\(\mathbb{A}^1\)-connected components of classifying spaces and purity for torsors (Q2695716)

Summary: In this paper, we study the Nisnevich sheafification \(\mathcal{H}^1_{\text{ét}}(G)\) of the presheaf associating to a smooth scheme the set of isomorphism classes of \(G\)-torsors, for a reductive group \(G\). We show that if \(G\)-torsors on affine lines are extended, then \(\mathcal{H}^1_{\text{ét}}(G)\) is homotopy invariant and show that the sheaf is unramified if and only if Nisnevich-local purity holds for \(G\)-torsors. We also identify the sheaf \(\mathcal{H}^1_{\text{ét}}(G)\) with the sheaf of \(\mathbb{A}^1\)-connected components of the classifying space \(\mathrm{B}_{\text{ét}}G\). This establishes the homotopy invariance of the sheaves of components as conjectured by Morel. It moreover provides a computation of the sheaf of \(\mathbb{A}^1\)-connected components in terms of unramified \(G\)-torsors over function fields whenever Nisnevich-local purity holds for \(G\)-torsors.