps (let us denote them by \({\mathcal N})\) \(F^* \to L^*\) and \(C\ell(A) \to C\ell (B)\). In this setting, \(K_0 (\displaystyle{\mathop{{\mathcal N}}}_{A/B})\) can be explicitly described as a quotient of a certain fiber product which sits in a five-term exact sequence \[ A^*@>{\mathcal N}>>B^\ast \longrightarrow K_0 ({\mathop{{\mathcal N}}}_{A/B}) \longrightarrow C\ell(A) @>{\mathcal N}>> C\ell (B). \] As for the Mayer-Vietoris exact sequence, the injectivity of the natural map \(K_r (A) \to K_r (F)\) for \(r > 0\) (a theorem of Soulé) allows to split it into short six-term exact sequences. For \(K_0,\) \(K_1,\) this yields a seven-term exact sequence involving \(K_0 (\displaystyle{\mathop{{\mathcal N}}}_{A/B})\) and the kernels and cokernels of norm maps applied to groups of global units, semi-local units, ideal classes and idèles (for a precise statement, see the main Theorem 5--4 of the paper). If moreover the extension \(F/L\) is normal with Galois group \(G\), the terms in this exact sequence can be described as Tate cohomology groups of \(G\) acting on the above modules. But note that, once \(K_0 (\displaystyle{\mathop{{\mathcal N}}}_{A/B})\) is expressed as a quotient of a fiber product, everything can be done ``by hand'', starting from direct local-global considerations (i.e., without \(K\)-theory). When \(G\) is cyclic, the authors recover some known results of genus theory. But note again that all these (and many more) could be obtained in a unified way by local-global methods, in the style of cohomological class-field theory [see e.g. \textit{T. Nguyen-Quang-Do}, ``Quelques suites exactes en théorie des genres'', Algebra and number theory. 2003--2006. Besançon: Université de Franche-Comté. Publications Mathématiques de l'UFR Sciences et Techniques de Besançon, 103-115 (2006; Zbl 1221.11220)]). Finally, let us remark that other natural functors may be of interest: {\parindent=4mm \begin{itemize}\item[--] attached to the functor \(\oplus n:{\mathcal P}roj(A)\to{\mathcal P}roj(A)\), the first relative \(K\)-group with coefficients, \(K_1 (A;{\mathbb Z}/n)\), contains special elements whose values by the Dennis trace map have been studied by the authors in a previous article [\textit{M. Karoubi} and \textit{T. Lambre}, J. Reine Angew. Math. 543, 169--186 (2002; Zbl 1041.11078)]; for \(A= {\mathbb Z} [\xi_p]\), these values are closely related to Kummer's logarithmic derivatives. \item[--] given a multiplicatively closed Ore set \(S\) which consists not of zero divisors of the (noncommutative) ring \(A,\) the localization functor \(\varphi:{\mathcal P}roj(A)\to{\mathcal P}roj S^{-1}A)\) yields a \((K_0, K_1)\)-exact sequence which is the cornerstone of the algebraic building of noncommutative Iwasawa theory. \end{itemize}}