Idempotents and Landweber exactness in brave new algebra (Q5947972)

Results from \textit{A. D. Elmendorf, I. Kriz, M. A. Mandell}, and \textit{J. P. May} [Rings, modules, and algebras in stable homotopy theory, Math. Surv. Monogr. 47 (1997; Zbl 0894.55001)] are used to show how idempotents in homotopy groups give rise to splittings of homotopy categories of modules over commutative \(S\)-algebras. In particular, suppose that \(R\) is a cell commutative \(S\)-algebra and that there are mutually orthogonal idempotents \(e_i\) in \(\pi_*(R)\) such that \(1=e_1 + \cdots + e_n\). Then there are cell commutative \(R\)-algebras \(e_iR\) such that there is a Quillen equivalence between the category of \(R\)-modules and the product of the categories of \(e_iR\)-modules. The main examples come from equivariant algebraic topology: the splittings of homology and cohomology theories of \textit{L. G. Lewis, J. P. May}, and \textit{M. Steinberger} [Equivariant stable homotopy theory, with contributions by J. E. McClure, Lect. Notes Math. 1213 (1986; Zbl 0611.55001)] and \textit{J. P. May} [Equivariant homotopy and cohomology theory, Reg. Conf. Ser. Math. 91 (1996; Zbl 0890.55001)] are seen to arise from splittings of the corresponding stable categories. A version of the Landweber exact functor theorem is given which applies to \(MU\)-modules. The author ends with the remark that, if \(BP\) is a commutative \(S\)-algebra, the analogous theorem for \(BP\)-modules will hold.