The \(T\)-algebra spectral sequence: comparisons (Q488571)

Given \(E_{\infty}\) ring spectra and a map between them in the stable homotopy category, one would like to know if the map lifts to an \(E_{\infty}\) ring map. This question can be studied in two steps. First, lifting to an \(H_{\infty}\) map, which is a map in the homotopy category preserving additional structure related to power operations [\textit{R. Bruner} et al., \(H_{\infty}\) ring spectra and their applications. Lecture Notes in Mathematics. 1176. Springer-Verlag (1986; Zbl 0585.55016)]. The second step is more delicate: lifting an \(H_{\infty}\) map to an \(E_{\infty}\) map, that is, lifting along the forgetful functor \[ U : ho(E_{\infty} \mathrm{Mod}_{R}) \to H_{\infty} \mathrm{Mod}_{R}. \] Here \(R\) is a structured ring spectrum, for instance, the sphere spectrum or an Eilenberg-MacLane spectrum \(Hk\). In [\textit{N. Johnson} and \textit{J. Noel}, Adv. Math. 264, 593--645 (2014; Zbl 1306.55006)], the author and Johnson constructed an obstruction-theoretic spectral sequence, called the \(T\)-algebra spectral sequence, which computes the homotopy groups of the space of \(E_{\infty}\) maps between \(E_{\infty}\) ring spectra, and exhibits the forgetful map induced by \(U\) as an edge morphism. In the paper under review, the author compares the \(T\)-algebra spectral sequence to known spectral sequences and provides various applications. Here are the main results, loosely stated. - Let \(k\) be any field. In \(Hk\)-module spectra, the \(T\)-algebra spectral sequence coincides with the Goerss-Hopkins spectral sequence computing the space of \(E_{\infty}\) algebra maps (Proposition 2.5). - Let \(k\) be the field \(\overline{\mathbb{F}}_p\). For spaces \(X\) and \(Y\) satisfying certain finiteness conditions, the unstable Adams spectral sequence computing the mapping space \(\mathrm{Top}(X,Y_p^{\wedge})\) coincides with the Goerss-Hopkins spectral sequence computing the mapping space \(E_{\infty} \mathrm{Mod}_{Hk}(Hk^Y,Hk^X)\) (Theorem 2.6 and 2.7 for the rational analogue). These results are due to Jennifer French; the author provides a variation of her argument in Section 4. - Every Hirzebruch genus can be lifted uniquely to an \(E_{\infty}\) ring map (Theorem 3.1). - From certain suspension spectra, every \(H_{\infty}\) map into a \(K(1)\)-local \(E_{\infty}\) ring spectrum lifts uniquely to an \(E_{\infty}\) ring map (Proposition 3.3). - Let \(k = \overline{\mathbb{F}}_p\). In \(Hk\)-module spectra, the forgetful functor \(U\) from \(E_{\infty}\) to \(H_{\infty}\) is neither full nor faithful (Theorem 3.4). The author and Johnson proved analogous statements for \(k = \mathbb{Q}\) in [Zbl 1306.55006] using the \(T\)-algebra spectral sequence. The current paper revisits those arguments in light of the unstable Adams spectral sequence (Section 3.2). - Certain Bockstein spectral sequences arise topologically as instances of the \(T\)-algebra spectral sequence (Theorem 3.5).