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Algebraic homotopy theory, groups, and K-theory Jardine, J. F.

Abstract

Let Mk be the category of algebras over a unique factorization domain k, and let ind-Affk denote the category of pro-representable functors from Mk to the category E of sets. It is shown that ind-Affk is a closed model category in such a way that its associated homotopy category Ho(ind-Affk) is equivalent to the homotopy category Ho(S) which comes from the category S of simplicial sets. The equivalence is induced by functors Sk: ind-Affk -> S and Rk: S-> ind-Affk. In an effort to determine what is measured by the homotopy groups πi(X) := πi. (Sk X) of X in ind-Affk in the case where k is an algebraically closed field, some homotopy groups of affine reduced algebraic groups G over k are computed. It is shown that, if G is connected, then π₀ (G) = * if and only if the group G(k) of k-rational points of G is generated by unipotents. A fibration theory is developed for homomorphisms of algebraic groups which are surjective on rational points which allows the computation of the homotopy groups of any connected algebraic group G in terms of the homotopy groups of the universal covering groups of the simple algebraic subgroups of the associated semi-simple group G/R(G), where R(G) is the solvable radical of G. The homotopy groups of simple Chevalley groups over almost all fields k are studied. It is shown that the homotopy groups of the special linear groups S1n and of the symplectic groups Sp2m converge, respectively, to the K-theory and ₋₁L-theory of the underlying field k. It is shown that there are isomorphisms π₁ (S1n ) = H₂(S1n (k);Z) = K₂(k) for n ≥ 3 and almost all fields k, and π₁ (Sp₂m ) = H₂(Sp₂m) (k);Z) = ₋₁L₂(k) for m ≥ 1 and almost all fields k of characteristic ≠ 2, where Z denotes the ring of integers. It is also shown that π₁(Sp₂m) = H₂(Sp2m(k);Z) = K₂ (k) if k is algebraically closed of arbitrary characteristic. A spectral sequence for the homology of the classifying space of a simplicial group is used for all of these calculations.

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