Waldhausen \(K\)-theory of spaces via comodules (Q908092)

Let \(X\) be a connected simplicial set. The authors describe the Waldhausen \(K\)-theory \(A(X)\) in terms of the \(K\)-theory of comodules over \(X_+\) (where \(X_+\) denotes the union of \(X\) with a disjoint base point), localised at a twisted homology theory. By a process of stabilisation, they also describe \(A(X)\) in terms of stable comodules over the suspension specturm \(\Sigma^\infty X_+\). These descriptions are obtained from an adjunction between the categories of retractive spaces over \(X\) and of comodules over \(X_+\), which becomes a Quillen equivalence after localisation with respect to the twisted homology theory. The authors also relate their descriptions to a description in terms of modules over \(\Sigma^\infty(\Omega X)_+\), where \(\Omega X\) is the loop space of \(X\). In the case that \(X\) is simply connected, they obtain results valid without homology localisation. If \(X\) is a simplicial monoid, then the authors obtain a model category structure on the category of comodule algebras over \(\Sigma^\infty X_+\), leading to a rigorous notion of homotopy coinvariants for the coaction of \(\Sigma^\infty X_+\) on a comodule algebra of this kind.