Strictly commutative complex orientation theory

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Abstract: For a multiplicative cohomology theory E, complex orientations are in bijective correspondence with multiplicative natural transformations to E from complex bordism cohomology MU. If E is represented by a spectrum with a highly structured multiplication, we give an iterative process for lifting an orientation MU -> E to a map respecting this extra structure, based on work of Arone-Lesh. The space of strictly commutative orientations is the limit of an inverse tower of spaces parametrizing partial lifts; stage 1 corresponds to ordinary complex orientations, and lifting from stage (m-1) to stage m is governed by the existence of a orientation for a family of E-modules over a fixed base space F_m. When E is p-local, we can say more. We find that this tower only changes when m is a power of p, and if E is E(n)-local the tower is constant after stage p^n. Moreover, if the coefficient ring E^* is p-torsion free, the ability to lift from stage 1 to stage p is equivalent to a condition on the associated formal group law that was shown necessary by Ando.


Let $E$ be a multiplicative cohomology theory. A complex orientation on $E$ corresponds to a multiplicative natural transformation from complex bordism $MU$ to $E$. When the spectrum representing $E$ has a highly structured multiplication, the authors construct a process to lift this to an orientation $MU\to E$. The main result is as follows: Theorem. Let $\mathbb{S}$ be the sphere spectrum. There is a fibration \[ \mathbb{S}\to MX_{1}\to MX_{2}\to MX_{3}\to\cdots\to MU \] such that \begin{itemize} \item[1.] The map $\text{hocolim} MX_{i}\to MU$ is an equivalence. \item[2.] There is a canonical complex orientation of $MX_{1}$ such that, for any $E_{\infty}$ ring spectrum $E$, the space $\text{Map}_{E_{\infty}}(MX_{1},E)$ is homotopy equivalent to the space of ordinary complex orientations of $E$. \item[3.] There is a suitable compatibility among the spaces above. \item[4.] The map $MX_{m-1}\to MX_{m}$ is a rational equivalence if $m>1$, a $p$-local equivalence if $m$ is not a power of $p$, and a $K(n)$-local equivalence if $m>p^{n}$. \end{itemize}



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