2009/03/16 by J. P. May, May, J. P.
Mathematics · #Algebraic Topology (math.AT) #FOS: Mathematics #math.AT
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.0903.2819
26 pages. To appear in Geometry and Topology (Banff Conference Proceedings)
arxiv created 2009/03/16 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01
Infinite loop space theory, both additive and multiplicative, arose largely from two basic motivations. One was to solve calculational questions in geometric topology. The other was to better understand algebraic K-theory. The Adams conjecture is intrinsic to the first motivation, and Quillen's proof of that led directly to his original, calculationally accessible, definition of algebraic K-theory. In turn, the infinite loop understanding of algebraic K-theory feeds back into the calculational questions in geometric topology. For example, use of infinite loop space theory leads to a method for determining the characteristic classes for topological bundles (at odd primes) in terms of the cohomology of finite groups. We explain just a little about how all that works, focusing on the central role played by E infinity ring spaces.