Existence and uniqueness of \(E_\infty\) structures on motivic \(K\)-theory spectra (Q496274)

The motivic stable homotopy category, introduced by Voevodsky, provides a framework to define cohomology theories for algebraic varieties. Its objects are represented by motivic spectra. In analogy with the situation in stable homotopy theory, one may ask if a motivic spectrum can be equipped with a highly structured multiplication, that is, an \textit{\(E_{\infty}\) structure}, and one may also ask to what extent this multiplicative structure is unique. In the paper under review, the authors show that the algebraic \(K\)-theory spectrum \(\roman{KGL}\), the motivic Adams summand \(\roman{ML}\) and their connective covers admit unique \(E_{\infty}\) structures that refine the multiplicative structures defined on the level of the homotopy category. Analogous results for topological \(K\)-theory spectra arising in stable homotopy theory have been obtained by \textit{A. Baker} and \textit{B. Richter} [Comment. Math. Helv. 80, No. 4, 691--723 (2005; Zbl 1094.55010) and Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 136, No. 2, 707--714 (2008; Zbl 1132.55006)], building on the obstruction theory developed by \textit{A. Robinson} [Invent. Math. 152, No. 2, 331--348 (2003; Zbl 1027.55010)]. In the present work, the authors set up a motivic generalization of Robinson's obstruction theory. The main result is then verified by proving that the relevant trigraded motivic \(\Gamma\)-cohomology groups vanish for \(\roman{KGL}\) and \(\roman{ML}\).