When are two commutative C\(^*\)-algebras stably homotopy equivalent? (Q5926365)

Let \(X\) be a finite \(CW\) complex with a base point and let \(\mathcal K\) and \(C_0(X)\) be the \(C^*\)-algebras of compact operators and of continuous functions on \(X\) vanishing at the base point respectively. It is shown that there is a close connection between the homotopy theory of stabilized commutative \(C^*\)-algebras and the theory of module spectra over the connective \(K\)-theory spectrum \(bu\). If \(\mathcal B\) is the category of \(bu\)-modules of the form \(bu\land X\) and homotopy classes of \(bu\)-module maps, then the category of \(C^*\)-algebras of the form \(C_0(X)\otimes{\mathcal K}\) and homotopy classes of \(*\)-homomorphisms is equivalent to the opposite category of \(\mathcal B\). For two based finite \(CW\) complexes \(X\) and \(Y\) a condition is given, under which an isomorphism between \(bu_*(X)\) and \(bu_*(Y)\) as \(bu_*\)-modules implies homotopy equivalence of \(C_0(X)\otimes{\mathcal K}\) and \(C_0(Y)\otimes{\mathcal K}\) and it is shown that this implication fails in general.