An unstable change of rings for Morava \(E\)-theory (Q2663318)

For \(X\) a \(p\)-local, simply connected space, Bousfield and Kan defined the unstable classical Adams spectral sequence [\textit{A. K. Bousfield} and \textit{D. M. Kan}, Topology 11, 79--106 (1971; Zbl 0202.22803)], of shape \[ E_2 = \mathrm{Ext}_{\mathcal{U}_{\mathcal{A}_*}}(\mathbb{F}_p, H_*(X)) \Rightarrow \pi_*X. \] The \(E_2\) page is Ext in the category of unstable comodules over the dual Steenrod algebra. Bendersky, Curtis and Miller showed [\textit{M. Bendersky} et al., ibid. 17, 229--248 (1978; Zbl 0395.55010)] that this construction generalizes from ordinary homology to other ring spectra \(E\). However, there are several important points to be addressed before the spectral sequence becomes usable. \begin{enumerate} \item The \(E_2\) page must be identified, ideally with Ext in an appropriate category of unstable comodules related to \(E\). \item It needs to be proved that the spectral sequence converges (most likely, not to \(\pi_*X\) but to the homotopy groups of a suitable completion of \(X\)). \end{enumerate} For \(E = BP\), these tasks were accomplished by Bendersky, Curtis, and Miller. However, their proof of convergence essentially relies on the connectivity of \(E\). For nonconnective \(E\) and with Bendersky, the author of the paper under review described the \(E\)-completion of \(X\) appearing in the limit of the spectral sequence, and proved convergence in the case where \(E = \) Johnson-Wilson \(E(1)\) and \(X\) is an odd-dimensional sphere [\textit{M. Bendersky} and \textit{R. D. Thompson}, Am. J. Math. 122, No. 3, 599--635 (2000; Zbl 0963.55010)]. Categories of unstable comodules are defined for Landweber exact \(E\) by [\textit{M. Bendersky} and \textit{J. R. Hunton}, Proc. Edinb. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 47, No. 3, 591--622 (2011; Zbl 1068.55010)], and for \(E = \) Morava \(K(n)\) by [\textit{D. Mulcahey}, An unstable variant of the Morava change of rings theorem for \(K(n)\) theory, PhD thesis, City University of New York (2011)]. The present paper considers the case \[ E = B(n) = v_n^{-1}BP/(p, \dotsc, v_{n-1}). \] Suppose that \(X\) is a space such that \(E_*(X)\) is exterior on its module \(M\) of primitives, which is concentrated in odd degrees (for example, an odd-dimensional sphere). The unstable \(E\)-based Adams spectral sequence takes the form \[ E_2^{s,t} = \mathrm{Ext}_{\mathcal{U}}^s(E_*(S^t), M) \Rightarrow \pi_*X^\wedge_E. \] The main result of the present paper is a vanishing line for this spectral sequence: namely, if \((p-1) \nmid n\), then the \(E_2\) page vanishes for \(s > n^2 + 1\). The convergence of the spectral sequence follows immediately. Several of the techniques used should be of interest to anyone working in chromatic unstable homotopy theory. First, the author generalizes the Hovey-Sadofsky change-of-rings theorem to the setting of unstable comodules [\textit{M. Hovey} and \textit{H. Sadofsky}, J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 60, No. 1, 284--302 (1999; Zbl 0947.55013)]. Second, by using this change-of-rings theorem and passing through Morava \(E\)-theory, the author is able to relate unstable comodules for \(B(n)\) to formal groups. More precisely, the \(E_2\) page of the unstable \(B(n)\)-based Adams spectral sequence (subject to the given conditions on \(X\)) can be expressed in terms of the cohomology of modules over the endomorphism monoid of a height \(n\) formal group. This result should be compared to the analogous stable fact: the \(E_2\) page of the stable \(K(n)\)-local \(E_n\)-based Adams spectral sequence can be expressed as group cohomology for the automorphism group of a height \(n\) formal group.