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Brauer groups and Galois cohomology of commutative ring spectra

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 June 2021

David Gepner
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science, The University of Illinois at Chicago, 851 S. Morgan Street, 322 Science and Engineering Offices (M/C 249), Chicago, IL60607, USAgepner@uic.edu
Tyler Lawson
Affiliation:
School of Mathematics, The University of Minnesota, 206 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN55455, USAtlawson@math.umn.edu
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Abstract

In this paper we develop methods for classifying Baker, Richter, and Szymik's Azumaya algebras over a commutative ring spectrum, especially in the largely inaccessible case where the ring is nonconnective. We give obstruction-theoretic tools, constructing and classifying these algebras and their automorphisms with Goerss–Hopkins obstruction theory, and give descent-theoretic tools, applying Lurie's work on $\infty$-categories to show that a finite Galois extension of rings in the sense of Rognes becomes a homotopy fixed-point equivalence on Brauer spaces. For even-periodic ring spectra $E$, we find that the ‘algebraic’ Azumaya algebras whose coefficient ring is projective are governed by the Brauer–Wall group of $\pi _0(E)$, recovering a result of Baker, Richter, and Szymik. This allows us to calculate many examples. For example, we find that the algebraic Azumaya algebras over Lubin–Tate spectra have either four or two Morita equivalence classes, depending on whether the prime is odd or even, that all algebraic Azumaya algebras over the complex K-theory spectrum $KU$ are Morita trivial, and that the group of the Morita classes of algebraic Azumaya algebras over the localization $KU[1/2]$ is $\mathbb {Z}/8\times \mathbb {Z}/2$. Using our descent results and an obstruction theory spectral sequence, we also study Azumaya algebras over the real K-theory spectrum $KO$ which become Morita-trivial $KU$-algebras. We show that there exist exactly two Morita equivalence classes of these. The nontrivial Morita equivalence class is realized by an ‘exotic’ $KO$-algebra with the same coefficient ring as $\mathrm {End}_{KO}(KU)$. This requires a careful analysis of what happens in the homotopy fixed-point spectral sequence for the Picard space of $KU$, previously studied by Mathew and Stojanoska.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2021

1. Introduction

The Brauer group of a field $F$, classifying central simple algebras over $F$, plays a critical role in class field theory. The definition was generalized by Auslander and Goldman [Reference Auslander and GoldmanAG60] to the case of a commutative ring: the Brauer group of $R$ consists of Morita equivalence classes of Azumaya algebras over $R$.

In recent years these concepts have been extended to derived algebraic geometry [Reference ToënToë12], to homotopy theory [Reference Baker, Richter and SzymikBRS12], to more general categorical frameworks [Reference JohnsonJoh14], and generalized to the Morita theory of $E_n$-algebras [Reference HaugsengHau17]. Associated to a commutative ring spectrum $R$, there is a category of Azumaya algebras over $R$ and a Brauer space $\operatorname {Br}(R)$ classifying Morita equivalence classes of such $R$. Joint work of Antieau with the first author gave an in-depth study of these Brauer spaces when $R$ is connective [Reference Antieau and GepnerAG14], and in particular found that the set of Morita equivalence classes could be calculated cohomologically.

There are two important tools developed in [Reference Antieau and GepnerAG14] which make this cohomological identification possible. First, Azumaya algebras $A$ over connective $R$ are étale-locally trivial: there exist enough ‘$\pi _*$-étale’ maps $R \to S$ such that $S \otimes _R A$ is Morita trivial. Second, generators descend: an $R$-linear category which is étale-locally a category of modules over an Azumaya algebra is a category of modules over a global Azumaya algebra. The goal of this paper is to calculate the Brauer group of nonconnective ring spectra $R$, and these tools are absent in the case when $R$ is nonconnective. Moreover, the first outright fails: there exist Azumaya algebras which are not $\pi _*$-étale-locally trivial.

This should not necessarily be surprising: detecting étale extensions on the level of $\pi _*$ is fundamentally not adequate for nonconnective ring spectra. For example, the homotopy pullback of the diagram of Eilenberg–Mac Lane spectra

has a map $\mathbb {C}[x,y] \to R$ which is not $\pi _*$-étale. On the level of module categories, however, $R$-modules are equivalent to $\mathbb {C}[x,y]$-modules supported away from the origin, and so this gives an ‘affine’ but nonconnective model for the open immersion $\mathbb {A}^{2} \setminus \{0\} \hookrightarrow \mathbb {A}^{2}$ [Reference LurieLur11a, 2.4.4]. In this and other quasi-affine cases, the coefficient ring does not exhibit all of the useful properties of this map [Reference MathewMat17, § 8].

Our first tool for calculations will be obstruction theory. We show that the homotopy category of those Azumaya algebras over $R$ whose underlying graded coefficient ring is a projective module over $\pi _* R$ form a category equivalent to the category of Azumaya $\pi _* R$-algebras in the graded sense (a result of Baker, Richter, and Szymik [Reference Baker, Richter and SzymikBRS12]). Moreover, we show that there exist natural exact sequences that calculate the homotopy groups of the space of automorphisms of such an Azumaya algebra. For example, the space of automorphisms of the matrix algebra $M_n(R)$ is an extension of a discrete group of ‘outer automorphisms’ by a group which might be called ${\rm PGL}_n(R)$. With an eye towards future applications, we have developed our obstruction theory so that one may extend from a $\mathbb {Z}$-grading to general families $\Gamma$ of elements of the Picard groupoid of $R$.

Our second tool for calculations will be descent theory. For a Galois extension of ring spectra $R \to S$ with Galois group $G$ in the sense of Rognes [Reference RognesRog08] we develop descent-theoretic methods for lifting Azumaya algebras and Morita equivalences from $S$ to $R$. In particular, there are maps $B\operatorname {Pic}(S)^{hG} \to \operatorname {Br}(S)^{hG} \xrightarrow {\sim } \operatorname {Br}(R)$. The first map is an equivalence above degree $0$ and an injection on $\pi _0$, with image consisting of those Morita equivalence classes of $R$-algebras which become Morita trivial $S$-algebras. This allows us to use calculations with the homotopy fixed-point spectrum of the Picard spectrum $\operatorname {\mathfrak {pic}}(S)$ from [Reference Mathew and StojanoskaMS16] to detect interesting Brauer classes, and employ an obstruction theory for cosimplicial spaces due to Bousfield [Reference BousfieldBou89] to lift Azumaya algebras. In order to carry this out we need to connect the space of autoequivalences of a module to the space of autoequivalences of its endomorphism algebra. We will make heavy use of the machinery of $\infty$-categories to make this possible.

In § 7 we will collect these together and apply them to calculations. For even-periodic ring spectra $E$, we find that the algebraic Azumaya algebras (as defined and studied in § 3.3) are governed by the Brauer–Wall group [Reference SmallSma71] and are generated by three phenomena: ordinary Azumaya algebras over $\pi _0 E$, $\mathbb {Z}/2$-graded ‘quaternion’ algebras over $E$, and (if $2$ is invertible) associated $1$-periodic ring spectra.

Theorem 1.1 Suppose that $E$ is even-periodic and that $\pi _0 E$ possesses no idempotents. Then the subgroup of the Brauer group of $E$ generated by algebraic Azumaya algebras is contained in a short exact sequence

\[ 0 \to \operatorname{Br}(\pi_0 E) \to \pi_0 \operatorname{Br}(E)^{\rm alg} \to Q_2(\pi_0 E) \to 0, \]

where the subgroup is generated by algebraic Azumaya algebras with homotopy concentrated in even degrees. In $Q_2(\pi _0 E)$, the elements of $H^{1}_{et}(\pi _0 E, \mathbb {Z}/2)$ detect the algebras of Example 7.1, while the map to $\mathbb {Z}/2$ detects any of the ‘half-quaternion’ algebras of Example 7.2.

In particular, all algebraic Azumaya algebras over $KU$ are Morita trivial, and the algebraic Azumaya algebras over Lubin–Tate spectra have either four or two Morita equivalence classes, depending on whether $2$ is invertible or not.

Finally, our most difficult calculation studies Azumaya $KO$-algebras which become Morita-trivial $KU$-algebras; we show that there exist exactly two Morita equivalence classes of these. The nontrivial Morita equivalence class is realized by an ‘exotic’ $KO$-algebra lifting $M_2(KU)$ which we construct by finding a path through an obstruction theory spectral sequence.

Theorem 1.2 There exists a unique equivalence class of quaternion algebra $Q$ over $KO$ such that

  • $KU \otimes _{KO} Q \simeq M_2(KU)$, and

  • there is no $KO$-module $M$ such that $Q \not \simeq \operatorname {End}_{KO}(M)$ as $KO$-algebras.

This algebra has homotopy groups isomorphic, as a $KO_*$-algebra, to the homotopy groups of a twisted group algebra:

\[ \pi_* Q \cong \pi_* KU\langle C_2 \rangle \cong \pi_* \operatorname{End}_{KO} KU. \]

The proof of this result requires a careful analysis of what happens near the bottom of the homotopy fixed-point spectral sequence for $B\operatorname {Pic}(KU)^{hC_2}$.

2. Homological algebra

In this section we will recall some important results on categories of graded objects, their algebras, and their homological algebra.

2.1 Graded objects

In applications it is often convenient to consider gradings by objects more general than the integers, or even arbitrary abelian groups. This is because abstract stable homotopy theories (by which, following [Reference MathewMat16, 2.1], we mean presentable stable symmetric monoidal $\infty$-categories in which the tensor product commutes with colimits in each variable) are naturally ‘graded’ by their subcategories of invertible objects, their so-called Picard $\infty$-groupoids. Equivalence classes of objects in the Picard $\infty$-groupoid is the Picard groupoid, an object which naturally grades the homotopy category of the homotopy theory (that is, the latter is the $\infty$-category, and the former is its homotopy category). For instance, while the Picard groupoid of the stable homotopy category has an object $S^{n}$ for each integer $n\in \mathbb {Z}$, with automorphisms $\mathbb {Z}^{\times }$, the $K(n)$-local homotopy categories have much larger Picard groupoids, including families of ‘exotic spheres’.

Definition 2.1 A Picard groupoid $\Gamma$ is a symmetric monoidal groupoid such that the monoidal operation makes $\pi _0(\Gamma )$ into a group. A homomorphism of Picard groupoids is a symmetric monoidal functor $\Gamma \to \Gamma '$.

Given a symmetric monoidal category $\mathcal {C}$, the Picard groupoid $\operatorname {Pic}(\mathcal {C})$ is the groupoid of objects in $\mathcal {C}$ which have an inverse under the monoidal product, with maps being isomorphisms between them.

We will abusively use the symbol $+$ to denote the symmetric monoidal structure on a Picard groupoid $\Gamma$, and write $0$ for the unit object.

Example 2.2 Suppose that $A$ and $G$ are abelian groups. We can then define a groupoid $\Gamma$ with object set $A$ by declaring that $\operatorname {Hom}_\Gamma (a,b)$ is the monoid $G$ if $a=b$ and empty otherwise. This category has a natural monoidal structure: we define the monoidal operation $+$ on objects to be the abelian group structure of $A$, and on morphisms to be the abelian group structure of $G$. As a category, $\Gamma = A \times BG$. The monoidal structure is split, in the sense that it is the product of the abelian group structures on $A$ and $BG$.

Now suppose that $\varepsilon$ is a pairing $A \times A \to G$. Then, for any $a$ and $b$, $\varepsilon _{a,b} \in G = \operatorname {Aut}(a+b)$ can be interpreted as an isomorphism $\tau _{a,b}\colon \thinspace a + b \to b + a$, natural in $a$ and $b$. This symmetry isomorphism makes $\Gamma$ into a braided monoidal category precisely if $\varepsilon$ is bilinear, and it makes $\Gamma$ into a Picard groupoid precisely if it is bilinear and satisfies $\varepsilon _{a,b} \varepsilon _{b,a} = 1$ for all $a,b \in A$. In particular, the splitting of $A \times BG$ usually does not respect the symmetry isomorphism.

Definition 2.3 For an ordinary category $\mathcal {C}$, we define the category $\mathcal {C}_\Gamma$ of $\Gamma$-graded objects to be the category of contravariant functors $M_\star \colon \thinspace \Gamma^\mathrm {op} \to \mathcal {C}$, and for $\gamma \in \Gamma$ we write $M_\gamma$ for the image.

Suppose $\mathcal {C}$ is cocomplete and symmetric monoidal under an operation $\otimes$ with unit $\mathbb {I}$. If $\otimes$ preserves colimits in each variable separately, then $\mathcal {C}_\Gamma$ has a symmetric monoidal closed structure given by the Day convolution product. Specifically, its values are given by

\[ (M \otimes N)_\gamma = {\operatorname{colim}}_{\alpha + \beta \to \gamma} M_\alpha \otimes N_\beta, \]

and the unit is given by the functor $\gamma \mapsto \coprod _{\operatorname {Hom}(\gamma , 0)} \mathbb {I}$. Making choices of representatives for all isomorphism classes $[\gamma ] \in \pi _0 \Gamma$ gives rise to a noncanonical isomorphism

\[ (M \otimes N)_{\gamma} \cong \coprod_{\{([\alpha], [\beta])\, | \, \alpha + \beta \cong \gamma\}} M_\alpha \otimes_{\operatorname{Aut}_\Gamma(0)} N_\beta. \]

Definition 2.4 A $\Gamma$-graded commutative ring ${{R_\star }}$ is a commutative monoid object in $\operatorname {Ab}_\Gamma$. The unit of ${{R_\star }}$ is the induced map $\mathbb {Z}[\operatorname {Aut}_\Gamma (0)] \to R_0$.

Proposition 2.5 The category $\operatorname {Mod}_{{{R_\star }}}$ of $\Gamma$-graded ${{R_\star }}$-modules is a symmetric monoidal closed abelian category, with tensor product $\otimes _{{{R_\star }}}$, internal $\operatorname {Hom}$ objects $F_{{{R_\star }}}(-,-)$, and arbitrary products and coproducts which are exact.

Example 2.6 We now return to the situation of Example 2.2, where $\Gamma = A \times BG$ has a symmetric monoidal structure determined by a bilinear pairing $\varepsilon$ satisfying $\varepsilon _{a,b} \varepsilon _{b,a} = 1$.

A $\Gamma$-graded commutative ring then determines an $A$-indexed collection $R_\gamma$ of abelian groups and multiplication maps $R_\alpha \otimes R_\beta \to R_{\alpha +\beta }$, as well as a homomorphism $i\colon \thinspace G \to R_0^{\times }$. These are required to satisfy associativity and unitality conditions. In fact, the homomorphism $i$ determines the effect of the functor $R$ on morphisms: for any $g \in G$, the isomorphism $g\colon \thinspace \alpha \to \alpha$ in $\Gamma$ is sent to the multiplication-by-$i(g)$ map $R_\alpha \to R_\alpha$.

The commutativity condition takes the form $x \cdot y = \varepsilon _{\alpha ,\beta } (y \cdot x)$ for $x \in R_\alpha$, $y \in R_\beta$. The category of graded $R$-modules then inherits a symmetric monoidal structure using $\varepsilon$ to describe a ‘Koszul sign convention’ for the tensor product. We thus recover the framework of [Reference Childs, Garfinkel and OrzechCGO73, Reference IkaiIka99] without the assumption that $R$ is concentrated in degree $0$.

Example 2.7 Let $\Gamma = \mathbb {Z} \times B\{\pm 1\}$, with symmetric monoidal structure determined by the bilinear pairing $\varepsilon _{n,m} = (-1)^{nm}$. We can construct a $\Gamma$-graded commutative ring $\underline{\mathbb{Z}}$ by defining $\underline{\mathbb{Z}}_0 = \mathbb {Z}$ as rings, letting $\underline{\mathbb{Z}}_n = 0$ for $n \neq 0$, and setting the map $i\colon \thinspace \{\pm 1\} \to \underline{\mathbb{Z}}_0^{\times }$ to be the natural inclusion. The category of graded $\underline{\mathbb{Z}}$-modules is then equivalent to the category of $\mathbb {Z}$-graded abelian groups, with symmetric monoidal structure being the standard graded tensor product using the Koszul sign convention.

For $\gamma \in \Gamma$, write $\mathbb {Z}^{\gamma }$ for the $\Gamma$-graded abelian group obtained from the $\Gamma$-graded set $\operatorname {Hom}_\Gamma (-,\gamma )$ by taking the free group levelwise. We have natural isomorphisms $\mathbb {Z}^{\alpha } \otimes \mathbb {Z}^{\beta } \to \mathbb {Z}^{\alpha + \beta }$ that determine a functor $\Gamma \to \operatorname {Pic}(\operatorname {Ab}_\Gamma )$. Let the suspension operator $\Sigma ^{\gamma }$ be the tensor product with $\mathbb {Z}^{\gamma }$, an automorphism of the category of ${{R_\star }}$-modules. There is an isomorphism $M_\delta \cong (\Sigma ^{\gamma } M)_{\gamma + \delta }$, and this extends to isomorphisms

\[ M_\gamma \cong \operatorname{Hom}_{{{R_\star}}}(\Sigma^{\gamma} {{R_\star}}, M_\star). \]

Definition 2.8 A finite $\Gamma$-graded set is a functor $I:\Gamma ^{\mathrm {op}}\to \mathrm {Set}$ such that

\[ I\cong\coprod_{i=1}^{n} \operatorname{Hom}_\Gamma(-,\gamma_i) \]

is isomorphic to a finite coproduct of representable functors $\operatorname {Hom}_\Gamma (-,\gamma _i)$, $1\leq i\leq n$. We write $|I|\cong \{1,\ldots ,n\}$ for the underlying finite set of $I$.

Definition 2.9 Given a finite $\Gamma$-graded set $I$, a free $\Gamma$-graded ${{R_\star }}$-module on $I$, written ${{R^{I}_\star }}$, is any $\Gamma$-graded ${{R_\star }}$-module which is isomorphic to the tensor product of ${{R_\star }}$ with the free $\Gamma$-graded abelian group on $I$.

Definition 2.10 Suppose ${A_\star }$ is an algebra in the category $\operatorname {Mod}_{{{R_\star }}}$. We call a right ${A_\star }$-module $P_\star$ a graded generator if $\{\Sigma ^{\gamma } P_\star \}_{\gamma \in \Gamma }$ is a set of compact projective generators of $\operatorname {Mod}_{{A_\star }}$.

For example, ${{R_\star }}$ is always a graded generator of $\operatorname {Mod}_{{{R_\star }}}$. It is unlikely to be a generator of $\operatorname {Mod}_{{{R_\star }}}$ in the ordinary sense unless the $\Gamma$-graded ring ${{R_\star }}$ contains units in $R_\gamma$ for each $\gamma \in \Gamma$.

Let $\theta \colon \thinspace \Gamma \to \Gamma '$ be a homomorphism of Picard groupoids and let ${{R_\star }}$ be a $\Gamma$-graded commutative ring. The pullback functor $\theta ^{*}$ from $\Gamma '$-graded modules to $\Gamma$-graded modules has a left adjoint $\theta _!$, given by left Kan extension along $\theta$.

Proposition 2.11 Suppose $\mathcal {C}$ is cocomplete and symmetric monoidal, and that the symmetric monoidal structure preserves colimits in each variable. Then the functor $\theta _!\colon \thinspace \mathcal {C}_\Gamma \to \mathcal {C}_\Gamma '$ is symmetric monoidal.

Proof. This is a special case of left Kan extension being symmetric monoidal for the Day convolution product, but we give a brief indication of the proof below. For $M$, $N$ objects of $\mathcal {C}_\Gamma$, we consider the following square.

The object $\theta _! (M \otimes N)$ is obtained by starting with $M \otimes N\colon \thinspace \Gamma ^\mathrm {op} \times \Gamma ^\mathrm {op} \to \mathcal {C}$ and taking Kan extension along the two functors in the upper-right portion of the square. Because the tensor product preserves colimits in each variable, the composite Kan extension of $M \otimes N$ along the lower-left portion of the square is canonically isomorphic to $(\theta _! M) \otimes (\theta _! N)$. The natural isomorphism making the square commute determines a natural isomorphism between these two composites. Similar diagrams show that when $\theta$ preserves the unit and is compatible with the associativity, symmetry, and unit isomorphisms, $\theta _!$ does the same.

In particular, the ring ${{R_\star }}$ gives rise to a $\Gamma '$-graded ring $(\theta _! R)_\star$ defined by the formula

\[ (\theta_! R)_{\gamma'}=\operatorname{colim}_{\gamma' \to \theta (\gamma)} R_\gamma. \]

Moreover, an ${{R_\star }}$-module $M_\star$ determines an $(\theta _! R)_\star$-module $(\theta _! M)_\star$.

We also have the notion of a $\theta$-graded ring map ${{R_\star }}\to {{R'_\star }}$, which is just a $\Gamma '$-graded ring map $\theta _! {{R_\star }}\to {{R'_\star }}$. Given a $\theta$-graded ring map ${{R_\star }}\to {{R'_\star }}$, we obtain a functor

\[ (-)\otimes_{{{R_\star}}} {{R'_\star}}\colon\thinspace \operatorname{Mod}_{{R_\star}}\longrightarrow\operatorname{Mod}_{{{R'_\star}}} \]

which sends the ${{R_\star }}$-module $M_\star$ to the ${{R'_\star }}$-module $M'_\star :=M_\star \otimes _{{{R_\star }}} {{R'_\star }}$ defined by

\[ M'=(\theta_! M)_\star\otimes_{(\theta_! R)_\star} {{R'_\star}}. \]

Here the tensor product on the right is the usual base-change along a $\Gamma '$-graded ring map.

Proposition 2.12 For a map $\theta \colon \thinspace \Gamma \to \Gamma '$ and a $\theta$-graded map ${{R_\star }} \to {{R'_\star }}$, the functor $(-)\otimes _{{{R_\star }}} {{R'_\star }}\colon \thinspace \operatorname {Mod}_{{R_\star }}\longrightarrow \operatorname {Mod}_{{{R'_\star }}}$ is symmetric monoidal. In particular, it extends to a functor $(-)\otimes _{{{R_\star }}} {{R'_\star }}\colon \thinspace \operatorname {Alg}_{{{R_\star }}}\longrightarrow \operatorname {Alg}_{{{R'_\star }}}$ between categories of algebra objects.

As in Definition 2.1, if $\mathcal {A}$ is a symmetric monoidal category, we write $\operatorname {Pic}(\mathcal {A})$ for the maximal subgroupoid of $\mathcal {A}$ and refer to $\operatorname {Pic}(\mathcal {A})$ as the Picard groupoid of $\mathcal {A}$.

Proposition 2.13 Suppose $\mathcal {A}$ is an additive symmetric monoidal category with unit $\mathbb {I}$ such that the monoidal product is additive in each variable, and that we have a symmetric monoidal functor $\Gamma \to \operatorname {Pic}(\mathcal {A})$ given by $\gamma \mapsto A^{\gamma }$. Then there is a canonical additive, lax symmetric monoidal functor $\phi \colon \thinspace \mathcal {A} \to \operatorname {Ab}_\Gamma$, sending $M$ to the object $M_\star$ with

\[ M_\gamma = \operatorname{Hom}(A^{\gamma}, M). \]

In particular, $\mathbb {I}_\star$ is a $\Gamma$-graded commutative ring, and $\phi$ lifts to the category of $\mathbb {I}_\star$-modules.

Proof. Since $\mathcal {A}$ is additive, the set $\operatorname {Hom}(M,N)$ of maps from $M$ to $N$ admits an abelian group structure such that composition is bilinear. This determines the functor $\phi$. It remains to show that $\phi$ is lax symmetric monoidal.

The lax monoidal structure map sends a pair $(A^{\alpha } \to M)$ in $M_\alpha$ and $(A^{\beta } \to N)$ in $N_\beta$ to the composite determined by

\[ A^{\alpha + \beta} \xleftarrow{\sim} A^{\alpha} \otimes A^{\beta} \to M \otimes N, \]

an element in $(M \otimes N)_{\alpha + \beta }$. The natural associativity and commutativity diagrams

(together with a similar unitality diagram) reduce the proof that $\phi$ is a lax symmetric monoidal functor to the fact that $\Gamma \to \operatorname {Pic}(\mathcal {A})$ is symmetric monoidal.

Definition 2.14 Suppose $\mathcal {A}$ is an additive symmetric monoidal category such that the monoidal product is additive in each variable, and that we have a symmetric monoidal functor $\Gamma \to \operatorname {Pic}(\mathcal {A})$ given by $\gamma \mapsto A^{\gamma }$. The shift operator $\Sigma ^{\gamma }\colon \thinspace \mathcal {A} \to \mathcal {A}$ is defined by

\[ \Sigma^{\gamma} M = A^{\gamma} \otimes M. \]

We then define

\[ \operatorname{Hom}(M,N)_\gamma:=\operatorname{Hom}(\Sigma^{\gamma} M,N). \]

The notation is compatible with the shift notation for $\Gamma$-graded abelian groups, because there is a natural isomorphism $(\Sigma ^{\gamma } M)_\star \cong \Sigma ^{\gamma } (M_\star )$.

Proposition 2.15 In the situation of the previous definition, the $\Gamma$-graded abelian groups $\operatorname {Hom}(-,-)_\star$ make $\mathcal {A}$ into a category enriched in $\mathbb {I}_\star$-modules. Moreover, this enrichment is compatible with the symmetric monoidal structure.

Proof. There are canonical isomorphisms $\Sigma ^{\alpha +\beta } L \cong \Sigma ^{\alpha } \Sigma ^{\beta } L$. Using this, we may define composition of graded maps by

\begin{align*} \operatorname{Hom}(\Sigma^{\alpha} M,N) \otimes \operatorname{Hom}(\Sigma^{\beta} L,M) &\longrightarrow \operatorname{Hom}(\Sigma^{\alpha} M,N) \otimes \operatorname{Hom}(\Sigma^{\alpha} \Sigma^{\beta} L,\Sigma^{\alpha} M)\\ &\longrightarrow\operatorname{Hom}(\Sigma^{\alpha + \beta} L,N). \end{align*}

This composition is associative, and the unit $\mathbb {I}_\star \to \operatorname {Hom}(M,M)_\star$ sends $f\colon \thinspace A^{\gamma } \to \mathbb {I}$ to $f \otimes \text {id}_M$.

Remark 2.16 In [Reference Hovey and StricklandHS99, § 14], a group cohomology element in $H^{3}(\pi _0 \Gamma ; \pi _1\Gamma )$ is described which obstructs our ability to make $\Gamma$-grading monoidal, in the sense of the functor $\otimes$ inducing an associative exterior product $\otimes \colon \thinspace \pi _\alpha (X) \otimes \pi _\beta (Y) \to \pi _{\alpha + \beta }(X \otimes Y)$. This group cohomology element is the unique $k$-invariant of the classifying space $B\Gamma$.

Since $\Gamma$ is assumed symmetric monoidal, $B\Gamma$ admits an infinite delooping and one can calculate that this $k$-invariant must vanish. This removes the obstruction to $\otimes$ inducing a monoidal pairing. However, this becomes replaced by a spectrum $k$-invariant

\[ \varepsilon \in H^{2}(H\pi_0 \Gamma, \pi_1\Gamma) \cong \operatorname{Hom}(\pi_0 \Gamma, \pi_1 \Gamma)[2] \]

which classifies the ‘sign rule’.

More specifically, the sign rule is equivalent to a bilinear pairing $\pi _0 \Gamma \times \pi _0 \Gamma \to \pi _1 \Gamma$ sending $\alpha , \beta \in \pi _0 \Gamma$ to the element $\varepsilon _{\alpha ,\beta } \in \pi _1\Gamma$. For $X$ and $Y$ with twist isomorphism $\tau \colon \thinspace X \otimes Y \to Y \otimes X$, $x \in \pi _\alpha X$, and $y \in \pi _\beta Y$, $\tau (x \otimes y) = \varepsilon _{\alpha ,\beta } (y \otimes x)$. (The elements $\varepsilon _{\alpha ,\beta }$ are not invariant under equivalence; the isomorphism with the group of $2$-torsion homomorphisms indicates that such Picard groupoids are determined completely by the $\varepsilon _{\alpha ,\alpha }$, together describing a $2$-torsion homomorphism $\pi _0 \Gamma \to \pi _1 \Gamma$ [Reference Johnson and OsornoJO12].)

Remark 2.17 One needs to be extremely cautious with isomorphisms between $\Gamma$-graded objects due to the sign rule. For example, a casual expression like

\[ F_{{{R_\star}}}(\Sigma^{\alpha} M_\star, \Sigma^{\beta} N_\star) = \Sigma^{\beta-\alpha} F_{{{R_\star}}}(M_\star, N_\star) \]

hides several implicit isomorphisms [Reference AdamsAda84].

2.2 Graded Azumaya algebras

We continue to fix a Picard groupoid $\Gamma$ and let ${{R_\star }}$ be a $\Gamma$-graded commutative ring with module category $\operatorname {Mod}_{{R_\star }}$.

Definition 2.18 If ${A_\star }$ is an algebra in $\operatorname {Mod}_{{R_\star }}$ with multiplication $\mu$, the opposite algebra ${A_\star}^\mathrm{\!\!\!op}$ is the algebra with the same underlying object and unit, but with multiplication $\mu \circ \tau$ precomposed with the twist isomorphism $\tau$.

Definition 2.19 A $\Gamma$-graded Azumaya ${{R_\star }}$-algebra is an associative algebra ${A_\star }$ in the category $\operatorname {Mod}_{{R_\star }}$ such that

  • the underlying module ${A_\star }$ is a graded projective generator of the category $\operatorname {Mod}_{{R_\star }}$, and

  • the natural map of algebras ${A_\star } \otimes _{{{R_\star }}} {A_\star}^\mathrm{\!\!\!op} \to \operatorname {End}_{{{R_\star }}}({A_\star })$, adjoint to the left action

    \[ ({A_\star} \otimes_{{{R_\star}}} {A_\star}^\mathrm{\!\!\!op}) \otimes_{{{R_\star}}} {A_\star} \xrightarrow{1 \otimes \tau} {A_\star} \otimes_{{{R_\star}}} {A_\star} \otimes_{{{R_\star}}} {A_\star}^\mathrm{\!\!\!op} \xrightarrow{\mu (1 \otimes \mu)} {A_\star}, \]
    is an isomorphism.

Proposition 2.20 If $P_\star$ is a graded generator of the category $\operatorname {Mod}_{{R_\star }}$, then the endomorphism algebra $\operatorname {End}_{{R_\star }}(P_\star )$ is an Azumaya ${{R_\star }}$-algebra.

Definition 2.21 Let $\operatorname {Cat}_{{R_\star }}$ be the $2$-category of Grothendieck abelian categories which are left-tensored over the monoidal category $\operatorname {Mod}_{{R_\star }}$: abelian categories $\mathcal {A}$ with a functor $\otimes \colon \thinspace \operatorname {Mod}_{{R_\star }} \times \mathcal {A} \to \mathcal {A}$ which preserves colimits in each variable, together with a natural isomorphism

\[ \mathbb{I} \otimes A \xrightarrow{\sim} A \]

and

\[ (M \otimes_{{{R_\star}}} N) \otimes A \xrightarrow{\sim} M \otimes (N \otimes A) \]

that respects the unit and pentagon axioms.

Morphisms in $\operatorname {Cat}_{{{R_\star }}}$ are $\operatorname {Mod}_{{R_\star }}$-linear: colimit-preserving functors $F\colon \thinspace \mathcal {A} \to \mathcal {A}'$, together with natural isomorphisms $M \otimes F(A) \to F(M \otimes A)$ that respect associativity and the unit isomorphisms. The $2$-morphisms in $\operatorname {Cat}_{{{R_\star }}}$ are natural isomorphisms of functors which commute with the tensor structure.

Remark 2.22 In particular, a left-tensored category $\mathcal {A}$ inherits suspension operators by defining $\Sigma ^{\gamma } M = (\Sigma ^{\gamma } R) \otimes M$ via the left action. This allows us to define graded function objects by

\[ F_\mathcal{A}(M, N)_\gamma = \operatorname{Hom}_\mathcal{A}(\Sigma^{\gamma} M, N). \]

This definition makes a $\operatorname {Mod}_{{{R_\star }}}$-linear category into a category enriched in ${{R_\star }}$-modules in such a way that $\operatorname {Mod}_{{{R_\star }}}$-linear functors preserve this enrichment.

Definition 2.23 The functor

\[ \operatorname{Mod}\colon\thinspace \operatorname{Alg}_{{R_\star}} \to \operatorname{Cat}_{{R_\star}} \]

sends an ${{R_\star }}$-algebra ${A_\star }$ to the category $\operatorname {Mod}_{{A_\star }}$ of right ${A_\star }$-modules in $\operatorname {Mod}_{{R_\star }}$, viewed as left-tensored over ${{R_\star }}$ via the tensor product in the underlying category $\operatorname {Mod}_{{R_\star }}$. A map ${A_\star } \to {{B_\star }}$ is sent to the functor $\operatorname {Mod}_{{A_\star }} \to \operatorname {Mod}_{{{B_\star }}}$ given by extension of scalars. (Composite ring maps have natural isomorphisms of composite functors which satisfy a coherence condition: $\operatorname {Mod}$ is a pseudofunctor.)

The following theorems have proofs which are essentially identical to their classical counterparts; for example, see [Reference IkaiIka99]. We will sketch the main points below.

Theorem 2.24 (Graded Eilenberg–Watts) The map sending an ${A_\star }$-${{B_\star }}$-bimodule $L_\star$ to the functor

\[ N_\star \mapsto N_\star \otimes_{{A_\star}} L_\star \]

determines a canonical equivalence of categories from the category ${}_{{A_\star }}\operatorname {Mod}_{{{B_\star }}}$ of ${A_\star }$-${{B_\star }}$-bimodules to the category of $\operatorname {Mod}_{{R_\star }}$-linear functors $\operatorname {Mod}_{{A_\star }} \to \operatorname {Mod}_{{{B_\star }}}$.

Proof. Functors of the form $(-) \otimes _{{A_\star }} L_\star$ are colimit-preserving and come with a natural associativity isomorphism

\[ M_\star{\otimes} _{{{R_\star}}} (N_\star{\otimes} _{{A_\star}} L_\star) \to (M_\star{\otimes} _{{{R_\star}}} N_\star) \otimes _{{A_\star}} L_\star, \]

making them maps $\operatorname {Mod}_{{A_\star }} \to \operatorname {Mod}_{{{B_\star }}}$ in $\operatorname {Cat}_{{R_\star }}$. This produces the desired functor. Conversely, any $\operatorname {Mod}_{{R_\star }}$-linear functor $G\colon \thinspace \operatorname {Mod}_{{A_\star }} \to \operatorname {Mod}_{{{B_\star }}}$ preserves the shift operators $\Sigma ^{\gamma }$ and extends to a $\Gamma$-graded functor. In particular, the action map

\[ {A_\star} \otimes_{{R_\star}}G(A_\star) \to G({A_\star} \otimes_{{R_\star}} {A_\star}) \to G({A_\star}) \]

induced by the multiplication is adjoint to a ring map ${A_\star } \to F_{{{B_\star }}}(G({A_\star }),G({A_\star }))$ making $G({A_\star })$ into an ${A_\star }$-${{B_\star }}$-bimodule. Given the canonical presentation

\[ N_\star{\cong} \operatorname{colim} \bigg( \bigoplus_{\Sigma^{\delta} {A_\star} \to \Sigma^{\gamma} {A_\star} \to N_\star} \Sigma^{\delta} {A_\star} \rightrightarrows \bigoplus_{\Sigma^{\gamma} {A_\star} \to N_\star} \Sigma^{\gamma} A_\star \bigg), \]

the two colimit-preserving functors $G$ and $(-)\otimes _{{A_\star }}G({A_\star })$ both give us naturally isomorphic presentations

\[ G(N_\star) \cong \operatorname{colim} \bigg( \bigoplus_{\Sigma^{\delta} {A_\star} \to \Sigma^{\gamma} {A_\star} \to N_\star} \Sigma^{\delta} G({A_\star}) \rightrightarrows \bigoplus_{{A_\star} \to N_\star} \Sigma^{\gamma} G(A_\star) \bigg). \]

Therefore, these two functors are canonically equivalent.

Theorem 2.25 (Graded Morita theory) Let ${A_\star }$ be an ${{R_\star }}$-algebra, and $\operatorname {Mod}_{{A_\star }}^{\mathrm {cg}}$ be the full subcategory of $\operatorname {Mod}_{{A_\star }}$ spanned by the graded generators $P_\star$. Then there are canonical pullback diagrams of categories

in which $\{{A_\star }\}$ and $\{\operatorname {Mod}_{{A_\star }}\}$ denote categories with a single object and (identity) arrow, viewed as subcategories of $\operatorname {Alg}_{{{R_\star }}}$ and $\operatorname {Cat}_{{{R_\star }}}$, respectively, and the middle vertical arrow is the functor which sends the graded generator $P_\star$ to the ${{R_\star }}$-algebra $\operatorname {End}_{{A_\star }}(P_\star )$. More generally, the fiber of $(\operatorname {Mod}^{\mathrm {\mathrm {cg}}}_{{A_\star }})^{\simeq } \to (\operatorname {Alg}_{{R_\star }})^{\simeq }$ over an algebra $B_\star$ is either empty or a principal torsor for the Picard groupoid $\operatorname {Pic}({}_{{A_\star }}\!\!\operatorname {Mod}_{{A_\star }})$ of the category of bimodules.

Proof. We will first identify $\operatorname {Mod}^{\mathrm {cg}}_{{A_\star }}$ with the right-hand fiber product. The pullback of the diagram $\operatorname {Alg}_{{{R_\star }}} \to \operatorname {Cat}_{{{R_\star }}} \leftarrow \{\operatorname {Mod}_{{A_\star }}\}$ is the category of pairs $({{B_\star }},\phi )$, where ${{B_\star }}$ is an ${{R_\star }}$-algebra and $\phi$ is an equivalence $\operatorname {Mod}_{{{B_\star }}} \to \operatorname {Mod}_{{A_\star }}$ in $\operatorname {Cat}_{{{R_\star }}}$. Such a functor is colimit-preserving, so by the graded Eilenberg–Watts theorem such a functor is represented by a certain type of pair $({{B_\star }}, P_\star )$. For this functor to be an equivalence, the graded generator ${{B_\star }}$ must map to a graded generator $P_\star$, and we must have ${{B_\star }} = \operatorname {End}_{{A_\star }}(P_\star )$. It remains to show that any such $P_\star$ determines an equivalence of categories.

Given a right ${A_\star }$-module $P_\star$ as in the statement, we obtain an ${{R_\star }}$-algebra ${{B_\star }} = F_{{A_\star }}(P_\star ,P_\star )$ and a functor $(-) \otimes _{{{B_\star }}} P_\star \colon \thinspace \operatorname {Mod}_{{{B_\star }}} \to \operatorname {Mod}_{{A_\star }}$. This functor is colimit-preserving. It also has a colimit-preserving right adjoint $F_{{A_\star }}(P_\star ,-)$ because $P_\star$ is finitely generated projective.

The unit map

\[ M_\star \to F_{{A_\star}}(P_\star, P_\star \otimes_{{{B_\star}}} M_\star) \]

is an isomorphism when $M_\star = \Sigma ^{\gamma } B_\star$. Both sides preserve colimits, and so applying this unit to a resolution $F_1 \to F_0 \to M_\star \to 0$ where $F_i$ are (graded) free modules shows that the unit is always an isomorphism.

The counit map

\[ F_{{A_\star}}(P_\star, N_\star) \otimes_{{{B_\star}}} P_\star \to N_\star \]

is an isomorphism when $N_\star = P_\star$. Because the set of objects $\Sigma ^{\gamma } P_\star$ is a set of generators there always exists a resolution $F_1 \to F_0 \to N_\star \to 0$ where $F_i$ are direct sums of shifts of $P_\star$. Again, as the functors in question preserve colimits, the counit is always an isomorphism.

We now consider the left-hand square. As pullbacks can be calculated iteratively, the pullback of a diagram ${{B_\star }} \to \operatorname {Alg}_{{{R_\star }}} \leftarrow (\operatorname {Mod}^{\mathrm {cg}}_{{A_\star }})^{\simeq }$ is equivalent to the pullback of the diagram $\{\operatorname {Mod}_{{{B_\star }}}\} \to \operatorname {Cat}_{{{R_\star }}} \leftarrow \{\operatorname {Mod}_{{A_\star }}\}$. If these categories are inequivalent as ${{R_\star }}$-linear categories, this is empty. If these categories are equivalent, then composition with any chosen equivalence makes the groupoid of ${{R_\star }}$-linear equivalences $\{\operatorname {Mod}_{{{B_\star }}}\} \to \{\operatorname {Mod}_{{A_\star }}\}$ isomorphic to the groupoid of self-equivalences of $\operatorname {Mod}_{{A_\star }}$: without making such a choice, it is a principal torsor for the groupoid of self-equivalences of $\operatorname {Mod}_{{A_\star }}$.

Equivalences of $\operatorname {Mod}_{{A_\star }}$ are given up to unique isomorphism by tensoring with an ${A_\star }$-bimodule $P_\star$, and there must exist an inverse given by tensoring with an ${A_\star }$-bimodule $Q_\star$. For these to be inverse to each other, we must have isomorphisms of ${A_\star }$-bimodules

\[ P_\star \otimes_{{A_\star}} Q_\star\, {\cong}\, Q_\star \otimes_{{A_\star}} P_\star\,{\cong}\, {A_\star}. \]

Such a $Q_\star$ exists if and only if $P_\star$ is an invertible element in the category of bimodules.

The following is a graded analogue of results of [Reference Rosenberg and ZelinskyRZ61], relating outer automorphisms to the Picard group. In the classical case of ungraded algebras over a field $k$, the Picard group of $k$-modules is trivial and so it reduces to the Noether–Skolem theorem: all automorphisms of an algebra are inner.

Corollary 2.26 (Graded Rosenberg–Zelinsky exact sequence) For an Azumaya ${{R_\star }}$-algebra ${A_\star }$, there is an exact sequence of groups

\[ 1 \to (R_0)^{{\times}} \to (A_0)^{{\times}} \to \operatorname{Aut}_{\operatorname{Alg}_{{{R_\star}}}}({A_\star}) \to \pi_0 \operatorname{Pic}(\operatorname{Mod}_{{R_\star}}). \]

The group $\operatorname {Pic}(\operatorname {Mod}_{{R_\star }})$ acts on the set of isomorphism classes of compact generators of $\operatorname {Mod}_{{A_\star }}$ with quotient the set of isomorphism classes of Azumaya ${{R_\star }}$-algebras ${{B_\star }}$ such that $\operatorname {Mod}_{{A_\star }} \simeq \operatorname {Mod}_{{{B_\star }}}$. The stabilizer of ${A_\star }$, viewed as a right ${A_\star }$-module, is the image of the outer automorphism group in $\operatorname {Pic}(\operatorname {Mod}_{{R_\star }})$.

Proof. We consider the pullback diagram of categories

obtained from graded Morita theory. This is a homotopy pullback diagram of groupoids, and so we may take the nerve and obtain a long exact sequence in homotopy groups at the basepoint ${A_\star }$ of $\operatorname {Pic}$. Put together, this gives an exact sequence

\[ \!\!\! 1 \to \operatorname{Aut}_{\operatorname{Pic}({}_{{A_\star}}\!\!\operatorname{Mod}_{{A_\star}})}({A_\star}) \to \operatorname{Aut}_{\operatorname{Mod}_{{A_\star}}}({A_\star}) \to \operatorname{Aut}_{\operatorname{Alg}_{{{R_\star}}}}({A_\star}) \to \pi_0 \operatorname{Pic}({}_{{A_\star}}\!\!\operatorname{Mod}_{{A_\star}}). \]

Moreover, the category of ${A_\star }$-bimodules is equivalent to the category of modules over ${A_\star } \otimes _{{{R_\star }}} {A_\star}^\mathrm{\!\!\!op}$, which is Morita equivalent to ${{R_\star }}$. This gives us an equivalence of categories $\operatorname {Pic}({}_{{A_\star }}\operatorname {Mod}_{{A_\star }}) \simeq \operatorname {Pic}({{{R_\star }}})$ that carries ${A_\star }$ to ${{R_\star }}$. The desired description of this exact sequence follows by identifying $\operatorname {Aut}_{\operatorname {Mod}_{{A_\star }}}({A_\star })$ with $A_0^{\times }$ and $\operatorname {Aut}_{\operatorname {Pic}({{R_\star }})}({{R_\star }})$ with $R_0^{\times }$.

Similarly, the description of the action of $\operatorname {Pic}$ follows by identifying this fiber square with the principal fibration associated to the map $(\operatorname {Alg}_{{{R_\star }}})^{\simeq } \to (\operatorname {Cat}_{{{R_\star }}})^{\simeq }$.

Remark 2.27 In the exact sequence above, suppose $v \in A_\gamma$ is a unit in the graded ring ${A_\star }$. Then conjugation by $v$ determines an element in $\operatorname {Aut}_{\operatorname {Alg}_{{R_\star }}}({A_\star })$ whose image in $\operatorname {Pic}(\operatorname {Mod}_{{R_\star }})$ is $[\Sigma ^{\gamma } A]$.

2.3 Matrix algebras over graded commutative rings

Definition 2.28 Let ${{R_\star }}$ be a $\Gamma$-graded commutative ring. An ${{R_\star }}$-algebra is a matrix ${{R_\star }}$-algebra if it is isomorphic to the endomorphism ${{R_\star }}$-algebra

\[ \operatorname{End}_{{{R_\star}}}(M_\star) = F_{{{R_\star}}}(M_\star,M_\star) \]

of an ${{R_\star }}$-module of the form $M_\star \cong {{R^{I}_\star }}$ for some $\Gamma$-graded set $I$ (Definition 2.3).

In general, we write $\operatorname {Mat}_{I}({{R_\star }})$ for the $\Gamma$-graded matrix algebra $\operatorname {End}_{{{R_\star }}}({{R_\star }}^{I})$ and $\operatorname {GL}_{I}({{R_\star }})$ for the group $[\operatorname {Aut}_{{{R_\star }}}({{R_\star }}^{I})]_0^{\times }$ of automorphisms of the graded ${{R_\star }}$-module ${{R_\star }}^{I}$.

Proposition 2.29 If $R_\gamma =0$ for $\gamma \neq 0$ then there is an isomorphism of groups

\[ \operatorname{GL}_{I}(R)\cong\prod_{\gamma\in\Gamma}\operatorname{GL}_{I_\gamma}(R_0), \]

where the groups on the right are the usual general linear groups of the commutative ring $R_0$.

Proposition 2.30 If $I$ is a finite $\Gamma$-graded set with underlying finite set $|I|$, meaning that $I\cong \coprod _{i\in |I|}\operatorname {Hom}(-,\gamma _i)$ for some $|I|$-indexed collection of objects $\gamma _i$ of $\Gamma$, then there is a canonical isomorphism of ${{R_\star }}$-modules

\[ \operatorname{End}_{{{R_\star}}}({{R_\star}}^{\!\!\!I}) \cong \bigoplus_{i,j \in | I |} \Sigma^{\gamma_i - \gamma_j} {{R_\star}}. \]

In particular, there is a natural $\Gamma$-graded set $\partial I$ such that it is of the form $R^{\partial I}_\star$.

Proposition 2.31 The formation of matrix algebras is compatible with base-change. That is, for any homomorphism $\theta \colon \thinspace \Gamma \to \Gamma '$ of abelian groups, any $\theta$-graded ring map ${{R_\star }}\to {{R'_\star }}$, and any finite $\Gamma$-graded set $I$, the canonical ${{R'_\star }}$-algebra map

\[ \operatorname{Mat}_{I}({{R_\star}})\otimes_{{{R_\star}}} {{R'_\star}}\longrightarrow\operatorname{Mat}_{\theta_! I}({{R'_\star}}) \]

is an isomorphism.

Proof. Write $\partial I$ for the $\Gamma$-graded set as in the previous proposition. First, let us assume that $\theta$ is the identity of $\Gamma$, so that ${{R_\star }}\to {{R'_\star }}$ is just a $\Gamma$-graded ring map. Then $\theta _! \partial I=\partial I$ and the map $R^{\partial I}_\star \otimes _{{{R_\star }}} {{R'_\star }}\to ({{R'_\star }})^{\partial I}$ is an equivalence between free ${{R'_\star }}$-modules on the same $\Gamma$-graded set.

Now suppose instead that $\theta$ is arbitrary and ${{R'_\star }}=\theta _! {{R_\star }}$. Then the desired map is a composite

\[ R{}^{\partial I}_\star \otimes_{{{R_\star}}} {{R'_\star}} \cong\theta_!(R{}^{\partial I}_\star)\cong(\theta_! {{R_\star}})^{\partial\theta_! I}. \]

Finally, an arbitrary $\theta$-graded ring map $R\to R'$ is a composite of ring maps of the type treated above, so the result follows.

2.4 Derivations and Hochschild cohomology

The following recalls some of Quillen's work on cohomology for associative rings [Reference QuillenQui70]. We suppose for simplicity that we are working in a setting in which the relevant derived functors exist, such as the case in which there are enough projectives and the tensor product of projective objects is again projective.

In a symmetric monoidal abelian category in which the symmetric monoidal ‘tensor product’ operation $\otimes$ preserves colimits (separately in each variable), any algebra $A$ sits in a short exact sequence

\[ 0 \to \Omega_A \to A \otimes A^\mathrm{op} \to A \to 0 \]

of $A$-bimodules, split (as left modules) by the unit. If $A$ is the tensor algebra on a projective object $P$, then $\Omega _A$ can be identified with the projective bimodule $A \otimes P \otimes A^\mathrm {op}$. Moreover, for any $A$-bimodule $M$ with associated square-zero extension $M \rtimes A \to A$ in $\operatorname {Alg}_A$, there are canonical isomorphisms

\[ \operatorname{Der}(A,M) = \operatorname{Hom}_{\operatorname{Alg}_A / A}(A, M \rtimes A) \cong \operatorname{Hom}_{{}_A\operatorname{Mod}_A}(\Omega_A,M). \]

This allows us to relate the derived functors of derivations, in the sense of [Reference QuillenQui70], to Hochschild cohomology in this category. The André–Quillen cohomology groups of $A$ with coefficients in $M$ may be identified with the nonabelian derived functors $\operatorname {Der}^{s}(A,M)$. Applying the right derived functors of $\operatorname {Hom}_{{}_A\operatorname {Mod}_A}(-,M)$ to the exact sequence defining $\Omega _A$ gives us isomorphisms

\[ \operatorname{Der}^{s}(A,M) \to HH^{s+1}(A,M) \]

for $s > 0$ and an exact sequence

\[ 0 \to HH^{0}(A,M) \to M \to \operatorname{Der}(A,M) \to HH^{1}(A,M) \to 0. \]

Proposition 2.32 Suppose ${A_\star }$ is an Azumaya ${{R_\star }}$-algebra. For any ${A_\star }$-bimodule $M_\star$ in the category of $\Gamma$-graded ${{R_\star }}$-modules, we have a short exact sequence

\[ 0 \to HH^{0}({A_\star}, M_\star) \to M_\star \to \operatorname{Der}({A_\star},M_\star) \to 0. \]

Both the Hochschild cohomology groups $HH^{s}_{{{R_\star }}}({A_\star }, M_\star )$ and the derived functors $\operatorname {Der}^{s}_{{{R_\star }}}({A_\star }, M_\star )$ vanish for $s > 0$.

Proof. Consider the short exact sequence

\[ 0 \to \Omega_{{A_\star}} \to {A_\star} \otimes_{{{R_\star}}} {A_\star}^\mathrm{\!\!\!op} \to {A_\star} \to 0 \]

of bimodules. The center bimodule is free, hence projective. Moreover, under the chain of Morita equivalences

\[ \operatorname{Mod}_{{{R_\star}}} \simeq \operatorname{Mod}_{\operatorname{End}_{{{R_\star}}}({A_\star})} \simeq \operatorname{Mod}_{{A_\star} \otimes_{{{R_\star}}} {A_\star}^\mathrm{\!\!\!op}}, \]

the image of the projective ${{R_\star }}$-module ${{R_\star }}$ is ${A_\star }$, and hence ${A_\star }$ is also projective. Therefore, the sequence splits and $\Omega _{{A_\star }}$ is projective too.

3. Obstruction theory

3.1 Gradings for ring spectra

Definition 3.1 Let $R$ be an $\mathbb {E}_\infty$-ring spectrum, with $\Gamma _R$ the algebraic Picard groupoid of invertible $R$-modules and homotopy classes of equivalences; similarly, let $\Gamma _\mathbb {S}$ be the Picard groupoid of the sphere spectrum. A grading for $R$ is a Picard groupoid $\Gamma$ together with a commutative diagram

of Picard groupoids.

The period of the grading is the minimum of the set

\[ \{n > 0 \mid \nu[S^{n}] = 0\text{ in }\pi_0 \Gamma\} \cup \{\infty\}, \]

where $[S^{n}] \in \pi _0 \Gamma _{\mathbb {S}}$ is the equivalence class of the $n$-sphere.

A grading provides a chosen lift of the suspension $\Sigma R$ to $\Gamma$ such that the twist on $\Sigma R\otimes \Sigma R$ lifts the automorphism $-1 \in (\pi _0 R)^{\times }$; it also provides an action $\Gamma _\mathbb {S} \times \Gamma \to \Gamma$, $(n,\gamma ) \mapsto n + \gamma$, compatible with that on $\Gamma _R$. The minimal and maximal options are $\Gamma _\mathbb {S}$-grading (usually referred to as ‘$\mathbb {Z}$-grading’) and $\Gamma _R$-grading (usually referred to as ‘Picard grading’). If $R$ is connective (and nontrivial) then $\pi _0 \Gamma _\mathbb {S} \to \pi _0 \Gamma _R$ is a monomorphism, and so $R$ has period $\infty$ (usually referred to as ‘not being periodic’).

Throughout this section we will assume that we have chosen a grading for $R$. This produces elements $R^{\gamma } \in \operatorname {Mod}_R$ for $\gamma \in \Gamma$ and gives the category of $R$-modules $\Gamma$-graded homotopy groups $\pi _\star M$ as in § 5.1. These homotopy groups preserve coproducts and filtered colimits, as well as take cofiber sequences to long exact sequences. The fact that weak equivalences are detected on $\mathbb {Z}$-graded homotopy groups implies the following propositions.

Proposition 3.2 If $R$ has a grading by $\Gamma$, a map $X \to Y$ of $R$-modules is an equivalence if and only if the map $\pi _\star X \to \pi _\star Y$ is an isomorphism of $\pi _\star R$-modules.

Proposition 3.3 If $A$ is an $R$-algebra, the $\Gamma$-graded groups $\pi _\star A$ form a $\pi _\star R$-algebra. If $A$ is a commutative $R$-algebra, $\pi _\star A$ is a graded commutative $\pi _\star R$-algebra.

3.2 Picard-graded model structures

In this section we describe model structures on categories of $R$-modules and $R$-algebras based on using elements of $\operatorname {Pic}(R)$ as basic cells. The structure of this section is based on Goerss and Hopkins’ work on obstruction theory for algebras over an operad [Reference Goerss and HopkinsGH04], which in turn is based on Bousfield's work [Reference BousfieldBou03]. We carry this out under the simplifying assumptions that we are not using an auxiliary homology theory, and that the operad in question is the associative operad. However, we will remove the assumption that the base category is the stable homotopy category, and allow ourselves the use of homotopy groups graded by a Picard groupoid $\Gamma$ rather than integer-graded homotopy groups.

In this section we work in the flat stable model category structure on symmetric spectra (the $S$-model structure of [Reference ShipleyShi04]). Fix a commutative model for our $\mathbb {E}_\infty$-ring spectrum $R$, and let $\operatorname {Mod}_R^{\Delta }$ denote the (ordinary) category of $R$-module objects in symmetric spectra (which should not be confused with its underlying $\infty$-category $\operatorname {Mod}_R$). We also fix a grading $\Gamma$ for $R$ as in the previous section, giving any $R$-module $M$ natural $\Gamma$-graded homotopy groups $\pi _\star M$.

According to [Reference ShipleyShi04, 2.6–2.7], the category $\operatorname {Mod}_R^{\Delta }$ is a cofibrantly generated, proper, stable model category with generating sets of cofibrations and acyclic cofibrations with cofibrant source; it is also, compatibly, a simplicial model category (see, for example, [Reference Davis and LawsonDL14] for references in this direction). The smash product $\wedge _R$ and function object $F_R(-,-)$ give $\operatorname {Mod}_R^{\Delta }$ a symmetric monoidal closed structure under which $\operatorname {Mod}_R^{\Delta }$ is a monoidal model category, and the category $\operatorname {Alg}_R^{\Delta }$ of associative $R$-algebras is a cofibrantly generated simplicial model category with fibrations and weak equivalences detected in $\operatorname {Mod}_R^{\Delta }$ [Reference Schwede and ShipleySS00]. We let $\mathbb {T}$ denote the monad taking $M$ to the free $R$-algebra $\mathbb {T}(M) = \bigvee M^{\wedge _R n}$; algebras over $\mathbb {T}$ are associative $R$-algebras.

The following definitions are dual to those in Bousfield [Reference BousfieldBou03], taking the category $\Gamma$ as generating a class $\mathcal {P}$ of cogroup objects.

Definition 3.4 Let $\mathcal {D}_R$ denote the homotopy category of $\operatorname {Mod}_R^{\Delta }$.

  1. 1. A map $p\colon \thinspace X \to Y$ in $\mathcal {D}_R$ is $\operatorname {Pic}$-epi if the map $\pi _\star X \to \pi _\star Y$ is surjective.

  2. 2. An object $A \in \mathcal {D}_R$ is $\operatorname {Pic}$-projective if the map $p_*\colon \thinspace [A,X] \to [A,Y]$ is surjective whenever $p\colon \thinspace X \to Y$ is $\operatorname {Pic}$-epi.

  3. 3. A morphism $A \to B$ in $\operatorname {Mod}_R^{\Delta }$ is a $\operatorname {Pic}$-projective cofibration if it has the left lifting property with respect to all $\operatorname {Pic}$-epi fibrations in $\operatorname {Mod}_R^{\Delta }$.

Remark 3.5 Technically speaking, we should include the group $\Gamma$ in the notation, but we do not.

Any object $P \in \operatorname {Pic}(R)$ with a lift to an element $\gamma \in \Gamma$ is automatically $\operatorname {Pic}$-projective, and the class of projective cofibrations is closed under coproducts, suspensions, and desuspensions. There are enough $\operatorname {Pic}$-projective objects: to construct a $\operatorname {Pic}$-projective $P$ and a map $P \to X$ inducing a surjection $\pi _\star P \to \pi _\star X$, we can choose generators $\{x_\alpha \in \pi _{\gamma _\alpha } X\}$ of $\pi _\star X$ which are represented by a map $\bigvee _\alpha R^{\gamma _\alpha } \to X$. We can then describe a model structure on the category $s\operatorname {Mod}_R^{\Delta }$ of simplicial $R$-modules.

Definition 3.6 Let $f\colon \thinspace X_\bullet \to Y_\bullet$ be a map of simplicial $R$-modules.

  1. 1. The map $f$ is a $\operatorname {Pic}$-equivalence if the map $\pi _\gamma f\colon \thinspace \pi _\gamma X_\bullet \to \pi _\gamma Y_\bullet$ is a weak equivalence of simplicial abelian groups for all $\gamma \in \Gamma$.

  2. 2. The map $f$ is a $\operatorname {Pic}$-fibration if it is a Reedy fibration and the map $\pi _\gamma f\colon \thinspace \pi _\gamma X_\bullet \to \pi _\gamma Y_\bullet$ is a fibration of simplicial abelian groups for all $\gamma \in \Gamma$.

  3. 3. The map $f$ is a $\operatorname {Pic}$-cofibration if the latching maps

    \[ X_n \coprod_{L_n X} L_n Y \to Y_n \]
    are $\operatorname {Pic}$-projective cofibrations for $n \geq 0$.

Theorem 3.7 [Bou03] These definitions give the category $s\operatorname {Mod}_R^{\Delta }$ of simplicial $R$-modules the structure of a simplicial model category, which we call the $\operatorname {Pic}$-resolution model structure. This model structure is cofibrantly generated, and has generating sets of cofibrations and acyclic cofibrations with cofibrant source. The forgetful functor to simplicial $R$-modules (with the Reedy model structure) creates fibrations.

As in [Reference Goerss and HopkinsGH04, § 3], for a simplicial $R$-module $X$ and $\gamma \in \Gamma$ we have ‘natural’ homotopy groups $\pi _n^{\natural }(X;\gamma )$. On geometric realization there is a homotopy spectral sequence with $E_2$-term

\[ \pi_p \pi_\gamma(X) \Rightarrow \pi_{p+\gamma} |X|\,. \]

The $E_2$-term of this spectral sequence comes from an exact couple, the spiral exact sequence [Reference Goerss and HopkinsGH04, Lemma 3.9]:

\[ \cdots \to \pi_{n-1}^{\natural}(X;\gamma) \to \pi_n^{\natural}(X;\gamma) \to \pi_n \pi_\gamma(X) \to \pi_{n-2}^{\natural}(X;\gamma) \to \cdots \]

As applications of the $\operatorname {Pic}$-resolution model structure, we obtain $\operatorname {Pic}$-graded Künneth and universal coefficient spectral sequences.

Theorem 3.8 For $X, Y \in \mathcal {D}_R$, there are spectral sequences of $\Gamma$-graded ${{R_\star }}$-modules:

\begin{align*} \operatorname{Tor}^{{{R_\star}}}_{p,\gamma}(\pi_\star X, \pi_\star Y) &\Rightarrow \pi_{p+\gamma}(X \wedge_R Y),\\ \operatorname{Ext}^{s,\tau}_{{{R_\star}}}(\pi_\star X, \pi_\star Y) &\Rightarrow \pi_{{-}s-\tau} F_R(X,Y). \end{align*}

Proof. Lift $X$ and $Y$ to $\operatorname {Mod}_R^{\Delta }$, cofibrant or fibrant as appropriate. Then choose a cofibrant replacement $P \to X$, where $X$ is viewed as a constant simplicial object in the $\operatorname {Pic}$-resolution model category structure. The result is a simplicial $R$-module, augmented over $X$, such that the map $|P| \to X$ is a weak equivalence and such that the associated simplicial object $\pi _\star P$ is levelwise projective as a $\Gamma$-graded $\pi _\star R$-module. The spectral sequences in question are associated to the geometric realization of $P \wedge _R Y$ and the totalization of $F_R(P,Y)$, which are equivalent to the derived smash $X \wedge _R Y$ and derived function object $F_R(X,Y)$, respectively.

Corollary 3.9 Suppose $P$ is a cofibrant $R$-module such that $\pi _\star P$ is a projective $\pi _\star R$-module. Then $\pi _\star \mathbb {T}(P)$ is isomorphic to the free $\pi _\star R$-algebra on $\pi _\star P$.

Proof. This follows by first observing that the Künneth formula degenerates to isomorphisms

\[ \pi_\star (P \wedge_R \cdots \wedge_R P) \cong \pi_\star P \otimes_{\pi_\star R} \cdots \otimes_{\pi_\star R} \pi_\star P, \]

and then applying $\pi _\star$ to the identification

\[ \mathbb{T}(P) \cong \bigvee_{k \geq 0} P^{\wedge_R k} \]

of $R$-modules.

The $\operatorname {Pic}$-resolution model structure on simplicial $R$-modules now lifts to $R$-algebras. The following results are originally due to Bousfield (cf. [Reference BousfieldBou03, Reference BousfieldBou89]) and Goerss and Hopkins (cf. [Reference Goerss and HopkinsGH04, Reference Goerss and HopkinsGH]), respectively; see also [Reference Pstragowski and VanKoughnettPV19] for a more recent treatment.

Theorem 3.10 There is a simplicial model category structure on $s\operatorname {Alg}_R^{\Delta }$ such that the forgetful functor $s\operatorname {Alg}_R^{\Delta } \to s\operatorname {Mod}_R^{\Delta }$ creates weak equivalences and fibrations. We call this the $\operatorname {Pic}$-resolution model structure on simplicial $R$-algebras. This model structure is cofibrantly generated, and has generating sets of cofibrations and acyclic cofibrations with cofibrant source.

For each $X \in s\operatorname {Alg}_R^{\Delta }$, there is a $\operatorname {Pic}$-equivalence $Y \to X$ with the following properties.

  1. 1. The simplicial object $Y$ is cofibrant in the $\operatorname {Pic}$-resolution model category structure on $s\operatorname {Alg}_R^{\Delta }$.

  2. 2. [Reference Goerss and HopkinsGH04, 3.7] There are objects $Z_n$, which are wedges of cofibrant $R$-modules in $\operatorname {Pic}(R)$, such that the underlying degeneracy diagram of $Y$ is of the form

    \[ Y_n = \mathbb{T}\bigg(\coprod_{\phi: [n] \twoheadrightarrow [m]} Z_m\bigg). \]

Given this structure, we can use Goerss and Hopkins’ moduli tower of Postnikov approximations to produce an obstruction theory. This both classifies objects and constructs a Bousfield–Kan spectral sequence for spaces of maps between $R$-algebras using $\Gamma$-graded homotopy groups. In order to describe the resulting obstruction theories, let $\operatorname {Der}^{s}_{\operatorname {Alg}_{\pi _\star R}}$ denote the derived functors of derivations in the category of $\Gamma$-graded $\pi _\star R$-algebras as in § 2.4.

Theorem 3.11 1. There are successively defined obstructions to realizing an algebra ${A_\star } \in \operatorname {Alg}_{\pi _\star R}$ by an $R$-algebra $A$ in the groups

\[ \operatorname{Der}^{s+2}_{\operatorname{Alg}_{\pi_\star R}}({A_\star}, \Omega^{s} {A_\star}), \]

and obstructions to uniqueness in the groups

\[ \operatorname{Der}^{s+1}_{\operatorname{Alg}_{\pi_\star R}}({A_\star}, \Omega^{s} {A_\star}), \]

for $s \geq 1$.

2. For $R$-algebras $X$ and $Y$, there are successively defined obstructions to realizing a map $f \in \operatorname {Hom}_{\operatorname {Alg}_{\pi _\star R}}(\pi _\star X, \pi _\star Y)$ in the groups

\[ \operatorname{Der}^{s+1}_{\operatorname{Alg}_{\pi_\star R}}(\pi_\star X, \Omega^{s} \pi_\star Y), \]

and obstructions to uniqueness in the groups

\[ \operatorname{Der}^{s}_{\operatorname{Alg}_{\pi_\star R}}(\pi_\star X, \Omega^{s} \pi_\star Y), \]

for $s \geq 1$.

3. Let $\phi \in \operatorname {Map}_{\operatorname {Alg}_R^{\Delta }}(X,Y)$ be a map of $R$-algebras. Then there is a fringed, second quadrant spectral sequence abutting to

\[ \pi_{t-s} (\operatorname{Map}_{\operatorname{Alg}_R^{\Delta}}(X,Y),\phi), \]

with $E_2$-term given by

\[ E_2^{0,0} = \operatorname{Hom}_{\operatorname{Alg}_{\pi_\star R}}(\pi_\star X, \pi_\star Y) \]

and

\[ E_2^{s,t} = \operatorname{Der}^{s}_{\operatorname{Alg}_{\pi_\star R}}(\pi_\star X, \Omega^{t} \pi_\star Y)\quad\text{for }t > 0. \]

This theorem is obtained using simplicial resolutions. Given an $R$-algebra $A$, we form a simplicial resolution of $A$ by free $R$-algebras, which becomes a resolution of $\pi _\star A$ by free $\pi _\star R$-algebras by Corollary 3.9. We get the spectral sequences for mapping spaces from the associated homotopy spectral sequence (see [Reference BousfieldBou03]). The obstruction theory for the construction of such $A$, instead, relies on constructing partial resolutions $P_n A$ as simplicial free $R$-algebras whose homotopy spectral sequence degenerates in a specific way, and then identifying the obstruction to extending the construction of $P_n(A)$ to $P_{n+1}(A)$ as lying in an André–Quillen cohomology group.

3.3 Algebraic Azumaya algebras

We now apply the obstruction theory of the previous section to the algebraic case. We continue to let $R$ be an $\mathbb {E}_\infty$-ring spectrum with a grading by $\Gamma$, and $\mathcal {D}_R$ the homotopy category of left $R$-modules.

We recall that an algebra $A$ is an Azumaya $R$-algebra if $A$ is a compact generator of $\mathcal {D}_R$, and the left-right action map $A \wedge _R A^\mathrm {op} \to \operatorname {End}_R(A)$ is an equivalence in $\mathcal {D}_R$ [Reference Baker, Richter and SzymikBRS12].

Proposition 3.12 Suppose $A$ is an $R$-algebra such that $\pi _\star A$ is a projective $\pi _\star R$-module. Then $\pi _\star A$ is an Azumaya $\pi _\star R$-algebra if and only if $A$ is an Azumaya $R$-algebra.

Proof. The projectivity of $\pi _\star A$ makes the Künneth and universal coefficient spectral sequences of Theorem 3.8 degenerate. We find that the action map $A \wedge _R A^\mathrm {op} \to \operatorname {End}_R(A)$ becomes, on $\pi _\star$, the map $\pi _\star A \otimes _{\pi _\star R} \pi _\star A^\mathrm {op} \to \operatorname {End}_{\pi _\star R}(\pi _\star A)$, and so the two conditions are equivalent.

We have a similar result about Morita triviality.

Proposition 3.13 Let $M$ be an $R$-module whose $\Gamma$-graded homotopy groups $\pi _\star M$ form a finitely generated projective $\pi _\star R$-module. The function spectrum $\operatorname {End}_R(M)$ has homotopy groups given by the $\pi _\star R$-algebra $\operatorname {Hom}_{\pi _\star R}(\pi _\star M, \pi _\star M)$. The center of this algebra is the image of $\pi _\star R$, and if $\pi _\star M$ is a graded generator this algebra is Morita equivalent to $\pi _\star R$ in the category of $\Gamma$-graded $\pi _\star R$-algebras.

Definition 3.14 An $R$-algebra is said to be an algebraic $\Gamma$-graded Azumaya algebra over $R$ if the multiplication on $\pi _\star A$ makes it into an Azumaya $\pi _\star R$-algebra.

We may apply the Goerss–Hopkins obstruction theory to algebraic Azumaya $R$-algebras. Much of the following is originally due to Baker, Richter, and Szymik [Reference Baker, Richter and SzymikBRS12, 6.1].

Theorem 3.15 1. Any Azumaya $\pi _\star R$-algebra is isomorphic to $\pi _\star A$ for some $\Gamma$-graded algebraic Azumaya $R$-algebra $A$.

2. Suppose $A$ is a $\Gamma$-graded algebraic Azumaya $R$-algebra. For any $R$-algebra $S$ (not necessarily Azumaya), the natural map

\[ [A, S]_{\operatorname{Alg}_R^{\Delta}} \xrightarrow{\pi_\star} \operatorname{Hom}_{\operatorname{Alg}_{\pi_\star R}} (\pi_\star A, \pi_\star S) \]

is an isomorphism. For any map $\phi \colon \thinspace A \to S$ of $R$-algebras (making $\pi _\star S$ into a $\pi _\star A$-bimodule) and any $t > 0$, we have an isomorphism

\[ \pi_t (\operatorname{Map}_{\operatorname{Alg}_R^{\Delta}} (A, S), \phi) \cong (\pi_t S)/HH^{0}(\pi_\star A, \Omega^{t} \pi_\star S). \]

3. If $A$ is a $\Gamma$-graded algebraic Azumaya $R$-algebra, the homotopy groups of the space $\operatorname {Aut}_{\operatorname {Alg}_R^{\Delta }}(A)$ satisfy

\[ \pi_t(\operatorname{Aut}_{\operatorname{Alg}_R^{\Delta}}(A), \mathrm{id}) \cong \begin{cases} \operatorname{Aut}_{\operatorname{Alg}_{\pi_\star R}}(\pi_\star A) & \text{if }t = 0,\\ \pi_t A/ \pi_t R & \text{if }t > 0. \end{cases} \]

4. If $A$ is a $\Gamma$-graded algebraic Azumaya $R$-algebra, then for $t > 0$ the sequence

\[ 0 \to \pi_t \operatorname{GL}_1(R) \to \pi_t \operatorname{GL}_1(A) \to \pi_t \operatorname{Aut}_{\operatorname{Alg}_R^{\Delta}}(A) \to 0 \]

is exact, and there is an exact sequence of potentially nonabelian groups

\[ 1 \to \pi_0 \operatorname{GL}_1(R) \to \pi_0 \operatorname{GL}_1(A) \to \pi_0 \operatorname{Aut}_{\operatorname{Alg}_R^{\Delta}}(A) \to \pi_0 \operatorname{Pic}(R). \]

The image in $\pi _0 \operatorname {Pic}(R)$ of the last map is the group of outer automorphisms of $\pi _\star A$ as a $\pi _\star R$-algebra.

Proof. The Goerss–Hopkins obstruction groups $\operatorname {Der}^{s}_{\operatorname {Alg}_{\pi _\star R}}(\pi _\star A, M)$ appearing in Theorem 3.11 vanish identically for $s > 0$ by Proposition 2.32. In particular, the obstructions to existence and uniqueness vanish, so every Azumaya $\pi _\star R$-algebra lifts to an Azumaya $R$-algebra. Moreover, the obstructions to existence and uniqueness for lifting maps also vanish, and so every map of Azumaya $\pi _\star R$-algebras lifts uniquely to a map of $R$-algebras.

We then apply the vanishing and exact sequence of Proposition 2.32 to the spectral sequence calculating the homotopy groups of $\operatorname {Map}_{\operatorname {Alg}_R^{\Delta }}(A,S)$. We find that there are short exact sequences

\[ 0 \to HH^{0}(\pi_\star A, \pi_\star S) \to \pi_\star S \to \pi_t \operatorname{Map}_{\operatorname{Alg}_R^{\Delta}}(A,S) \to 0 \]

for $t > 1$, and thus obtain the stated results on $\pi _1$ and $\pi _0$, once due caution is exercised regarding basepoints.

Corollary 3.16 The functor $\pi _\star$ restricts to an equivalence from the homotopy category of algebraic $\Gamma$-graded Azumaya $R$-algebras to the category of Azumaya $\pi _\star R$-algebras.

Remark 3.17 There are two very common sources of nonalgebraic Azumaya $R$-algebras. First, any compact generator $M$ of $\operatorname {Mod}_R^{\Delta }$ produces an Azumaya $R$-algebra $\operatorname {End}_R(M)$ regardless of whether $\pi _\star M$ is projective or not (for example, the derived endomorphism ring of $\mathbb {Z} \oplus \mathbb {Z}/p$ is a nonalgebraic derived Azumaya algebra over $\mathbb {Z}$). Second, the property of being algebraic also depends on the grading. If $P$ is an element in $\operatorname {Pic}(R)$ which is not a suspension of $R$, then $\operatorname {End}_R(R \oplus P)$ is likely to be exotic for $\mathbb {Z}$-grading but is definitely not exotic for $\operatorname {Pic}$-grading.

4. Presentable symmetric monoidal $\infty$-categories

From this section forward, we will switch to an $\infty$-categorical point of view on categories of Azumaya algebras and their module categories so that we can make use of the results of [Reference Antieau and GepnerAG14, Reference LurieLur17, Reference Gepner and HaugsengGH15]. Finding strict model-categorical versions of many of these constructions we will use seems extremely difficult. For example, it is hard to find point-set constructions that simultaneously give a construction of ${\rm GL}_n(R)$ as a group, $M_n(R)$ as an $R$-algebra, an action of ${\rm GL}_n(R)$ on $M_n(R)$ by conjugation, and a diagonal embedding ${\rm GL}_1(R) \to {\rm GL}_n(R)$ which acts trivially. If we also want these to be homotopically sensible then it becomes harder still.

Making this switch implicitly requires a translation process, which we will briefly sketch. Given a commutative symmetric ring spectrum $R$, its image $\bar R$ in the $\infty$-category $\mathrm {Sp}$ of spectra is a commutative algebra object in the sense of [Reference LurieLur17, 2.1.3.1].

  • [Reference LurieLur17, 4.1.3.10] Associated to $\operatorname {Mod}_R^{\Delta }$ there is a stable presentable symmetric monoidal $\infty$-category $\mathrm {N}^{\otimes }(\operatorname {Mod}_R^{\Delta \circ })$, the operadic nerve of the category $\operatorname {Mod}_R^{\Delta \circ } \subset \operatorname {Mod}_R^{\Delta }$ of cofibrant-fibrant $R$-modules.

  • [Reference LurieLur17, 4.3.3.17] This $\infty$-category is equivalent to the $\infty$-category of modules over the associated commutative algebra object $\bar R$ in $\mathrm {Sp}$.

  • [Reference LurieLur17, 4.1.4.4] The model category of associative algebra objects $\operatorname {Alg}_R^{\Delta }$ has $\infty$-category equivalent to the $\infty$-category of associative algebra objects of $\mathrm {N}^{\otimes }(\operatorname {Mod}_R^{\Delta \circ })$ in the sense of [Reference LurieLur17, 4.1.1.6].

  • [Reference LurieLur17, 4.3.3.17] For such $R$-algebras, the model categories of left $A$-modules, right $A$-modules, or $A$-$B$ bimodules in $\operatorname {Mod}_R^{\Delta }$ have associated $\infty$-categories equivalent to the left modules, right modules, or bimodules over the corresponding associative algebra objects in $\mathrm {N}^{\otimes }(\operatorname {Mod}_R^{\Delta \circ })$.

Definition 4.1 Let $\operatorname {Ring}:=\operatorname {CAlg}(\mathrm {Sp})$ denote the $\infty$-category of $\mathbb {E}_\infty$-ring spectra, or, equivalently, commutative algebra objects in $\mathrm {Sp}$.

4.1 Closed symmetric monoidal $\infty$-categories

Definition 4.2 [Lur17, 4.1.1.7] A monoidal $\infty$-category $\mathcal {C}^{\otimes }$ is closed if, for each object $A$ of $\mathcal {C}$, the functors $A\otimes (-)\colon \thinspace \mathcal {C}\to \mathcal {C}$ and $(-)\otimes A\colon \thinspace \mathcal {C}\to \mathcal {C}$ admit right adjoints. A symmetric monoidal $\infty$-category $\mathcal {C}^{\otimes }$ is closed if the underlying monoidal $\infty$-category is closed.

Recall [Reference LurieLur17, 4.8] that the $\infty$-category of $\mathcal {P}r^{\mathrm {L}}$ of presentable $\infty$-categories and colimit-preserving functors [Reference LurieLur09, 5.5.3.1] admits a symmetric monoidal structure with unit the $\infty$-category $\mathcal {S}$ of spaces. We refer to (commutative) algebra objects in this $\infty$-category as presentable (symmetric) monoidal $\infty$-categories.

Proposition 4.3 [Lur17, 4.2.1.33] A presentable monoidal $\infty$-category is closed.

Proof. Let $\mathcal {C}^{\otimes }$ be a presentable monoidal $\infty$-category. Then, by definition, the underlying $\infty$-category $\mathcal {C}$ is presentable, and for each object $A$ of $\mathcal {C}$ the functors $A\otimes (-)$ and $(-)\otimes A$ commute with colimits. It follows from the adjoint functor theorem [Reference LurieLur09, 5.5.2.2] that both of these functors admit right adjoints.

Note that this implies that (the underlying $\infty$-category of) a presentable symmetric monoidal $\infty$-category $\mathcal {C}^{\otimes }$ is canonically enriched, tensored and cotensored over itself. If $\mathcal {C}$ is stable, then $\mathcal {C}$ is enriched, tensored and cotensored over $\mathrm {Sp}$, the $\infty$-category of spectra. We will not normally notationally distinguish between the internal mapping object and the mapping spectrum, which should always be clear from the context.

Proposition 4.4 A symmetric monoidal $\infty$-category $\mathcal {R}$ is stable and presentable (as a symmetric monoidal $\infty$-category) if and only if the underlying $\infty$-category is stable and presentable and (any choice of) the tensor bifunctor $\mathcal {R}\times \mathcal {R}\to \mathcal {R}$ preserves colimits in each variable. In particular, a closed symmetric monoidal $\infty$-category $\mathcal {R}$ is stable and presentable if and only if the underlying $\infty$-category is stable and presentable.

There is also the following multiplicative version of Morita theory.

Proposition 4.5 ([Reference LurieLur17, 7.1.2.7], [Reference Antieau and GepnerAG14, 3.1])

The functor

\[ \operatorname{Mod}\colon\thinspace\operatorname{CAlg}(\mathrm{Sp})\longrightarrow\operatorname{CAlg}(\mathcal{P}r^{\mathrm{L}}), \]

sending $R$ to the (symmetric monoidal, presentable, stable) $\infty$-category of $R$-modules, is a fully faithful embedding.

4.2 Structured fibrations

We will write $\operatorname {Cat}^{\land }_\infty$ for the very large $\infty$-category of large $\infty$-categories.

Definition 4.6 Given a (possibly large) $\infty$-category $\mathcal {C}$ and a functor $\mathcal {C}\to {\operatorname {Cat}^{\land }_\infty }$, we will say that a cocartesian fibration $X\to S$ admits a $\mathcal {C}$-structure if its classifying functor $X\to {\operatorname {Cat}^{\land }_\infty }$ factors through $\mathcal {C}\to {\operatorname {Cat}^{\land }_\infty }$.

We have a cocartesian fibration $\operatorname {Mod} \to \operatorname {Ring}$ [Reference LurieLur17, 4.5.3.6] whose fiber over the $\mathbb {E}_\infty$-ring spectrum $R$ is the (large) $\infty$-category $\operatorname {Mod}_R$ of $R$-modules.

Proposition 4.7 [Reference LurieLur17, 4.5.3.1, 4.5.3.2]

The cocartesian fibration $\operatorname {Mod}\to \operatorname {Ring}$ admits a canonical symmetric monoidal structure: there is a cocartesian family of $\infty$-operads

\[ \operatorname{Mod}^{{\otimes}} \to \operatorname{Ring} \times \operatorname{Comm}^{{\otimes}} \]

classifying a functor $R \mapsto \operatorname {Mod}_R\colon \thinspace \operatorname {Ring} \to \operatorname {CAlg}(\mathcal {P}r^{\mathrm {L}}_{\mathrm {st}})$ from $\mathbb {E}_\infty$-ring spectra to presentable stable symmetric monoidal $\infty$-categories.

We next consider algebra objects. By applying [Reference LurieLur17, 4.8.3.13], we similarly find that we have a cocartesian fibration $\operatorname {Alg}\to \operatorname {Ring}$ whose fiber over the ring $R$ is the (large) $\infty$-category $\operatorname {Alg}_R$ of $R$-algebras.

Proposition 4.8 The cocartesian fibration $\operatorname {Alg}\to \operatorname {Ring}$ admits a canonical symmetric monoidal structure such that the forgetful functor from algebras to modules induces a morphism of symmetric monoidal cocartesian fibrations

over $\operatorname {Ring}$.

Proof. As in [Reference LurieLur17, 5.3.1.20], the cocartesian family of $\infty$-operads $\operatorname {Mod}^{\otimes } \to \operatorname {Ring} \times \operatorname {Comm}^{\otimes }$ classifies a functor $\operatorname {Ring} \to (\operatorname {Op}_\infty )^{/\operatorname {Comm}^{\otimes }}$, taking $R$ to the cocartesian fibration $\operatorname {Mod}_R^{\otimes } \to \operatorname {Comm}^{\otimes }$. Applying [Reference LurieLur17, 3.4.2.1], we obtain a functor $\operatorname {Alg}\colon \thinspace \operatorname {Ring} \to (\operatorname {Op}_\infty )^{/\operatorname {Comm}^{\otimes }}$, taking $R$ to a cocartesian fibration $\operatorname {Alg}_R^{\otimes } \to \operatorname {Comm}^{\otimes }$ with a forgetful map

that preserves cocartesian arrows [Reference LurieLur17, 3.2.4.3]. Converting this back, we obtain a diagram

of cocartesian $\operatorname {Ring}$-families of symmetric monoidal $\infty$-operads, lifting the underlying map $\operatorname {Alg} \to \operatorname {Mod}$ to one compatible with the symmetric monoidal structure.

Restricting the cocartesian fibration $\operatorname {Mod}\to \operatorname {Ring}$ to the subcategory of cocartesian arrows between compact modules, we obtain a left fibration

\[ \operatorname{Mod}^{\omega,\mathrm{cocart}}\longrightarrow\operatorname{Ring} \]

whose fiber over $R$ is the $\infty$-groupoid $\operatorname {Mod}^{\omega ,\simeq }_R$ of compact (or perfect [Reference LurieLur17, 7.2.5.2]) $R$-modules. More precisely, an arrow $(R,M)\to (R',M')$ of $\operatorname {Mod}^{\omega ,\mathrm {cocart}}$ is an arrow $(R,M)\to (R',M')$ of $\operatorname {Mod}$ such that $M$ is compact (as an $R$-module) and the map $M\otimes _R R'\to M'$ is an equivalence.

Lastly, let $\operatorname {Alg}^\mathrm {prop}\to \operatorname {Ring}$ denote the left fibration whose source $\infty$-category is the subcategory $\operatorname {Alg}^\mathrm {prop}$ of proper algebras defined by the following pullback.

This time, however, $\operatorname {Alg}^\mathrm {prop}_R$ is not the full subgroupoid of $\operatorname {Alg}_R$ on the compact $R$-algebras, but rather the full subgroupoid of $\operatorname {Alg}_R$ consisting of the $R$-algebras $A$ whose underlying $R$-module is compact.

Proposition 4.9 The morphism of symmetric monoidal cocartesian fibrations $\operatorname {Alg}\to \operatorname {Mod}$ over $\operatorname {Ring}$ restricts to a morphism of symmetric monoidal left fibrations $\operatorname {Alg}^\mathrm {prop}\to \operatorname {Mod}^{\omega ,\mathrm {cocart}}$ over $\operatorname {Ring}$.

Proof. Tensors of compact modules are compact [Reference LurieLur17, 5.3.1.17].

4.3 Functoriality of endomorphisms

In order to construct the endomorphism algebra as a functor, we need to extend the results of [Reference LurieLur17, 4.7.2]. In this, Lurie considers the category of tuples $(A,M,\phi \colon \thinspace A \otimes M \to M)$, which has a forgetful functor $p$ given by $p(A,M,\phi ) = M$. He extends it in such a way as to give this functor $p$ monoidal fibers; this gives the terminal object $\operatorname {End}(M)$ in the fiber over $M$ a canonical monoid structure. For the reader's convenience, we will first review some details of Lurie's construction.

Let $\mathcal {L}\mathcal {M}^{\otimes }$ denote the $\infty$-operad parametrizing pairs of an algebra and a left module [Reference LurieLur17, 4.2.1.7]. A cocartesian fibration $\mathcal {O}^{\otimes } \to \mathcal {L}\mathcal {M}^{\otimes }$ of $\infty$-operads determines a monoidal $\infty$-category $\mathcal {C}$ and an $\infty$-category $\mathcal {M}$ such that $\mathcal {M}$ is left-tensored over $\mathcal {C}$ [Reference LurieLur17, 4.2.1.19]; in particular, there exist objects $A \otimes M$ for $A \in \mathcal {C}$ and $M \in \mathcal {M}$. Associated to this there is a category $\operatorname {LMod}(\mathcal {M})$ of left module objects in $\mathcal {M}$ [Reference LurieLur17, 4.2.1.13]; such an object is determined by an algebra $A \in \mathcal {C}$ and a left $A$-module $M \in \mathcal {M}$. There is a forgetful map $\operatorname {LMod}(\mathcal {M}) \to \mathcal {M}$ which is a categorical fibration.

Proposition 4.10 Let $\operatorname {Act}(\mathcal {M})$ be the fiber product $\operatorname {LMod}(\mathcal {M}) \times _{\mathcal {M}} \mathcal {M}^{\simeq }$. The natural map $\operatorname {Act}(\mathcal {M}) \to \mathcal {M}^{\simeq }$ is a cocartesian fibration.

Proof. The map $\operatorname {Act}(\mathcal {M}) \to \mathcal {M}$ is a categorical fibration to a Kan complex, and so by [Reference LurieLur09, 2.4.1.5, 2.4.6.5] it is a cocartesian fibration.

Definition 4.11 [Reference LurieLur17, 4.2.1.28]

Suppose that $\mathcal {M}$ is left-tensored over the monoidal $\infty$-category $\mathcal {C}$. A morphism object for $M$ and $N$ is an object $F_\mathcal {M}(M,N)$ of $\mathcal {C}$ equipped with a map $F_\mathcal {M}(M,N) \otimes M \to N$ such that the resulting natural homotopy class of map

\[ \operatorname{Map}_\mathcal{C}(C,F_\mathcal{M}(M,N)) \to \operatorname{Map}_\mathcal{M}(C \otimes M,N) \]

is a homotopy equivalence for all $C \in \mathcal {C}$. If morphism objects exist for all $M$ and $N$, we say that the left-tensor structure gives $\mathcal {M}$ a $\mathcal {C}$-enrichment.

Proposition 4.12 [Reference LurieLur17, 4.7.2.40]

Suppose that $\mathcal {M}$ is left-tensored over $\mathcal {C}$, giving it a $\mathcal {C}$-enrichment. For any $M \in \mathcal {M}$, the fiber $\operatorname {LMod}(\mathcal {M}) \times _\mathcal {M} \{M\}$ has a final object $\operatorname {End}(M)$ whose image under the composite $\operatorname {LMod}(\mathcal {M}) \to \operatorname {Alg}_\mathcal {C} \to \mathcal {C}$ is $F_\mathcal {M}(M,M)$.

Corollary 4.13 Under these assumptions, there exists a functor $\operatorname {End}\colon \thinspace \mathcal {M}^{\simeq } \to \operatorname {Alg}_\mathcal {C}$ sending $M$ to $\operatorname {End}(M)$.

Proof. By [Reference LurieLur09, 2.4.4.9], the full subcategory of $\operatorname {Act}(\mathcal {M})$ spanned by the final objects determines a trivial Kan fibration $\operatorname {End}(\mathcal {M}) \to \mathcal {M}^{\simeq }$. Choosing a section of this map, we obtain a composite functor

\[ \mathcal{M}^{{\simeq}} \to \operatorname{LMod}(\mathcal{M}) \to \operatorname{Alg}_\mathcal{C} \]

with the desired properties.

Remark 4.14 It should be sufficient to assume that $\mathcal {C}$ is monoidal and $\mathcal {M}$ merely $\mathcal {C}$-enriched, rather than including the stronger assumption that $\mathcal {M}$ is left-tensored over $\mathcal {C}$. However, we require this assumption in order to make use of the results from [Reference LurieLur17, 4.7.2].

5. Picard and Brauer spectra

In this section we recall the definitions and some important features of Picard and Brauer groups of a commutative ring spectrum. These groups are the homotopy groups of associated Picard and Brauer spectra, which arise as certain nonconnective deloopings of the spectrum of units of a commutative ring spectrum.

Much of the work in this section is a recapitulation of previous work. Picard spectra have been widely studied by many authors (far too many to list here), and calculations of the Picard group (that is, $\pi _0$ of the Picard spectrum) have played an immensely important role in the development of chromatic homotopy theory. The study of Brauer spectra and the Brauer group, on the other hand, is significantly newer and less well developed. Foundational work on Brauer groups in higher categorical and derived algebro-geometric contexts has been carried out by a number of authors, including Antieau and Gepner [Reference Antieau and GepnerAG14], Baker, Richter, and Szymik [Reference Baker, Richter and SzymikBRS12], Hopkins and Lurie [Reference Hopkins and LurieHL17], Johnson [Reference JohnsonJoh14], and Toën [Reference ToënToë12].

5.1 Picard spectra

In this section we recall the relevant notions and derive a useful long exact sequence (Corollary 5.20), related to the graded Rosenberg–Zelinsky sequence of Corollary 2.26, which generalizes the short exact sequences of Theorem 3.15.

If $\mathcal {C}$ is a small $\infty$-category, we write $\pi _0\mathcal {C}$ for the set of equivalence classes of objects of $\mathcal {C}$. By definition, $\pi _0\mathcal {C}$ is an invariant of the underlying $\infty$-groupoid $\mathcal {C}^{\simeq }$ of $\mathcal {C}$ (the $\infty$-groupoid obtained by discarding the noninvertible arrows).

Definition 5.1 A symmetric monoidal $\infty$-category $\mathcal {C}$ is grouplike if the monoid $\pi _0\mathcal {C}$ is a group.

A symmetric monoidal $\infty$-category $\mathcal {C}$ has a unique maximal grouplike symmetric monoidal subgroupoid $\mathcal {C}^{\times }$, the subcategory $\mathcal {C}^{\times }\subset \mathcal {C}$ consisting of the invertible objects and the equivalences thereof. That this is actually a symmetric monoidal subcategory in the $\infty$-categorical sense follows from the fact that invertibility and equivalence are both detected upon passage to the symmetric monoidal homotopy category; the grouplike condition is guaranteed by considering only the invertible objects.

Let $\mathcal {P}r^{\mathrm {L}}_{\mathrm {st}} \subset \mathcal {P}r^{\mathrm {L}}$ denote the $\infty$-category of stable presentable $\infty$-categories and colimit-preserving functors; by [Reference LurieLur17, 4.8.2.18] this is the category $\operatorname {Mod}_\mathrm {Sp}$ of left modules over the $\infty$-category of spectra. We have the $\infty$-category $\operatorname {CAlg}(\operatorname {Mod}_\mathrm {Sp})$ of commutative ring objects in $\mathcal {P}r^{\mathrm {L}}_{\mathrm {st}}$; these are the same as commutative $\mathrm {Sp}$-algebras or presentable symmetric monoidal stable $\infty$-categories.

Definition 5.2 Let $\mathcal {R}$ be a commutative $\mathrm {Sp}$-algebra. The Picard $\infty$-groupoid $\operatorname {Pic}(\mathcal {R})$ of $\mathcal {R}$ is $\mathcal {R}^{\times }$, the maximal subgroupoid of the underlying $\infty$-category of $\mathcal {R}$ spanned by the invertible objects.

By [Reference Ando, Blumberg and GepnerABG18, 8.9] $\operatorname {Pic}(\mathcal {R})$ is equivalent to a small space, and by [Reference Ando, Blumberg and GepnerABG18, 8.10] the functor $\operatorname {Pic}$ commutes with limits.

We have a symmetric monoidal cocartesian fibration

\[ \operatorname{Mod}(\operatorname{Mod}_\mathrm{Sp})\longrightarrow\operatorname{CAlg}(\operatorname{Mod}_\mathrm{Sp}) \]

whose fiber over a commutative $\mathrm {Sp}$-algebra $\mathcal {R}$ is the symmetric monoidal $\infty$-category $\operatorname {Cat}_\mathcal {R}$ of $\mathcal {R}$-linear $\infty$-categories. Writing

\[ \operatorname{Mod}_{\mathrm{Sp},\omega}\subset\operatorname{Mod}_\mathrm{Sp} \]

for the symmetric monoidal subcategory consisting of the compactly generated $\mathrm {Sp}$-modules and compact-object-preserving functors, this restricts to a symmetric monoidal cocartesian fibration

\[ \operatorname{Mod}(\operatorname{Mod}_{\mathrm{Sp},\omega})\longrightarrow\operatorname{CAlg}(\operatorname{Mod}_{\mathrm{Sp},\omega}) \]

over the subcategory $\operatorname {CAlg}(\operatorname {Mod}_{\mathrm {Sp},\omega })\subset \operatorname {CAlg}(\operatorname {Mod}_\mathrm {Sp})$ of commutative algebra objects in $\operatorname {Mod}_{\mathrm {Sp},\omega }\subset \operatorname {Mod}_\mathrm {Sp}$. For a commutative algebra object $\mathcal {R}\in \operatorname {CAlg}(\operatorname {Mod}_{\mathrm {Sp},\omega })$, also known as a compactly generated commutative $\mathrm {Sp}$-algebra, we write $\operatorname {Cat}_{\mathcal {R},\omega }^{\simeq }$ for the full subgroupoid of the fiber $\operatorname {Cat}_{\mathcal {R},\omega }$ over $\mathcal {R}$, the symmetric monoidal $\infty$-category of compactly generated $\mathcal {R}$-linear $\infty$-categories in the sense of [Reference LurieLur09, 5.3.5], and note that the map $\mathcal {R} \mapsto \operatorname {Cat}_{\mathcal {R},\omega }^{\simeq }$ defines a left fibration $\operatorname {Mod}^{\simeq }(\operatorname {Mod}_{\mathrm {Sp},\omega })\to \operatorname {CAlg}(\operatorname {Mod}_{\mathrm {Sp},\omega })$.

Proposition 5.3 (cf. [Reference Mathew and StojanoskaMS16, 2.1.3])

Let $\mathcal {R}$ be a compactly generated commutative $\mathrm {Sp}$-algebra. Then any invertible object of $\mathcal {R}$ is compact.

Proof. Let $I$ be any invertible object of $\mathcal {R}$ and let $\{M_\alpha \}$ be a filtered system of objects of $\mathcal {R}$. Then there are natural equivalences

\begin{align*} \operatorname{Map}(I,\operatorname{colim} M_\alpha) &\simeq\operatorname{Map}(\textbf{1},\operatorname{colim} I^{{-}1}\otimes M_\alpha)\\ &\simeq\operatorname{colim}\operatorname{Map}(\textbf{1},I^{{-}1}\otimes M_\alpha)\\ &\simeq\operatorname{colim}\operatorname{Map}(I,M_\alpha). \end{align*}

The first equivalence follows because $\otimes$ commutes with colimits. The second follows because the monoidal unit $\textbf {1}$ (the image of the sphere spectrum under the map $\mathrm {Sp} \to \mathcal {R}$) is compact by definition.

Because $\operatorname {Pic}(\mathcal {R})$ is closed under the symmetric monoidal product on $\mathcal {R}$, it is a grouplike symmetric monoidal $\infty$-groupoid, so by the recognition principle for infinite loop spaces we may regard $\operatorname {Pic}(\mathcal {R})$ as having an associated (connective) spectrum $\operatorname {\mathfrak {pic}}(\mathcal {R}) = K(\operatorname {Pic}(\mathcal {R}))$. Let $\Gamma _\mathcal {R}$ be the algebraic Picard groupoid of $\mathcal {R}$: the homotopy category of $\operatorname {Pic}(\mathcal {R})$, which is the $1$-truncation of $\operatorname {Pic}(\mathcal {R})$. If $\mathcal {R}$ is unambiguous, we drop it and simply write $\Gamma$. We will notationally distinguish between an object $\gamma \in \Gamma$ and the associated invertible object $R^{\gamma } \in \mathcal {R}$.

Proposition 5.4 The homotopy category of $\mathcal {R}$ is canonically enriched in the symmetric monoidal category of $\Gamma$-graded abelian groups.

Proof. Since $\mathcal {R}$ is stable, the set $\pi _0\operatorname {Map}(M,N)$ of homotopy classes of maps from $M$ to $N$ admits an abelian group structure which is natural in the variables $M$ and $N$ of $\mathcal {R}$, and composition is bilinear. The result then follows from Proposition 2.15, defining $\pi _\star \operatorname {Map}(M,N)$ by the rule

\[ \pi_\gamma\operatorname{Map}(M,N):=\pi_0\operatorname{Map}(\Sigma^{\gamma} M,N). \]

If $R$ is an $\mathbb {E}_\infty$-ring spectrum, then we will typically write $\operatorname {Pic}(R)$ in place of $\operatorname {Pic}(\operatorname {Mod}_R)$ and $\Gamma _R$ in place of $\Gamma _{\operatorname {Mod}_R}$.

5.2 Brauer spectra

The results in this subsection and the next are essentially a summary of some of the results of Toën [Reference ToënToë12], in the differential-graded context, and Antieau and Gepner [Reference Antieau and GepnerAG14], in the spectral context.

Definition 5.5 Let $\mathcal {R}$ be a compactly generated commutative $\mathrm {Sp}$-algebra. The Brauer $\infty$-groupoid $\operatorname {Br}(\mathcal {R})$ of $\mathcal {R}$ is the full subgroupoid $\operatorname {Pic}(\operatorname {Cat}_{\mathcal {R},\omega })\subset \operatorname {Cat}_{\mathcal {R},\omega }^{\simeq }$ of the underlying $\infty$-groupoid $\operatorname {Cat}_{\mathcal {R},\omega }^{\simeq }$ of $\operatorname {Cat}_{\mathcal {R},\omega }$ consisting of the invertible $\mathcal {R}$-linear categories which admit a compact generator.

Remark 5.6 If $\mathcal {C}$ is a presentable $\infty$-category, then $\mathcal {C}\simeq \mathrm {Ind}_\kappa (\mathcal {C}^{\kappa })$ is the $\kappa$-filtered colimit completion of the full subcategory $\mathcal {C}^{\kappa }\subset \mathcal {C}$ on the $\kappa$-compact objects for some sufficiently large cardinal $\kappa$. If $\kappa$ can be taken to be countable, then $\mathcal {C}$ is said to be compactly generated, and if there exists a compact object $P\in \mathcal {C}$ such that $\mathcal {C}\simeq \operatorname {Mod}_{\operatorname {End}(P)}$ as $\mathrm {Sp}$-modules, then $\mathcal {C}$ is said to admit a compact generator. Note that an $\mathrm {Sp}$-module $\mathcal {C}$ admits a compact generator $P$ if and only if the smallest thick subcategory of $\mathcal {C}^{\omega }$ containing $P$ is $\mathcal {C}^{\omega }$ itself, in which case $\mathcal {C}^{\omega }\simeq \operatorname {Mod}_{\operatorname {End}(P)}^{\omega }$. Also observe that there is a distinction between these objects ($\mathcal {R}$-linear $\infty$-categories with a compact generator) and the compact objects in $\operatorname {Cat}_\mathcal {R}$.

Because $\operatorname {Br}(\mathcal {R})$ is closed under the symmetric monoidal product on $\operatorname {Cat}_\mathcal {R}$, it is a grouplike symmetric monoidal $\infty$-groupoid, so we may associate to it a connective spectrum $\operatorname {\mathfrak {br}}(\mathcal {R})$.

Proposition 5.7 Let $\mathcal {R}$ be a compactly generated stable symmetric monoidal $\infty$-category. Then there is a canonical equivalence $\operatorname {Pic}(\mathcal {R})\to \Omega \operatorname {Br}(\mathcal {R})$, induced by a spectrum level map $\operatorname {\mathfrak {pic}}(\mathcal {R}) \to \Omega \operatorname {\mathfrak {br}}(\mathcal {R})$ which is an equivalence on connective covers.

Proof. We first observe that $\operatorname {Cat}_{\mathcal {R},\omega }$ is a symmetric monoidal $\infty$-category in which the tensor product is induced from the tensor product of (compactly generated) presentable stable $\infty$-categories [Reference LurieLur17, § 4.8.1]. Furthermore, this symmetric monoidal structure is compatible with the tensor product of associative algebra spectra; in particular, there is a canonical equivalence

\[ \operatorname{Mod}_A\otimes\operatorname{Mod}_B\simeq\operatorname{Mod}_{A\otimes B}. \]

In particular, $\operatorname {Br}(\mathcal {R})\simeq \operatorname {Pic}(\operatorname {Cat}_{\mathcal {R},\omega })$ (and also $\operatorname {Pic}(\mathcal {R})$) are grouplike symmetric monoidal $\mathbb {E}_\infty$-spaces.

Observe that if $X$ is a grouplike $\mathbb {E}_\infty$-space, regarded as an $\infty$-groupoid, then $\Omega X\simeq \operatorname {Aut}_X(*)$ is the space of automorphisms of the distinguished object $*$ of $X$. Moreover, $\Omega X$ is again a grouplike $\mathbb {E}_\infty$-space, as limits of grouplike $\mathbb {E}_\infty$-spaces are computed in the $\infty$-category of spaces. Hence $\Omega \operatorname {Pic}(\operatorname {Mod}_\mathcal {R}^{\omega })\simeq \operatorname {Aut}_{\mathcal {R}}(\mathcal {R})\simeq \operatorname {Pic}(\mathcal {R})$, where the last equivalence follows from the fact that invertible $\mathcal {R}$-module endomorphisms of $\mathcal {R}$ correspond to invertible objects of $\mathcal {R}$ under the equivalence $\operatorname {End}_{\mathcal {R}}(\mathcal {R})\simeq \mathcal {R}$ [Reference LurieLur17, 4.8.4]. The spectrum level equivalence $\operatorname {\mathfrak {pic}}(\mathcal {R})\to \Omega \operatorname {\mathfrak {br}}(\mathcal {R})$ now follows from the fact that $\operatorname {\mathfrak {pic}}(\mathcal {R})$ and $\operatorname {\mathfrak {br}}(\mathcal {R})$ are the connective spectra associated to the grouplike $\mathbb {E}_\infty$-spaces $\operatorname {Pic}(\mathcal {R})$ and $\operatorname {Br}(\mathcal {R})$, respectively.

If $R$ is an $\mathbb {E}_\infty$-ring spectrum, we will typically write $\operatorname {Br}_R$ for the $\infty$-groupoid $\operatorname {Br}(\operatorname {Mod}_R)$.

5.3 Azumaya algebras

Definition 5.8 ([Reference Antieau and GepnerAG14, 3.1.3], [Reference Baker, Richter and SzymikBRS12], [Reference ToënToë12])

Let $R$ be an $\mathbb {E}_\infty$-ring spectrum. An Azumaya $R$-algebra is an $R$-algebra $A$ such that

  • the underlying $R$-module of $A$ is a compact generator of $\operatorname {Mod}_R$ in the sense of [Reference LurieLur09, 5.5.8.23], and

  • the ‘left-and-right’ multiplication map $A\otimes _R A^\mathrm {op}\to \operatorname {End}_R(A)$, adjoint to the composite multiplication map

    \[ (A \otimes_R A^\mathrm{op}) \otimes_R A \xrightarrow {1 \otimes \tau} A \otimes_R A \otimes_R A^\mathrm{op} \xrightarrow{\mu} A, \]
    is an $R$-algebra equivalence.

Remark 5.9 Informally, the ‘left-and-right’ multiplication map is the morphism which sends the pair $(a_0,a_1)$ to the endomorphism $a\mapsto a_0a a_1$.

Remark 5.10 In [Reference Antieau and GepnerAG14, 3.15] it is shown that an $R$-algebra $A$ is Azumaya if and only if the associated compactly generated $R$-linear $\infty$-category $\operatorname {Mod}_A$ is invertible in the $\infty$-category $\operatorname {Cat}_{R,\omega }$ of all compactly generated $R$-linear $\infty$-categories and $R$-linear functors which preserve compact objects.

Remark 5.11 The notions of Azumaya algebra and Brauer group (of Morita equivalence classes of Azumaya algebras) make sense more generally in any symmetric monoidal $\infty$-category $\mathcal {C}$ such that $\mathcal {C}$ admits geometric realizations of simplicial objects and the tensor product functor $\otimes \colon \mathcal {C}\times \mathcal {C}\to \mathcal {C}$ preserves realizations of simplicial objects in each variable. See [Reference Hopkins and LurieHL17, § 2.2] for details.

Proposition 5.12 If $A$ is an Azumaya $R$-algebra and $R\to R'$ is a ring map, then $A\otimes _R R'$ is an Azumaya $R'$-algebra.

We write $\operatorname {Az}$ for the full subcategory of $\operatorname {Alg}$ determined by pairs $(R,A)$ such that $A$ is an Azumaya $R$-algebra. Because Azumaya algebras are stable under base-change, we have a morphism of cocartesian fibrations

over $\operatorname {Ring}$.

Proposition 5.13 Let $A$ be an Azumaya $R$-algebra. Then the category of right $A$-modules $\operatorname {Mod}_A$ is an invertible $\operatorname {Mod}_R$-module with inverse $\operatorname {Mod}_{A^\mathrm {op}}$.

Proof. We must show that $\operatorname {Mod}_{A}\otimes \operatorname {Mod}_{A^\mathrm {op}}\simeq \operatorname {Mod}_R$, where the tensor is taken in the category of left $\operatorname {Mod}_R$-linear categories. Since $\operatorname {Mod}$ is symmetric monoidal [Reference LurieLur17, 4.8.5.16], we have an equivalence $\operatorname {Mod}_{A}\otimes _{\operatorname {Mod}_R}\operatorname {Mod}_{A^\mathrm {op}}\simeq \operatorname {Mod}_{A\otimes _R A^\mathrm {op}}$, and as ‘left-and-right’ multiplication $A\otimes _R A^\mathrm {op}\to \operatorname {End}_R(A)$ is an equivalence of $R$-algebras we see that $\operatorname {Mod}_{A}\otimes \operatorname {Mod}_{A^\mathrm {op}}\simeq \operatorname {Mod}_{\operatorname {End}_R(A)}$. Finally, because $A$ is a compact generator of $\operatorname {Mod}_R$, Morita theory gives an equivalence $\operatorname {Mod}_R\simeq \operatorname {Mod}_{\operatorname {End}_R(A)}$ [Reference LurieLur17, 8.1.2.1], and the result follows.

Remark 5.14 We can instead show that the functor $\operatorname {Mod}$ itself is symmetric monoidal using the results of [Reference Blumberg, Gepner and TabuadaBGT14]. There it is shown that the category of stable $\infty$-categories is the symmetric monoidal localization of the category of spectral $\infty$-categories, obtained by inverting the Morita equivalences. In particular, regarding ring spectra $A$ and $B$ as one-object spectral $\infty$-categories, it follows that $\operatorname {Mod}_A\otimes _{\operatorname {Mod}_R} \operatorname {Mod}_B\simeq \operatorname {Mod}_{A\otimes _R B}$. The relative tensors are computed as the geometric realization of two-sided bar constructions $B(A,R,B)$ and $B(\operatorname {Mod}_A,\operatorname {Mod}_R,\operatorname {Mod}_B)$ [Reference LurieLur17, 4.4.2.8]; the localization functor preserves geometric realization due to being a left adjoint.

Proposition 5.15 The map of $\infty$-groupoids $\operatorname {Az}_R\to \operatorname {Br}_R$ is essentially surjective. Moreover, if $A$ and $B$ are Azumaya algebras such that the images of $A$ and $B$ become equal in $\pi _0\operatorname {Br}_R$, then $A$ and $B$ are Morita equivalent.

Proof. Let $\mathcal {R}=\operatorname {Mod}_R$ and let $\mathcal {I}$ be an invertible object of $\operatorname {Cat}_{\mathcal {R},\omega }$. Then $\mathcal {I}$ has a compact generator, so $\mathcal {I}\simeq \operatorname {Mod}_A$ for some $R$-algebra $A$ ([Reference Schwede and ShipleySS03], [Reference LurieLur17, 7.1.2.1]), and invertibility implies that $A$ is a compact generator of $\operatorname {Mod}_R$. It follows that $\operatorname {End}_R(A)$ is Morita equivalent to $R$, and thus that the $R$-algebra map $A\otimes _R A^\mathrm {op}\to \operatorname {End}_R(A)$ is an equivalence.

We remark that we can identify the homotopy types of the fibers of the various left fibrations over $\operatorname {Ring}$.

Proposition 5.16 Let $R$ be an $\mathbb {E}_\infty$-ring spectrum. Then

\[ \operatorname{Mod}^{\omega}_R\simeq\coprod_{[M]\in\pi_0\operatorname{Mod}^{\omega}_R} B\operatorname{Aut}_R(M) \]

and

\[ \operatorname{Az}_R\simeq\coprod_{[A]\in\pi_0\operatorname{Az}_R} B\operatorname{Aut}_{\operatorname{Alg}_R}(A). \]

5.4 The conjugation action on endomorphisms

Let $\mathcal {R}$ be a symmetric monoidal presentable stable $\infty$-category with unit $\textbf {1}$, which is therefore enriched over itself (see [Reference LurieLur17, 4.2.1.33] or [Reference Gepner and HaugsengGH15, 7.4.10]), and let $M$ be an object of $\mathcal {R}$. In this section we analyze the fiber of the map

\[ \operatorname{Aut}_\mathcal{R}(M)\longrightarrow\operatorname{Aut}_{\operatorname{Alg}_\mathcal{R}}(\operatorname{End}_\mathcal{R}(M)), \]

which roughly sends an automorphism $\alpha$ of $M$ to the conjugation automorphism $\alpha ^{-1}\circ (-)\circ \alpha$ of the endomorphism algebra $\operatorname {End}(M)$. This map arises from the map $\operatorname {End}_{\mathcal {R}}\colon \thinspace \mathcal {R}^{\simeq }\to \operatorname {Alg}_\mathcal {R}$ of Corollary 4.13.

Proposition 5.17 Let $R$ be an $\mathbb {E}_\infty$ ring spectrum, $A$ an Azumaya $R$-algebra, and $\operatorname {Mod}_A^{\mathrm {cg}}$ denote the $\infty$-category of compact generators of $\operatorname {Mod}_A$. Then there are canonical pullback diagrams of $\infty$-categories as follows.

More generally, the fiber of $\operatorname {Mod}^{\mathrm {cg}}_A \to \operatorname {Alg}_R$ over an $R$-algebra $B$ is either empty or a principal torsor for $\operatorname {Pic}(R)$.

Remark 5.18 Note that $\operatorname {Mod}_A^{\mathrm {cg}}$ should not be confused with the larger subcategory $\operatorname {Mod}_A^{\omega }$ of compact objects.

Proof. The pullback of the right-hand square is the $\infty$-category of $R$-algebras equipped with a Morita equivalence to $\operatorname {Mod}_A$. In [Reference LurieLur17, 4.8.4] it is shown that the category of functors $\operatorname {Mod}_A \to \operatorname {Mod}_B$ is equivalent to a category of bimodules, and so this pullback category of Morita equivalences is equivalent to the $\infty$-category $\operatorname {Mod}_A^{\mathrm {cg}}$ of compact generators of $\operatorname {Mod}_A$ via the map $M \mapsto \operatorname {End}_A(M)$.

The pullback of the left-hand square is the $\infty$-category of $A$-bimodules inducing $\operatorname {Mod}_R$-linear Morita self-equivalences of $\operatorname {Mod}_A$. These are, in particular, invertible bimodules over $A \otimes _R A^{\mathrm {op}} \simeq \operatorname {End}_R(A)$, and Morita theory implies that the map $I \mapsto I \otimes _R A$ makes this equivalent to $\operatorname {Pic}(R)$.

Taking preimages of the unit component, we obtain the following corollary.

Corollary 5.19 For an $\mathbb {E}_\infty$-ring $R$, there is a fiber sequence

\[ \coprod_{[M] \in \pi_0 \operatorname{Mod}_R^{\mathrm{cg}}} B\operatorname{Aut}_R(M) \to \coprod_{[A] \in \pi_0 (\operatorname{Az}_R)^{\mathrm{triv}}} B\operatorname{Aut}_{\operatorname{Alg}_{R}}(A) \to B\operatorname{Pic} (R), \]

where the middle coproduct is over Azumaya $R$-algebras Morita equivalent to $R$.

In particular, this implies that the map $\operatorname {Aut}_R(M) \to \operatorname {Aut}_{\operatorname {Alg}_{R}}(\operatorname {End}_R(M))$ factors through a quotient by $\operatorname {GL}_1(R)$.

Corollary 5.20 (cf. Corollary 2.26)

For any Azumaya $R$-algebra $A$, there is a long exact sequence of groups

\begin{align*} \cdots &\to \pi_n\operatorname{GL}_1(R) \to \pi_n\operatorname{GL}_1(A) \to \pi_n (\operatorname{Aut}_{\operatorname{Alg}_R}(A)) \to \cdots\\ &\to \pi_0\operatorname{GL}_1(R) \to \pi_0\operatorname{GL}_1(A) \to \pi_0 (\operatorname{Aut}_{\operatorname{Alg}_R}(A)) \to \pi_0 \operatorname{Pic}(R). \end{align*}

Moreover, the group $\pi _0 \operatorname {Pic}(R)$ acts on the set of isomorphism classes of compact generators of $\operatorname {Mod}_A$. The quotient is the set of isomorphism classes of Azumaya algebras $A$ Morita equivalent to $R$, and the stabilizer of $A$ is the image of the group of outer automorphisms of $\pi _\star A$ as a $\pi _\star R$-algebra.

This long exact sequence generalizes the short exact sequences of Theorem 3.15 for $\Gamma$-graded algebraic Azumaya $R$-algebras.

6. Galois cohomology

6.1 Galois extensions

In this section we will review definitions of Galois extensions of ring spectra, due to Rognes [Reference RognesRog08]. Let $R$ be an $\mathbb {E}_\infty$-ring spectrum and let $G$ be an $R$-dualizable $\infty$-group: that is, $G$ is a grouplike $\mathbb {A}_\infty$-space (equivalently, $G\simeq \Omega X$ for some pointed connected $\infty$-groupoid $X$) such that the associated group ring spectrum $R[G]:=R\otimes _{\mathbb {S}}\Sigma ^{\infty }_+G$ is dualizable as an $R$-module.

Definition 6.1 A Galois extension of $R$ by $G$ is a functor $f\colon \thinspace BG \to \operatorname {Ring}_{R/}$, sending the basepoint to a commutative $R$-algebra $S$ with $G$-action, such that

  • the unit map $R\to S^{hG} = \lim f$ is an equivalence, and

  • the map $S\otimes _R S\to S\otimes _R D_R R[G]\simeq D_{S} S[G]$, induced by the action $R[G]\otimes _R S\to S$, is an equivalence.

A $G$-Galois extension $R\to S$ is faithful if $S$ is a faithful $R$-module.

We will usually just write $f\colon \thinspace R\to S$ for the Galois extension without explicitly mentioning the $G$-action. All of the Galois extensions that we consider in this paper will be assumed to be faithful.

We have the following important result.

Proposition 6.2 [Reference RognesRog08, 6.2.1]

Let $R \to S$ be a $G$-Galois extension. Then the underlying $R$-module of $S$ is dualizable.

In other words, $S$ is a proper $R$-algebra in the sense of [Reference LurieLur17, 4.6.4.2]. Using this, Mathew has deduced several important consequences.

Proposition 6.3 [Reference MathewMat16, 3.36]

Let $R \to S$ be a faithful $G$-Galois extension with $G$ a finite group. Then $R \to S$ admits descent in the sense of [Reference MathewMat16, 3.17].

Proposition 6.4 Let $R \to S$ be a faithful $G$-Galois extension with $G$ a finite group, and $M$ an $R$-module. Then several properties of $S$-modules descend.

  • A map $M \to N$ of $R$-modules is an equivalence if and only if $S \otimes _R M \to S \otimes _R N$ is an equivalence.

  • $M$ is a faithful $R$-module if and only if $S \otimes _R M$ is a faithful $S$-module.

  • $M$ is a perfect $R$-module if and only if $S \otimes _R M$ is a perfect $S$-module.

  • $M$ is an invertible $R$-module if and only if $S \otimes _R M$ is an invertible $S$-module.

Proof. The first statement is equivalent to the statement that $N/M$ is trivial if and only if $S \otimes _R N/M$ is, which is the definition of faithfulness. The second statement follows from the tensor associativity equivalence $N \otimes _S (S \otimes _R M) \simeq N \otimes _R M$. The third statement is [Reference MathewMat16, 3.27] and the fourth is [Reference MathewMat16, 3.29].

Associated to a commutative $R$-algebra $S$, there is the associated Amitsur complex, a cosimplicial commutative $R$-algebra:

\[ S^{{\otimes}{\bullet}} := \big\{ S \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \end{smallmatrix} S\otimes_R S \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \\ \to \end{smallmatrix} S\otimes_R S\otimes_R S \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \\ \to \\ \to\end{smallmatrix} \cdots\big\}. \]

In degree $n$ this is the $(n+1)$-fold tensor power of $S$ over $R$. More explicitly, the Amitsur complex is the left Kan extension of the map $\{[0]\} \to \operatorname {Ring}_{R/}$ classifying $S$ along the inclusion $\{[0]\} \hookrightarrow \Delta$. Composing with the functor $\operatorname {Mod}\colon \thinspace \operatorname {CAlg} \to \operatorname {Cat}^{\land }_\infty$, we obtain a cosimplicial $R$-linear $\infty$-category

\[ \operatorname{Mod}_{S^{{\otimes}{\bullet}}} :=\big\{\operatorname{Mod}_S \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \end{smallmatrix} \operatorname{Mod}_{S\otimes_R S} \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \\ \to \end{smallmatrix} \operatorname{Mod}_{S\otimes_R S\otimes_R S} \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \\ \to \\ \to\end{smallmatrix} \cdots\big\}, \]

a categorification of the Amitsur complex.

Proposition 6.5 (cf. [Reference LurieLur11b, 6.15, 6.18], [Reference MathewMat16, 3.21])

Suppose $S$ is a proper commutative $R$-algebra and $A$ is an $R$-algebra. Then the natural map

\[ \theta\colon\thinspace \operatorname{Mod}_A \to \lim \operatorname{Mod}_{(S^{{\otimes}{\bullet}}) \otimes_R A} \]

has fully faithful left and right adjoints. If $S$ is faithful as an $R$-module, then $\theta$ is an equivalence.

Proof. We will prove this result by verifying the two criteria of [Reference LurieLur17, 4.7.5.3] (a consequence of the $\infty$-categorical Barr–Beck theorem) for both this cosimplicial diagram of categories and the corresponding diagram of opposite categories.

The first criterion asks that colimits of simplicial objects exist in $\operatorname {Mod}_A$ and that the extension-of-scalars functor $S \otimes _R (-)\colon \thinspace \operatorname {Mod}_A \to \operatorname {Mod}_{S^{\otimes \bullet }\otimes _R A}$ preserve them. However, both categories are cocomplete and the given functor is left adjoint to the forgetful functor, hence preserves all colimits. The same condition on the opposite category asks that $S \otimes _R (-)$ preserve totalizations of certain cosimplicial objects, but since $S$ is $R$-dualizable there is a natural equivalence

\[ S \otimes_R M \simeq F_R(D_RS,M). \]

This equivalent functor has a left adjoint, given by $N \mapsto D_R S \otimes _S M$, and so preserves all limits.

The second criterion is a ‘Beck–Chevalley’ condition, as follows. For any $\alpha \colon \thinspace [m] \to [n]$ in $\Delta$, consider the following induced diagram of $\infty$-categories.

Then we ask that these diagrams are left adjointable and right adjointable [Reference LurieLur17, 4.7.5.13]: that the horizontal arrows admit left and right adjoints, and that the resulting natural transformation between the composites is an equivalence. In our case, this diagram is generically of the following form.

Here the horizontal arrows are extensions of scalars to $S$, while the vertical arrows are extensions of scalars induced by a map of $R$-algebras $B \to B'$. The natural transformation between composed left adjoints is the natural equivalence

\[ (D_RS \otimes_S M) \otimes_B B' \to D_RS \otimes_S (M \otimes_B B'), \]

and the one between composed right adjoints is the natural equivalence

\[ N \otimes_{S \otimes_R B}(S \otimes_R B') \to N \otimes_B B', \]

verifying the Beck–Chevalley condition and its opposite.

Therefore, the map from $\operatorname {Mod}_A$ to the limit category has fully faithful left and right adjoints. If $S$ is faithful, then the functor $\operatorname {Mod}_A \to \operatorname {Mod}_{S \otimes _R A}$ is conservative and [Reference LurieLur17, 4.7.5.3] additionally verifies that $\operatorname {Mod}_A$ is equivalent to the limit, making $\operatorname {Mod}_A$ monadic and comonadic over $\operatorname {Mod}_{S \otimes _R A}$.

Remark 6.6 This construction has a stricter lift. If we lift $R$ and $S$ to strictly commutative ring objects in a model category and $G$ is an honest group acting on $S$, the operation of tensoring with the right $R$-module $S$ implements a left Quillen functor between the category of $R$-modules and the category of modules over the twisted group algebra $S\langle G\rangle \simeq \operatorname {End}_R(S)$.

6.2 Group actions

Let $G$ be a finite group. In what follows we will write $BG$ for the Kan complex whose set of $n$-simplices is given by the formula $\operatorname {Hom}(\Delta ^{n},BG)\cong G^{n}$, with face and degeneracy maps induced from the multiplication and unit of the group $G$, as usual. Notice that $BG$ has a unique vertex $i\colon \thinspace \Delta ^{0} \to BG$. For an $\infty$-category $\mathcal {C}$, the category of $G$-objects in $\mathcal {C}$ is the functor category $\mathcal {C}^{BG} = \operatorname {Fun}(BG,\mathcal {C})$. Evaluation at the basepoint determines a functor $i^{*}\colon \thinspace \mathcal {C}^{BG} \to \mathcal {C}$.

If $\mathcal {C}$ is complete and cocomplete, the functor $i^{*}$ admits left and right adjoints $i_!:\mathcal {C}\to \mathcal {C}^{BG}$ and $i_*:\mathcal {C}\to \mathcal {C}^{BG}$ respectively, given by left and right Kan extension. These are naturally described by the colimit and limit of the constant diagram on $G$ with value $X$, or equivalently the tensor and cotensor of $X$ with $G$:

\[ i_! X \simeq G \otimes X, \quad i_* X \simeq X^{G}. \]

Proposition 6.7 If $\mathcal {C}$ is complete and cocomplete, the forgetful functor $i^{*}:\mathcal {C}^{BG}\to \mathcal {C}$ exhibits $\mathcal {C}^{BG}$ as being monadic and comonadic over $\mathcal {C}$ in the sense of [Reference LurieLur17, 4.7.4.4].

Suppose $G$ is equivalent to a finite discrete group and let $p\colon \thinspace \mathcal {C} \to \mathcal {D}$ be a functor between complete and cocomplete $\infty$-categories which preserves finite products, with induced map $p_*\colon \thinspace \mathcal {C}^{BG} \to \mathcal {D}^{BG}$. If $\mathbb {T}^{\mathcal{C}}$ and $\mathbb {T}^{\mathcal{D}}$ are the induced comonads on $\mathcal {C}$ and $\mathcal {D}$, then the resulting natural transformation $p \circ \mathbb {T}^{\mathcal{C}} \to \mathbb {T}^{\mathcal{D}} \circ p$ between comonads is an equivalence.

Proof. For the first statement it suffices, by [Reference LurieLur17, 4.7.4.5] and its dual, to observe that $i^{*}$ is conservative and preserves all limits and colimits, being both a left and right adjoint.

For the second statement, the natural map is provided by the adjunction in the form of a composite

\[ p i^{*} i_* \cong i^{*} p_* i_* \xrightarrow{i^{*}(\eta)} i^{*} i_* i^{*} p_* i_* \cong i^{*} i_* p i^{*} i_* \xrightarrow{i^{*} i_* p(\varepsilon)} i^{*} i_* p. \]

For $X \in \mathcal {C}$, this takes the form of the limit natural transformation

\[ p(X^{G}) \to p(X)^{G}, \]

which is an equivalence by assumption.

Corollary 6.8 If $G$ is a finite group, then associated to a $G$-equivariant commutative $R$-algebra spectrum $S$ there is a cosimplicial commutative $R$-algebra

\[ \mathbb{T}^{{\bullet}}(S) = \big\{ i^{*} S \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \end{smallmatrix} \mathbb{T}(i^{*}S) \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \\ \to \end{smallmatrix} \mathbb{T}(\mathbb{T}(i^{*}S)) \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \\ \to \\ \to\end{smallmatrix} \cdots\big\} \]

induced by the comonad $\mathbb {T}$ which computes the homotopy fixed points

\[ S^{hG}\simeq\mathrm{lim}\big\{ S \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \end{smallmatrix} S^{G} \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \\ \to \end{smallmatrix} S^{G \times G} \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \\ \to \\ \to\end{smallmatrix} \cdots\big\} \]

as the limit in the $\infty$-category $\operatorname {Ring}_{R/}\simeq \operatorname {CAlg}_R$.

Given a $G$-equivariant commutative $R$-algebra spectrum $S \in (\operatorname {Ring}_{R/})^{BG}$ as above, we obtain $G$-equivariant $\infty$-categories $\operatorname {Mod}_S$ and $\operatorname {Cat}_S$, where the action is induced from the composition

\[ G\longrightarrow\operatorname{Aut}_{R}(S)\longrightarrow\operatorname{Aut}_{\operatorname{Mod}_R}(\operatorname{Mod}_S)\longrightarrow\operatorname{Aut}_{\operatorname{Cat}_R}(\operatorname{Cat}_S), \]

given successive application of $\operatorname {Mod}$ functor. This is meaningful as $R\to S$ and $\operatorname {Mod}_R\to \operatorname {Mod}_S$ are morphisms of commutative algebra objects in spectra and $\mathcal {P}r^{\mathrm {L}}$, respectively.

Corollary 6.9 If $G$ is a finite group, then associated to a $G$-equivariant commutative $R$-algebra spectrum $S$ there is a cosimplicial object

\[ \mathbb{T}^{{\bullet}}(\operatorname{Mod}_S) = \big\{ i^{*}\operatorname{Mod}_S \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \end{smallmatrix} \mathbb{T}(i^{*}\operatorname{Mod}_S) \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \\ \to \end{smallmatrix} \mathbb{T}(\mathbb{T}(i^{*}\operatorname{Mod}_S)) \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \\ \to \\ \to\end{smallmatrix} \cdots\big\} \]

of $\operatorname {Cat}_R$ induced by the comonad $\mathbb {T}$ which computes the homotopy fixed points

\[ \operatorname{Mod}_S^{hG}\simeq\mathrm{lim}\big\{\operatorname{Mod}_S \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \end{smallmatrix} \operatorname{Mod}_S^{G} \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \\ \to \end{smallmatrix} \operatorname{Mod}_S^{G \times G} \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \\ \to \\ \to\end{smallmatrix} \cdots\big\} \]

as the limit (in the $\infty$-category $\operatorname {Cat}_R$).

Corollary 6.10 If $G$ is a finite group, then associated to a $G$-equivariant commutative $R$-algebra spectrum $S \in (\operatorname {Ring}_{R/})^{BG}$, there is a cosimplicial object

\[ \mathbb{T}^{{\bullet}}(\operatorname{Cat}_S) = \big\{ i^{*}\operatorname{Cat}_S \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \end{smallmatrix} \mathbb{T}(i^{*}\operatorname{Cat}_S) \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \\ \to \end{smallmatrix} \mathbb{T}(\mathbb{T}(i^{*}\operatorname{Cat}_S)) \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \\ \to \\ \to\end{smallmatrix} \cdots\big\} \]

in ${\operatorname {Cat}}_\infty ^{\land }$ induced by the comonad $\mathbb {T}$ which computes the homotopy fixed points

\[ \operatorname{Cat}_S^{hG}\simeq\mathrm{lim}\big\{\operatorname{Cat}_S \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \end{smallmatrix} \operatorname{Cat}_S^{G} \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \\ \to \end{smallmatrix} \operatorname{Cat}_S^{G \times G} \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \\ \to \\ \to\end{smallmatrix} \cdots\big\} \]

as the limit (in the $\infty$-category $\operatorname {Cat}_\infty ^{\land }$).

6.3 Descent

Proposition 6.11 For a Galois extension $R \to S$, there is a natural equivalence of cosimplicial $R$-algebras between the Amitsur complex $S^{\otimes _R\bullet }$ and the fixed-point construction $\mathbb {T}^{\bullet }(S)$ of Corollary 6.8.

Proof. The universal property of the left Kan extension implies that the identity map $S \simeq \mathbb {T}^{0}(S)$ extends to a map of cosimplicial objects $S^{\otimes \bullet } \to \mathbb {T}^{\bullet }(S)$, unique up to contractible choice. It suffices to verify that this induces equivalences $S^{\otimes _R (n+1)} \to S^{G^{n}}$, which follows by induction from the case $n=1$.

Corollary 6.12 For a Galois extension $R \to S$, there is a natural equivalence of cosimplicial $R$-linear $\infty$-categories $\operatorname {Mod}_{S^{\otimes \bullet }}$ and the fixed-point construction $\mathbb {T}^{\bullet }(\operatorname {Mod}_S)$ of Corollary 6.9.

Corollary 6.13 For a Galois extension $R \to S$, there is a natural equivalence of cosimplicial $\infty$-categories $\operatorname {Cat}_{S^{\otimes _R\bullet }}$ and the fixed-point construction $\mathbb {T}^{\bullet }(\operatorname {Cat}_S)$ of Corollary 6.10.

We now specialize Corollary 6.9 to the case in which $R\to S$ is a faithful Galois extension of $R$ by a stably dualizable group $G$. Write $f\colon \thinspace BG\to \operatorname {Ring}_{R/}$ for the functor classifying $S$ as a $G$-equivariant commutative $R$-algebra, so that $S\simeq f(*)$ and $R\simeq \lim f$. By Corollary 6.12, we have equivalent descriptions

\[ \lim\{\operatorname{Mod}_{S^{{\otimes}{\bullet}}}\}\simeq(\operatorname{Mod}_S)^{hG}\simeq\lim\operatorname{Mod}_f \]

for the ‘fixed points’ of the $\infty$-category $\operatorname {Mod}_f$, the $\infty$-category of $G$-semilinear $S$-modules. Lastly, we write $N^{hG}$ for the limit of a $G$-semilinear $S$-module $N$, and view it as an $R\simeq S^{hG}$-module.

Theorem 6.14 Let $R\to S$ be a faithful $G$-Galois extension with $G$ finite, and $A \in \operatorname {Alg}_R$. Then the canonical map

\[ \operatorname{Mod}_A\longrightarrow(\operatorname{Mod}_{S \otimes_R A})^{hG} \]

is an equivalence of $\infty$-categories.

Proof. Tensoring the equivalence of Proposition 6.11 with $A$, we obtain maps of cosimplicial objects

\[ (S^{{\otimes}{\bullet}}) \otimes_R A \xrightarrow{\sim} \mathbb{T}^{{\bullet}}(S) \otimes_R A \to \mathbb{T}^{{\bullet}}(A). \]

The natural map $\mathbb {T}(X) \otimes _R Y \to \mathbb {T}(X \otimes _R Y)$ is equivalent to the map $X^{G} \otimes _R Y \to (X \otimes _R Y)^{G}$ and is therefore an equivalence, because both sides are a $|G|$-fold coproduct of copies of $X \otimes _R Y$.

Since $S$ is faithful and dualizable as an $R$-module, Proposition 6.5 shows that there is an equivalence

\[ \operatorname{Mod}_A \simeq \lim (\operatorname{Mod}_{S^{\otimes_R} \otimes_R A}). \]

The equivalence of cosimplicial rings shows that this extends to an equivalence

\[ \operatorname{Mod}_A \simeq \lim \operatorname{Mod}_{\mathbb{T}^{{\bullet}} A} \simeq (\operatorname{Mod}_{S \otimes_R A})^{hG}. \]

Corollary 6.15 Let $R\to S$ be a faithful $G$-Galois extension with $G$ finite, associated to a functor $f\colon \thinspace BG\to \operatorname {Ring}_{R/}$, and consider the following diagram.

Then the map

\[ \operatorname{Mod}_R\longrightarrow\operatorname{Fun}_{/\operatorname{Ring}}(BG,\operatorname{Mod}), \]

which sends the $R$-module $M$ to the $G$-Galois module $S \otimes _R M$, is an equivalence.

Proof. The $\infty$-category of sections from $BG$ to the pullback of $\operatorname {Mod} \to \operatorname {Ring}$ is equivalent to the limit of the functor $\operatorname {Mod}_f\colon \thinspace BG\to {\operatorname {Cat}^{\land }_\infty }$ it classifies [Reference LurieLur09, 3.3.3.2], which in turn is equivalent to $\operatorname {Mod}_R$ by Theorem 6.14.

Lemma 6.16 For an $\infty$-operad $\mathcal {O}$, the $\infty$-category of $\mathcal {O}$-monoidal $\infty$-categories has limits which are computed in $\operatorname {Cat}_\infty$.

Proof. In [Reference LurieLur17, 2.4.2.6] it is shown that there is an equivalence between $\mathcal {O}$-monoidal $\infty$-categories and $\mathcal {O}$-algebra objects in $\operatorname {Cat}_\infty$, and so [Reference LurieLur17, 3.2.2.1] shows that limits of the underlying $\infty$-categories lift uniquely to limits of $\mathcal {O}$-monoidal $\infty$-categories. The same proof applies within the category of large $\infty$-categories.

Corollary 6.17 Let $f\colon \thinspace I\to {\operatorname {Cat}^{\mathcal {O}}_\infty }$ be a diagram of $\mathcal {O}$-monoidal $\infty$-categories and $\mathcal {O}$-monoidal functors. Then the canonical map

\[ \operatorname{Alg}_{/\mathcal{O}}(\lim f) \to \lim (\operatorname{Alg}_{/\mathcal{O}} \circ f) \]

is an equivalence.

Proof. The $\infty$-category $\operatorname {Alg}_{/\mathcal {O}}(\mathcal {C}^{\otimes })$ of $\mathcal {O}$-algebra objects in an $\mathcal {O}$-monoidal $\infty$-category $p\colon \thinspace \mathcal {C}^{\otimes } \to \mathcal {O}^{\otimes }$ is the $\infty$-category of functors $\operatorname {Fun}_{/\mathcal {O}^{\otimes }}(\mathcal {O}^{\otimes }, \mathcal {C}^{\otimes })$, and $\operatorname {Fun}_{/\mathcal {O}^{\otimes }}(\mathcal {O}^{\otimes },-)\colon \thinspace \operatorname {Cat}_\infty ^{\mathcal{O}}\to \operatorname {Cat}_\infty$ evidently preserves limits in the target.

Proposition 6.18 Let $R\to S$ be the $G$-Galois extension associated to a functor $f\colon \thinspace BG\to \operatorname {Ring}_{R/}$, and consider the following diagram.

Then the map $\operatorname {Alg}_R\longrightarrow \operatorname {Fun}_{/\operatorname {Ring}}(BG,\operatorname {Alg})$, which sends the $R$-algebra $A$ to the $G$-equivariant $S$-algebra $S \otimes _R A$, is an equivalence.

Proof. This follows from the corresponding statement for modules, by noting that $f$ is comes from a diagram $BG\to \operatorname {CAlg}(\operatorname {Cat}_\infty )$ of symmetric monoidal $\infty$-categories and symmetric monoidal functors, together with Corollary 6.17.

We now consider the diagram of $\infty$-categories

where the bottom map describes $R$ as the limit of the $G$-action on $S$. For each of the vertical maps we may take spaces of sections over the cone point or over $BG$, recovering fixed-point objects for the action of $G$ on $\operatorname {Pic}_S$, $\operatorname {Mod}_S^{\mathrm {cg}}$, $\operatorname {Az}_S$, and $\operatorname {Br}_S$, respectively.

6.4 Monogenic linear $\infty$-categories

We now consider the question of Galois descent for linear $\infty$-categories. Since faithful $G$-Galois extensions of commutative ring spectra are examples of universal descent morphisms in the sense of [Reference MathewMat16, 3.18] and [Reference LurieLur18, D.3.1.1], we have the following foundational result of Mathew and Lurie.

Theorem 6.19 [Reference LurieLur18, D.3.6.2]

The functor $\operatorname {Ring}\to \widehat{\operatorname {Cat}}_\infty$, which on objects sends the commutative ring $R$ to $\operatorname {Cat}_R$ and on morphisms is given by base-change, is a sheaf with respect to the universal descent topology. In particular, if $f:R\to S$ is a faithful $G$-Galois extension, then the augmented cosimplicial $\infty$-category

\[ \operatorname{Cat}_R\to\operatorname{Cat}_S \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \end{smallmatrix} \operatorname{Cat}_{S\otimes_R S} \begin{smallmatrix} \to \\ \to \\ \to \end{smallmatrix} \cdots \]

is a limit diagram.

Corollary 6.20 There is a canonical equivalence $\operatorname {Cat}_R\simeq \lim \mathbb {T}^{\bullet }(\operatorname {Cat}_{S})$.

Proof. Using Corollary 6.13, this is immediate from the above theorem.

To ease the notation somewhat, we will sometimes write $\operatorname {Cat}_R^{\mathrm {cg}}$ in place of $\operatorname {Cat}_{R,\omega }$ for the $\infty$-category of $\operatorname {Mod}_R$-module objects of $\mathcal {P}r^{\mathrm {L}}_\omega$. Equivalently, these are the compactly generated $R$-linear $\infty$-categories, and morphisms are those $R$-linear colimit-preserving functors which preserve compact objects. We will be especially interested in the monogenic case; that is, the case in which the $R$-linear $\infty$-category $\mathcal {C}$ is of the form $\operatorname {Mod}_A$ for some $R$-algebra $A$.

Proposition 6.21 Let $R$ be a commutative ring spectrum. Then $\operatorname {Cat}_R^{\mathrm {cg}}$ is a symmetric monoidal presentable $\infty$-category. Moreover, if $A$ is an associative $R$-algebra spectrum, then $\operatorname {Mod}_A$ is a dualizable object of $\operatorname {Mod}_R$ if and only if $A$ is smooth and proper over $R$, in which case $\operatorname {Mod}_{A^{\mathrm {op}}}$ is dual to $\operatorname {Mod}_A$ in $\operatorname {Cat}_R$.

Proposition 6.22 Let $f:R\to S$ be a faithful $G$-Galois extension. Then $\operatorname {Mod}_S$ is a dualizable object of $\operatorname {Cat}_R^{\mathrm {cg}}$.

Proof. Since $S$ is a proper $R$-algebra, it suffices to show that $S$ is a smooth $R$-algebra [Reference Antieau and GepnerAG14, § 3.2]. Using the Galois condition, we see that $S\otimes _R S\simeq \prod _{g\in G} S$ splits as a product as $S$-bimodules, so that $S$ is a retract of the compact $S$-bimodule $S\otimes _R S$. Hence $S$ itself is compact as an $S$-bimodule.

Definition 6.23 Let $R$ be a commutative ring spectrum. The $\infty$-category $\operatorname {Cat}_R^{\mathrm {mg}}\subset \operatorname {Cat}_{R}^{\mathrm {cg}}$ of monogenic $R$-linear $\infty$-categories is defined to be the full subcategory of $\operatorname {Cat}_{R}^{\mathrm {cg}}$ consisting of those compactly generated $R$-linear $\infty$-categories which admit a compact generator.

Remark 6.24 By definition, any object $\mathcal {C}$ of $\operatorname {Cat}_{R}^{\mathrm {cg}}$ is in particular a compactly generated $\infty$-category, meaning that $\mathcal {C}$ admits a set of compact generators. However, $\mathcal {C}$ lies in the full subcategory $\operatorname {Cat}_R^{\mathrm {mg}}\subset \operatorname {Cat}_R^{\mathrm {cg}}$ if and only if this set can be taken to be finite, in which case the coproduct of these objects is again compact and a generator.

Using the Morita theory of Schwede and Shipley [Reference Schwede and ShipleySS03], an object $\mathcal {C}$ of $\operatorname {Cat}_R^{\mathrm {cg}}$ lies in the full subcategory $\operatorname {Cat}_R^{\mathrm {mg}}$ if and only if $\mathcal {C}\simeq \operatorname {LMod}_A$ for some $R$-algebra spectrum $A$. That is, the full subcategory $\operatorname {Cat}_R^{\mathrm {mg}}\subset \operatorname {Cat}_R^{\mathrm {cg}}$ is the essential image of the functor $\operatorname {Alg}_R \to \operatorname {Cat}_R^{\mathrm {cg}}$ which associates to the $R$-algebra $A$ the $R$-linear $\infty$-category of $\operatorname {LMod}_A$ of left $A$-module spectra, and to a morphism $A\to B$ of $R$-algebras the base-change functor $f^{*}:\operatorname {LMod}_A\to \operatorname {LMod}_B$. This morphism lies in the $\infty$-category $\operatorname {Cat}_R^{\mathrm {cg}}$; indeed, $f^{*}M\simeq B\otimes _A M$ is a compact left $B$-module whenever $M$ is a compact left $A$-module.

Lemma 6.25 Let $f:R\to S$ be a faithful $G$-Galois extension and let $\mathcal {C}$ be an $R$-linear $\infty$-category. Then $\mathcal {C}$ admits a compact generator if and only if

\[ \operatorname{Mod}_S\otimes_{\operatorname{Mod}_R}\mathcal{C}\simeq\operatorname{Mod}_S(\mathcal{C}) \]

admits a compact generator.

Proof. This is essentially the same argument as in [Reference Antieau and GepnerAG14, 6.15]. Clearly, if $\mathcal {C}$ admits a compact generator $P$, then $f^{*}P\simeq P\otimes _R S$ is a compact generator of $\operatorname {Mod}_S(\mathcal {C})$, so suppose that $\operatorname {Mod}_S(\mathcal {C})$ admits a compact generator $Q$. Since $S$ is compact (equivalently, dualizable) as an $R$-module, the forgetful functor $f_*:\operatorname {Mod}_S\to \operatorname {Mod}_R$ admits a right adjoint $f^{!}:\operatorname {Mod}_R\to \operatorname {Mod}_S$, given by the formula

\[ f^{!}(M)\simeq\mathcal{F}_R(S, M). \]

Again by compactness, $f^{!}$ preserves colimits; equivalently, $f_*:\operatorname {Mod}_S\to \operatorname {Mod}_R$ preserves compact objects. Hence the forgetful functor $f_*:\operatorname {Mod}_S (\mathcal {C})\to \mathcal {C}$ admits a right adjoint, namely the functor obtained by tensoring $\mathcal {C}$ with $f^{!}:\operatorname {Mod}_R\to \operatorname {Mod}_S$, which we will also denote $f^{!}$. Consequently, $f_*:\operatorname {Mod}_S(\mathcal {C})\to \mathcal {C}$ preserves compact objects; in particular, $f_*(Q)$ is a compact object of $\mathcal {C}$.

We claim that $f_*(Q)$ is in fact a generator of $\mathcal {C}$. To see this, suppose that $\mathcal {F}_R(f_*(Q),M)\simeq 0$. It follows by adjunction that $\mathcal {F}_S(Q,f^{!}(M))\simeq 0$, and therefore that $f^{!}(M)\simeq 0$, as $Q$ was chosen to be a compact generator of $\operatorname {Mod}_S(\mathcal {C})$. But $f_*:\operatorname {Mod}_S(\mathcal {C})\to \mathcal {C}$ is conservative, and $f_*f^{!}(M)\simeq D_R S\otimes _R M$, which is also conservative since $S$ (and hence $D_R S$ as well) is a faithful $R$-module. It follows that $f^{!}:\mathcal {C}\to \operatorname {Mod}_S(\mathcal {C})$ is conservative, and consequently that $M\simeq 0$. Therefore $f_*(Q)$ is a compact generator of $\mathcal {C}$.

In order to establish Galois descent for the Brauer space, we will show more generally that the functor $\operatorname {Cat}_{(-)}^{\mathrm {mg}}:\operatorname {Ring}\to \widehat{\operatorname {Cat}}_\infty$ satisfies Galois descent, and then restrict to the invertible objects.

Lemma 6.26 Let $f:R\to S$ be a faithful $G$-Galois extension. Then the induced functors $f^{*}:\operatorname {Cat}_R\to \operatorname {Cat}_S$ and $f^{*}:\operatorname {Cat}_R^{\mathrm {mg}}\to \operatorname {Cat}_S^{\mathrm {mg}}$ are conservative.

Proof. This follows immediately from the fact that $\operatorname {Cat}_S$ is comonadic over $\operatorname {Cat}_R$, as $f$ is a universal descent morphism [Reference LurieLur18].

Proposition 6.27 Let $f:R\to S$ be a morphism of commutative ring spectra. Then the free $S$-linear $\infty$-category functor

\[ F=(-)\otimes_{\operatorname{Mod}_R}\operatorname{Mod}_S\colon\operatorname{Cat}_R\to\operatorname{Cat}_S \]

preserves compactly generated (respectively, monogenic) linear $\infty$-categories and compact-object-preserving morphisms. If additionally $S$ is a compact as an $R$-module, then the right adjoint $U:\operatorname {Cat}_S\to \operatorname {Cat}_R$ of $F$ also preserves compactly generated (respectively, monogenic) linear $\infty$-categories and compact-object-preserving morphisms.

Theorem 6.28 Let $f:R\to S$ be a faithful $G$-Galois extension. Then the canonical map $\operatorname {Cat}^{\mathrm {cg}}_R\to (\operatorname {Cat}^{\mathrm {cg}}_S)^{hG}$ is an equivalence of $\infty$-categories.

Proof. We verify the two criteria of [Reference LurieLur17, 4.7.5.3]. As a presentable $\infty$-category, colimits of simplicial objects exist in $\operatorname {Cat}_R^{\mathrm {cg}}$, and the extension-of-scalars functor $f^{*}\simeq \operatorname {Mod}_S \otimes _{\operatorname {Mod}_R} (-)\colon \thinspace \operatorname {Cat}_R^{\mathrm {cg}} \to \operatorname {Cat}_S^{\mathrm {cg}}$ preserves them. For the Beck–Chevalley condition, given a map $\alpha \colon \thinspace [m] \to [n]$ in $\Delta$, the fact that the induced diagram of $\infty$-categories

is left adjointable follows from the fact that the left adjoint of the horizontal arrows exist because, according to Proposition 6.22, $\operatorname {Mod}_S$ is a dualizable object of $\operatorname {Cat}_R^{\mathrm {cg}}$ with dual $D_{\operatorname {Mod}_R}\operatorname {Mod}_S$ (self-dual, actually, but we do not need this here). It follows that the functor from $\operatorname {Cat}_R$ to the limit of the simplicial $\infty$-category $n\mapsto \operatorname {Cat}_{S^{\otimes _R (1+n)}}^{\mathrm {cg}}$ has a fully faithful left adjoint. Since $S$ is faithful, the functor $\operatorname {Cat}_R^{\mathrm {cg}} \to \operatorname {Cat}_S^{\mathrm {cg}}$ is conservative, so that $\operatorname {Cat}_R^{\mathrm {cg}}$ is equivalent to the limit.

Theorem 6.29 Let $f:R\to S$ be a faithful $G$-Galois extension. Then the resulting augmented cosimplicial $\infty$-category

is a limit diagram.

Proof. Consider the morphism of augmented cosimplicial $\infty$-categories

in which the vertical maps are inclusions of full subcategories. By Theorem 6.28, the bottom row of the diagram is a limit cone, and the limit of a diagram of inclusions of full subcategories is again a full subcategory. Hence the canonical functor

\[ \operatorname{Cat}_R^{\mathrm{mg}}\to\lim\operatorname{Cat}_{S^{{\otimes}{\bullet}}}^{\mathrm{mg}} \]

is fully faithful, so it remains to show that it is essentially surjective. An object of $\lim \operatorname {Cat}_{S^{\otimes \bullet }}^{\mathrm {mg}}$ is a compatible family of monogenic $S^{\otimes \bullet }$-linear $\infty$-categories, which we may view as an $R$-linear $\infty$-category $\mathcal {C}$ by virtue of the fully faithful inclusion $\lim \operatorname {Cat}_{S^{\otimes \bullet }}^{\mathrm {mg}}\to \operatorname {Cat}_R^{\mathrm {cg}}$. But $f^{*}\mathcal {C}\in \operatorname {Cat}_S^{\mathrm {cg}}$ lies in the full subcategory $\operatorname {Cat}_S^{\mathrm {mg}}\subset \operatorname {Cat}_S^{\mathrm {cg}}$, so by Lemma 6.25, $\mathcal {C}$ admits a compact generator as well.

Proposition 6.30 Let $\mathcal {C}$ be a monogenic $R$-linear $\infty$-category and $f:R\to S$ a faithful $G$-Galois extension. Then $\mathcal {C}$ is invertible as an object of $\operatorname {Cat}_R^{\mathrm {mg}}$ if and only if $\operatorname {Mod}_S(\mathcal {C})$ is invertible as an object of $\operatorname {Cat}_S^{\mathrm {mg}}$.

Proof. Each of the functors in the augmented cosimplicial diagram in the statement of Theorem 6.29 above is symmetric monoidal. It follows from Lemma 6.16 that $\operatorname {Cat}_R^{\mathrm {mg}}$ is the limit of $\operatorname {Cat}_{S^{\otimes \bullet }}^{\mathrm {mg}}$ as symmetric monoidal $\infty$-categories. Moreover, passage to spaces of invertible objects is a corepresentable functor, so it commutes with limits. Now let $\mathcal {C}$ be a monogenic $R$-linear $\infty$-category. Clearly if $\mathcal {C}$ is invertible then $\operatorname {Mod}_S(\mathcal {C})$ is invertible, so suppose that $\operatorname {Mod}_S(\mathcal {C})$ is invertible in $\operatorname {Cat}_S^{\mathrm {mg}}$. Then for each map $[0]\to [n]$ in $\Delta$, $\operatorname {Mod}_{S^{\otimes n+1}}(\mathcal {C})$ is invertible in $\operatorname {Cat}_{S^{\otimes n+1}}^{\mathrm {mg}}$. It follows that $\operatorname {Mod}_{S^{\otimes \bullet }}(\mathcal {C})$ is an object of $\operatorname {Pic}(\operatorname {Cat}_{S^{\otimes \bullet }}^{\mathrm {mg}})$, so, taking the limit, we deduce that $\mathcal {C}$ lies in $\operatorname {Pic}(\operatorname {Cat}_R^{\mathrm {mg}})$.

Theorem 6.31 Let $R\to S$ be a faithful $G$-Galois extension with $G$ finite. There is a commutative diagram of symmetric monoidal $\infty$-categories

in which all five vertical arrows are equivalences.

Proof. We already have equivalences $\operatorname {Mod}_R \simeq (\operatorname {Mod}_S)^{hG}$ and $\operatorname {Alg}_R \simeq (\operatorname {Alg}_S)^{hG}$, so for the left three arrows it suffices to identify the essential images of the $\infty$-categories $\operatorname {Pic}_R$, $\operatorname {Mod}_R^{\mathrm {cg}}$, and $\operatorname {Az}_R$ of invertible modules, compact generators, and Azumaya algebras.

Proposition 6.4 implies that the property of being invertible descends, as do subcategories of equivalences, so that the essential image of $\operatorname {Pic}_R$ is the subcategory $(\operatorname {Pic}_S)^{hG}$ of $(\operatorname {Mod}_S)^{hG}$. Similarly, Proposition 6.4 implies that the properties of being dualizable and faithful descend, and that for a dualizable $R$-algebra $A$ the map $A \otimes _R A^{\mathrm {op}} \to \operatorname {End}_R(A) \simeq D_RA \otimes _R A$ is an equivalence if and only if the same is true for the $S$-algebra $S \otimes _R A$. Therefore, the essential image of $\operatorname {Az}_R$ is the subcategory $(\operatorname {Az}_S)^{hG}$ of $(\operatorname {Alg}_S)^{hG}$.

Compact generators are taken to compact generators, and so the second vertical arrow is defined. Further, if $M$ is an $R$-module whose image in $\operatorname {Mod}_S$ is a compact generator, then $M$ is compact and $\operatorname {End}_R(M)$ is an $R$-algebra whose image $\operatorname {End}_S(S \otimes _R M)$ is an Azumaya $S$-algebra, as already shown. Therefore $\operatorname {End}_R(M)$ is an Azumaya $R$-algebra, implying that $M$ is a generator.

Finally, the fact that the right-hand vertical map is an equivalence is precisely the content of Theorem 6.29, and the equivalence $\operatorname {Br}_R\simeq \operatorname {Br}_S^{hG}$ follows from Proposition 6.30 as $\operatorname {Br}_R\simeq \operatorname {Pic}(\operatorname {Cat}_R^{\mathrm {mg}})$.

In particular, this gives a descent criterion for Morita equivalence.

Corollary 6.32 The group $\pi _0 (B\operatorname {Pic}_S^{hG})$ has, as a subgroup, the group of Morita equivalence classes of $R$-algebras $A$ such that there exist an $S$-module $M$ and an equivalence of $S$-algebras $S \otimes _R A \simeq \operatorname {End}_S(M)$.

Proof. The $\infty$-category of such $R$-algebras is the preimage of the component of $\operatorname {Mod}_S$ in $\operatorname {Cat}_{S}$, and all such algebras are Azumaya $R$-algebras by the previous result; this component is $B\operatorname {Pic}_S$ by Proposition 5.17. The maximal subgroupoid in $\operatorname {Cat}_{R}$ spanned by objects in this preimage is therefore equivalent to $(B\operatorname {Pic}_S)^{hG}$, as taking maximal subgroupoids preserves all limits and colimits.

6.5 Spectral sequence tools

For an object $X$ in an $\infty$-category $\mathcal {C}$, we write $B\operatorname {Aut}_\mathcal {C}(X)$ for the subgroupoid of $\mathcal {C}^{\simeq }$ spanned by objects equivalent to $X$ and $\operatorname {Aut}_\mathcal {C}(X)$ for the space of self-equivalences.

Definition 6.33 Let $G$ be a group and $f\colon \thinspace BG \to \operatorname {Cat}_\infty$ a functor classifying the action of $G$ on an $\infty$-category $\mathcal {C}$. Write $\mathcal {C}_{hG} \to BG$ for the associated fibration (the colimit) and $\mathcal {C}^{hG}$ for the limit.

Restricting gives us a Kan fibration $(\mathcal {C}_{hG})^{\simeq } \to BG$ of Kan complexes whose space of sections is $(\mathcal {C}^{hG})^{\simeq }$ [Reference LurieLur09, 3.3.3.2]. The descent diagram in Theorem 6.31 will now allow us to carry out computations using the Bousfield–Kan spectral sequence for spaces of sections. In our cases of interest there will be obstruction groups that are annihilated by late differentials, and so we need to use the more sophisticated obstruction theory due to Bousfield [Reference BousfieldBou89]. We will review this obstruction theory now.

For a cosimplicial object $\mathcal {D}^{\bullet }\colon \thinspace \Delta \to \operatorname {Cat}_\infty$, the limits

\[ \operatorname{Tot}^{n}(\mathcal{D}) = \lim_{k \in \Delta_{{\leq} n}} \mathcal{D}^{k} \]

give a tower of $\infty$-categories whose limit is the limit of $\mathcal {D}^{\bullet }$.

Proposition 6.34 Let $f\colon \thinspace \mathcal {C}_{hG} \to BG$ be a Kan fibration classifying the action of $G$ on a Kan complex $\mathcal {C}$, viewed as an $\infty$-groupoid. Then there is a tower

\[ \cdots \to \operatorname{Tot}^{2} \to \operatorname{Tot}^{1} \to \operatorname{Tot}^{0} = \mathcal{C} \]

of Kan fibrations whose limit is $\mathcal {C}^{hG}$. Given an object $X \in \mathcal {C}$, there is an obstruction theory for existence and uniqueness of lifts of $X$ to an object of $\mathcal {C}^{hG}$, natural in $X$ and $\mathcal {C}$.

  1. 1. An object $X \in \mathcal {C}$ is in the essential image of $\operatorname {Tot}^{1}$ if and only if the equivalence class $[X] \in \pi _0 {\mathcal {C}}$ is fixed by the action of the group $G$. Equivalently, this is true if and only if the map

    \[ \pi_0 \operatorname{Aut}_{{\mathcal{C}}_{hG}} (X) \to \pi_0 \operatorname{Aut}_{BG}(*) = G \]
    is surjective.
  2. 2. Given an object $X \in {\mathcal {C}}$ with a lift $Y \in \operatorname {Tot}^{1}$, consider the surjection of groups

    \[ \pi_0 \operatorname{Aut}_{{\mathcal{C}}_{hG}} (X) \to G \]
    as above. The obstruction to $X$ being in the essential image of $\operatorname {Tot}^{2}$ is whether this map of groups splits, and the obstruction to uniqueness of lift to $\operatorname {Tot}^{2}$ is parametrized by the choice of splitting.
  3. 3. [Reference BousfieldBou89, 2.4] If $X$ lifts to $Y \in \operatorname {Tot}^{n}$ for $n \geq 2$, we have a fringed spectral sequence (starting at $E_1$) with $E_2$-term

    \[ H^{s}(G; \pi_t (B\operatorname{Aut}_{\mathcal{C}} X)), \]
    defined for $t > 1$ or for $0 \leq s \leq t \leq 1$. Further pages $E_r^{s,t}$ only exist for $2r-2 \leq n$, and the $E_r$-page depends on a choice of lift of $X$ to $\operatorname {Tot}^{r-1}$. For $r \geq 2$ the $E_r$-page is defined on the region
    \[ \{ (s,t) \mid s \geq 0, t-s \geq 0\} \cup \{(s,t) \mid s \geq 0, t-r \geq \tfrac{r-2}{r-1}(s-r)\}. \]
  4. 4. [Reference BousfieldBou89, 5.2] If $r \geq 1$ and $Y$ is a lift of $X$ to $\operatorname {Tot}^{r}$ which admits a further lift to $\operatorname {Tot}^{2r}$, then there is an obstruction class

    \[ \theta_{2r+1} \in E_{r+1}^{2r+1,2r} \]
    which is zero if and only if $Y$ can be lifted to $\operatorname {Tot}^{2r+1}$.
  5. 5. [Reference BousfieldBou89, 5.2] If $r \geq 2$ and $Y$ is a lift of $X$ to $\operatorname {Tot}^{r}$ which admits a further lift to $\operatorname {Tot}^{2r-1}$, then there is an obstruction class

    \[ \theta_{2r} \in E_r^{2r,2r-1} \]
    which is zero if and only if $Y$ can be lifted to $\operatorname {Tot}^{2r}$.
  6. 6. If $Y \in \mathcal {C}^{hG}$, the above spectral sequences converge (in the region $t-s > 0$) to $\pi _{t-s} (B\operatorname {Aut}_{\mathcal {C}^{hG}}Y)$.

  7. 7. If $\mathcal {C} \simeq \Omega \mathcal {D}$ for a Kan complex $\mathcal {D}$ with compatible $G$-action, the spectral sequences for $\mathcal {C}$ and $\mathcal {D}$ are compatible. In particular, if the map $BG \to \mathrm {Sp}$ representing the $G$-action on $\mathcal {C}$ lifts to a functor from $BG$ to the category of $E_\infty$-spaces, we can construct an associated $K$-theory spectrum $K(\mathcal {C})$ such that the spectral sequence above extends to the homotopy fixed-point spectral sequence for the action of $G$ on $K(\mathcal {C})$.

Remark 6.35 The beginning of the obstruction theory may be described as follows. In order for $X$ to lift to the limit $\mathcal {C}^{hG}$, a lift to $\operatorname {Tot}^{1}$ is determined by choosing equivalences $\phi _g\colon \thinspace {}^{g} X \to X$ for all $g \in G$. A lift to $\operatorname {Tot}^{2}$ is then determined by witnesses for the cocycle condition, in the form of homotopies from $\phi _{gh}$ to $\phi _g \circ {}^{g}(\phi _h)$.

Remark 6.36 The user (particularly if they are used to stable work) may benefit from being explicitly reminded of some of the dangers of the ‘fringe effect’. While the splittings in the second obstruction can be parametrized by $H^{1}(G;\pi _0 \operatorname {Aut}_{\mathcal {C}}(X))$, this does not occur until an initial splitting is chosen (indeed, otherwise the action of $G$ on $\pi _* \operatorname {Aut}_\mathcal {C}(X)$ is not even defined). The structure of the spectral sequence, at arbitrarily large pages, may also depend strongly on the choices of lift $Y$.

Because we will be interested in understanding different lifts, it will be useful to be more systematic about the obstructions to this.

Definition 6.37 For an $\infty$-category $\mathcal {C}$ and objects $X$ and $Y$ in $\mathcal {C}$, we write $\operatorname {Equiv}_{\mathcal {C}}(X,Y)$ for the full subcomplex of $\operatorname {Map}_{\mathcal {C}}(X,Y)$ spanned by the equivalences.

Proposition 6.38 The space $\operatorname {Equiv}_\mathcal {C}(X,Y)$ is a Kan complex, and composition of functions gives a left action of the group $\operatorname {Aut}_\mathcal {C}(Y)$ on $\operatorname {Equiv}_\mathcal {C}(X,Y)$. If $\operatorname {Equiv}_\mathcal {C}(X,Y)$ is nonempty, any choice of point $f\in \operatorname {Equiv}_\mathcal {C}(X,Y)$ produces an equivalence $f^{*}\colon \thinspace \operatorname {Aut}_\mathcal {C}(Y) \to \operatorname {Equiv}_\mathcal {C}(X,Y)$.

Proposition 6.39 Let $G$ be a group acting on an $\infty$-category $\mathcal {C}$, let $p\colon \thinspace \mathcal {C}^{hG} \to \mathcal {C}$ be the limit, and suppose $X$ and $Y$ are objects in $\mathcal {C}^{hG}$. Then the map

\[ \operatorname{Equiv}_{\mathcal{C}^{hG}}(X,Y) \to \operatorname{Equiv}_\mathcal{C}(p(X),p(Y))^{hG}. \]

is an equivalence of Kan complexes.

Proof. The fixed-point construction, as a limit, commutes with taking maximal subgroupoids, mapping objects, and pullbacks.

We may therefore apply the tower of $\operatorname {Tot}$-objects to both $\operatorname {Aut}_\mathcal {C}(Y)$ and $\operatorname {Equiv}_\mathcal {C}(X,Y)$ to obtain the following result.

Proposition 6.40 Let $f\colon \thinspace \mathcal {C}_{hG} \to BG$ be a Kan fibration classifying the action of $G$ on a Kan complex $\mathcal {C}$, $p\colon \thinspace \mathcal {C}^{hG} \to \mathcal {C}$ the limit, and $X$ and $Y$ objects in $\mathcal {C}^{hG}$.

  1. 1. There are towers of Kan fibrations:

    \begin{align*} \cdots \to \operatorname{Aut}^{2}(Y) \to \operatorname{Aut}^{1}(Y) \to \operatorname{Aut}^{0}(Y) &= \operatorname{Aut}_\mathcal{C}(p(Y)),\\ \!\!\!\!\!\! \cdots \to \operatorname{Equiv}^{2}(X,Y) \to \operatorname{Equiv}^{1}(X,Y) \to \operatorname{Equiv}^{0}(X,Y) &= \operatorname{Equiv}_\mathcal{C}(p(X),p(Y)). \end{align*}
    The limits are $\operatorname {Aut}_{\mathcal {C}^{hG}}(Y)$ and $\operatorname {Equiv}_{\mathcal {C}^{hG}}(X,Y)$, respectively.
  2. 2. The spaces $\operatorname {Aut}^{n}(Y)$ are $\infty$-groups which act on the spaces $\operatorname {Equiv}^{n}(X,Y)$.

  3. 3. If $\operatorname {Equiv}^{n}(X,Y)$ is nonempty, any choice of point produces an equivalence of partial towers $\operatorname {Aut}^{\leq n}(Y) \to \operatorname {Equiv}^{\leq n}(X,Y)$.

  4. 4. [Reference BousfieldBou89, 5.2] If $\operatorname {Equiv}^{n}(X,Y)$ is nonempty, there is an obstruction class

    \[ \theta_{n+1} \in E_r^{n+1,n+1} \]
    in the spectral sequence calculating $\pi _* B\operatorname {Aut}_{\mathcal {C}^{hG}}(Y)$, defined for $2r\leq n+1$, which is zero if and only if $\operatorname {Equiv}^{n+1}(X,Y)$ is nonempty.

7. Calculations

7.1 Algebraic Brauer groups of even-periodic ring spectra

In this section we assume that $E$ is an even-periodic $\mathbb {E}_\infty$-ring spectrum; that is, there is a unit in $\pi _2 E$, and $\pi _1 E$ is trivial.

We can describe specific Azumaya algebras for these groups using Theorem 3.15 and the algebras described in the proof of [Reference SmallSma71, 7.10].

Example 7.1 Let $u \in \pi _2 E$ be a unit and $\pi _0 E \to R$ a quadratic Galois extension with Galois automorphism $\sigma$. There is an Azumaya $E$-algebra whose coefficient ring is the graded quaternion algebra

\[ R\langle S \rangle / (S^{2} - u, S r - {}^{\sigma} r S), \]

where $S$ is in degree $1$ and $R$ is concentrated in degree zero.

Example 7.2 Suppose $2$ is a unit in $\pi _0 E$ and $u \in \pi _2 E$ is a unit. There is an Azumaya $E$-algebra whose coefficient ring is (perhaps unexpectedly) the $1$-periodic graded ring

\[ (\pi_* E)[x] / (x^{2} - u) \cong (\pi_0 E)[x^{{\pm} 1}], \]

which is of rank $2$ over $\pi _* E$. If $A$ and $B$ are two such algebras determined by units $u$ and $v$, then $A \wedge _E B$ is equivalent to a quaternion algebra from Example 7.1 determined by the unit $u \in \pi _2(E)$ and the quadratic Galois extension $\pi _0(E) \to \pi _0(E)[y] / (y^{2} + uv^{-1})$.

If $E$ is even-periodic and we fix a unit $u \in \pi _2 E$, the category of $E$-modules has $\mathbb {Z}/2$-graded homotopy groups in the classical sense. Therefore, the set of Morita equivalence classes of algebraic Azumaya algebras over $E$ is the same as the set of Morita equivalence classes of $\mathbb {Z}/2$-graded Azumaya algebras over $\pi _0(E)$: the Brauer–Wall group $\operatorname {BW}(\pi _0 E)$. This $\mathbb {Z}/2$-graded Brauer group of a commutative ring has been largely determined (generalizing work of Wall over a field [Reference WallWal64]). In order to state the result, we will need to recall the definition of the group of $\mathbb {Z}/2$-graded quadratic extensions of a ring $R$.

Definition 7.3 Suppose $R$ is a commutative ring, viewed as $\mathbb {Z}/2$-graded and concentrated in degree $0$. Then $Q_2(R)$ is the set of isomorphism classes of quadratic graded $R$-algebras: $\mathbb {Z}/2$-graded $R$-algebras whose underlying ungraded $R$-algebra is commutative, separable, and projective of rank $2$.

In the ungraded case the corresponding set is identified with the étale cohomology group $H^{1}_{et}(\operatorname {Spec}(R), \mathbb {Z}/2)$; similarly, $Q_2(R)$ admits a natural group structure in which the product of two quadratic graded $R$-algebras $L$ and $M$ consists of the subset of elements of the graded tensor product $L\otimes _R M$ fixed under the action of the tensor product $\sigma \otimes _R\tau$ of uniquely defined order-$2$ automorphisms $\sigma :L\to L$ and $\tau :M\to M$ with $L^{\sigma }=R$ and $M^{\tau }=R$ (see [Reference SmallSma71, Proposition 7.3 and Theorem 7.5] for details).

If $\operatorname {Spec}(R)$ is connected, then there are two possible types of element in $Q_2(R)$. In a quadratic graded $R$-algebra $L = (L_0,L_1)$, either $L_1$ has rank $0$ and we have an ungraded quadratic extension $R \to L_0$, or $L_1$ has rank $1$ and $L$ is of the form $(R,L_1)$ for some rank-$1$ projective $R$-module $L_1$. In the latter case, the multiplication map $L_1 \otimes _R L_1 \to R$ must be an isomorphism. Carrying this analysis further yields the following result.

Proposition 7.4 When $\operatorname {Spec}(R)$ is connected, there is a short exact sequence

\[ 0 \to H^{1}_{et}(R, \mathbb{Z}/2) \to Q_2(R) \to \mathbb{Z}/2. \]

Here the étale cohomology group $H^{1}_{et}(R, \mathbb {Z}/2)$ parametrizes ungraded $\mathbb {Z}/2$-Galois extensions of $R$, and the map $Q_2(R) \to \mathbb {Z}/2$ sends a $\mathbb {Z}/2$-graded quadratic $R$-algebra $(L_0, L_1)$ to the rank of $L_1$. The image of $Q_2(R)$ in $\mathbb {Z}/2$ is nontrivial if and only if $2$ is a unit in $R$.

Theorem 7.5 [Sma71] Suppose that $R$ possesses no idempotents. Then the Brauer–Wall group $\operatorname {BW}(R)$ is contained in a short exact sequence

\[ 0 \to \operatorname{Br}(R) \to \operatorname{BW}(R) \to Q_2(R) \to 0, \]

where the subgroup is generated by Azumaya algebras concentrated in even degree.

Corollary 7.6 Suppose that $E$ is even-periodic and that $\pi _0 E$ possesses no idempotents. Then the subgroup of the Brauer group of $E$ generated by algebraic Azumaya algebras is contained in a short exact sequence

\[ 0 \to \operatorname{Br}(\pi_0 E) \to \pi_0 \operatorname{Br}(E)^{\rm alg} \to Q_2(\pi_0 E) \to 0, \]

where the subgroup is generated by algebraic Azumaya algebras with homotopy concentrated in even degrees. In $Q_2(\pi _0 E)$, the elements of $H^{1}_{et}(\pi _0 E, \mathbb {Z}/2)$ detect the algebras of Example 7.1, while the map to $\mathbb {Z}/2$ detects any of the ‘half-quaternion’ algebras of Example 7.2.

Example 7.7 In the case where $E$ is the complex $K$-theory spectrum $KU$, with coefficient ring $\mathbb {Z}[\beta ^{\pm 1}]$, the relevant Brauer–Wall group $\operatorname {BW}(\mathbb {Z})$ is trivial (this follows from the exact sequence $0\to \operatorname {Br}(\mathbb {Z}) \to \operatorname {BW}(\mathbb {Z})\to Q_2(\mathbb {Z})\to 0$ and the classical facts that $\operatorname {Br}(Z)=0$ and $Q_2(Z)\cong H^{1}_{et}(\mathbb {Z},\mathbb {Z}/2)=0$ as $2$ is not a unit in $\mathbb {Z}$) and all $\mathbb {Z}/2$-graded algebraic Azumaya algebras are Morita equivalent. Therefore, there are no $\mathbb {Z}$-graded algebraic Azumaya algebras over $KU$ other than those of the form $\operatorname {End}_{KU} (M)$ for $M$ a coproduct of suspensions of $KU$.

Example 7.8 Suppose that $\pi _0 E$ is a Henselian local ring with residue field $k$. Then extension of scalars determines isomorphisms $H^{1}_{et}(\pi _0 E, \mathbb {Z}/2) \to H^{1}_{et}(k, \mathbb {Z}/2)$ and $\operatorname {Br}(\pi _0 E) \to \operatorname {Br}(k)$ ([Reference AzumayaAzu51, 5], [Reference GrothendieckGro68, 6.1]), and hence an isomorphism $\operatorname {BW}(\pi _0 E) \to \operatorname {BW}(k)$. If $k$ is finite (for example, when $E$ is a Lubin–Tate spectrum associated to a formal group law over a finite field) the group $\operatorname {Br}(k)$ is trivial and the Galois cohomology group is $\mathbb {Z}/2$, so we find that the Brauer–Wall group of $k$ is $\mathbb {Z}/2$ if $k$ has characteristic $2$ and is of order $4$ if $k$ has odd characteristic. The algebraic $\mathbb {Z}/2$-graded Azumaya $E$-algebras are generated (up to Morita equivalence) by those of Examples 7.1 and 7.2.

Example 7.9 If we form the localized ring $KU[1/2]$, we may use global class field theory to analyze the result. The ordinary Brauer group is $\mathbb {Z}/2$, generated by the Hamilton quaternions over $\mathbb {Z}[1/2]$, and this algebra lifts to an Azumaya algebra as originally shown in [Reference Baker, Richter and SzymikBRS12, 6.3]. The étale cohomology group is $\mathbb {Z}/2 \times \mathbb {Z}/2$, with nonzero elements corresponding to the quadratic extensions obtained by adjoining $i$, $\sqrt {2}$, or $\sqrt {-2}$. Finally, $KU[1/2]$ also has Azumaya algebras given by its $1$-periodifications, generating the quotient $\mathbb {Z}/2$ of the Brauer–Wall group $\operatorname {BW}(\mathbb {Z}[1/2])$. The full group has order $16$, and one can show that it is isomorphic to $\mathbb {Z}/8 \times \mathbb {Z}/2$. These can be given specific generators: the $\mathbb {Z}/8$-factor is generated by an algebra with coefficient ring $\mathbb {Z}[\beta ^{\pm (1/2)}, 1/2]$ as an algebra over $KU_*$, while the $\mathbb {Z}/2$-factor is generated by an algebra with coefficient ring

\[ KU_*\big[ \sqrt 2, 1/2\big]\langle S\rangle / (S^{2} - \beta, S \sqrt 2 + \sqrt 2 S). \]

Remark 7.10 The short exact sequence of Theorem 7.5 is generalized in [Reference Childs, Garfinkel and OrzechCGO73, § 4] for many more groups, and by applying their results one can compute the Brauer–Wall group classifying algebraic Azumaya algebras for an overwhelming abundance of examples. For the $4$-periodic localization $KO[1/2]$ we may show that the Brauer–Wall group has 16 elements, combining the order-2 Brauer group of $\mathbb {Z}[1/2]$ with the order-8 collection of Galois extensions of $\mathbb {Z}[1/2]$ with cyclic Galois group of order $4$. For the $p$-complete Adams summand $L_p$ at an odd prime $p$, the Brauer–Wall group has $p-1$ elements if $p \equiv 1\ \mathrm {mod}\ 4$ and $2(p-1)$ elements if $p \equiv 3\ \mathrm {mod}\ 4$. By contrast, $p$-local spectra such as $K_{(p)}$, $KO_{(p)}$, or $L_{(p)}$ tend to have much larger Brauer groups because $\mathbb {Z}_{(p)}$ and its finite extensions have infinite Brauer groups.

7.2 Homotopy fixed-points of $\operatorname {Pic}(KU)$

In this section we study the Galois extension $KO \to KU$. Most of the structure of the homotopy fixed-point spectral sequence for $\operatorname {Pic}(KU)$ has been determined in depth by Mathew and Stojanoska using tools they developed for comparing with the homotopy fixed-point spectral sequence for $KU$ [Reference Mathew and StojanoskaMS16, 7.1]. However, for our purposes we will require information about the behavior of the spectral sequence in small, negative degrees.

We recall the following about the $\infty$-category $\operatorname {Fun}(BG,\mathrm {Sp})$ of $G$-equivariant spectra. These are ‘very naive’ $G$-spectra in the sense that they are simply spectra equipped with a $G$-action, and have the equivalent descriptions of spectra parametrized over $BG$, local systems of spectra on $BG$, or modules over the spherical group algebra $\mathbb {S}[G]$. They should not to be confused with the more sophisticated notions of ‘naive’ or ‘genuine’ $G$-spectra that carry additional fixed-point data, which we will not require.

Every $G$-space $Y$ gives rise to such a $G$-spectrum $\Sigma ^{\infty } Y$, and every $G$-spectrum to a ‘Borel equivariant’ cohomology theory for $G$-spaces:

\begin{align*} E^{t}(Y) &= [\Sigma^{\infty} Y, \Sigma^{t} E]_G\\ &= \pi_{{-}t} F_{\mathbb{S}[G]}(\Sigma^{\infty} Y, E)\\ &= \pi_{{-}t} F(\Sigma^{\infty} Y, E)^{hG}. \end{align*}

The standard notion of connectivity gives the category of $G$-spectra a $t$-structure whose heart is the category of abelian groups with $G$-action, or modules over $\pi _0 \mathbb {S}[G] = \mathbb {Z}[G]$. For such a $G$-module $M$ with associated Eilenberg–Mac Lane object $HM$, there are standard descriptions of the associated cohomology theory. We can either identify it with the Borel equivariant cohomology of $Y$, or with the cohomology of the Borel construction $Y_{hG}$ with coefficients in the local system associated to $M$:

\[ HM^{t}(Y) = H^{t}_G(Y;M) = H^{t}(Y_{hG}; \mathcal{M}). \]

This allows us to interpret maps $HM \to \Sigma ^{s} HN$ as operations on Borel equivariant cohomology: such a map, in particular, determines stable cohomology operations

\[ H^{*}_G(Y;M) \to H^{*+s}_G(Y;N). \]

Proposition 7.11 For a $G$-equivariant spectrum $X$ such that $\pi _i(X) = 0$ for $n < i < m$, the $d_{n-m+1}$-differential

\[ H^{s}(G;\pi_n(X)) \to H^{s+m-n+1}(G;\pi_m(X)) \]

in the homotopy fixed-point spectral sequence for $X^{hG}$ is given by an equivariant $k$-invariant

\[ k^{G} \in \pi_{n-m-1} F_{\mathbb{S}[G]}(H\pi_n X, H\pi_m X), \]

which determines a cohomology operation of degree $m-n+1$ on Borel equivariant cohomology. The forgetful map

\[ \pi_{n-m-1} F_{\mathbb{S}[G]}(H\pi_n X, H\pi_m X) \to \pi_{n-m-1} F_{\mathbb{S}}(H\pi_n X, H\pi_m X) \]

sends $k^{G}$ to the underlying $k$-invariant of $X$.

Proof. One derivation of the homotopy fixed-point spectral sequence is from the exact couple associated to the Postnikov tower $X \to \{P_n X\}$ determined by the $t$-structure, as follows. The fiber sequences $\Sigma ^{n} H\pi _n(X) \to P_nX \to P_{n-1} X$ induce long exact sequences

\[ \cdots \to \pi_{*-n} [H\pi_n(X)]^{hG} \to \pi_* P_n(X)^{hG} \to \pi_* P_{n-1}(X)^{hG} \to \cdots \]

and we can make the Borel equivariant identification

\[ \pi_{-*} [H\pi_n(X)]^{hG} = H^{*}(G;\pi_n(X)). \]

Once we make this identification with an exact couple, the $d_{n-m+1}$-differential in question is the composite map

\[ k^{G}\colon\thinspace \Sigma^{n} H\pi_n(X) \to P_nX \xleftarrow{\sim} P_{n+1} X \dots \xleftarrow{\sim} P_{m-1} X \to \Sigma^{m+1} H\pi_m(X). \]

of $G$-spectra.

The statement about compatibility with the underlying $k$-invariant is determined by compatibility of the $t$-structure on $G$-spectra with the $t$-structure on spectra.

Using the adjunction

\[ F_{\mathbb{S}[G]}(X,Y) \simeq F_{\mathbb{S}[G]}(\mathbb{S},F_{\mathbb{S}}(X,Y)) = F_\mathbb{S}(X,Y)^{hG}, \]

we recover the following computational tool.

Proposition 7.12 For functors $BG \to \mathrm {Sp}$ representing spectra $X$ and $Y$ with $G$-action, there exists a spectral sequence with $E_2$-term

\[ E_2^{s,t} = H^{s}(G; \pi_t F_\mathbb{S}(X,Y)) \Rightarrow \pi_{t-s} F_{\mathbb{S}[G]}(X,Y). \]

Furthermore, the edge morphism in this spectral sequence recovers the natural map to $\pi _* F_\mathbb {S}(X,Y)$.

We may then apply this to calculate the possible first two $C_2$-equivariant $k$-invariants of $\operatorname {\mathfrak {pic}}(KU)$, both between degrees $0$ and $1$ and between degrees $1$ and $3$.

Proposition 7.13 Let $\mathbb {Z}^{-}$ be $\mathbb {Z}$ with the sign action of $C_2$, and

\[ \beta^{-}\colon\thinspace H^{*}(C_2;\mathbb{Z}/2) \to H^{*+1}(C_2;\mathbb{Z}^{-}) \]

the Bockstein map associated to the short exact sequence

\[ 0 \to \mathbb{Z}^{-} \to \mathbb{Z}^{-} \to \mathbb{Z}/2 \to 0. \]

Let $x \in H^{1}(G;\mathbb {Z}/2)$ denote the generator. We have

\[ \pi_{{-}2} F_{\mathbb{S}[C_2]} (H\mathbb{Z}/2, H\mathbb{Z}/2) \cong (\mathbb{Z}/2)^{3}, \]

generated by the operations $\operatorname {Sq}^{2}(-)$, $x \cdot \operatorname {Sq}^{1}(-)$, and $x^{2} \cdot (-)$. We also have

\[ \pi_{{-}3} F_{\mathbb{S}[C_2]} (H\mathbb{Z}/2, H\mathbb{Z}^{-}) \cong (\mathbb{Z}/2)^{2}, \]

generated by the operations $\beta ^{-} \circ \operatorname {Sq}^{2}(-)$ and $\beta ^{-}(x^{2} \cdot (-))$.

The restriction to the group of nonequivariant operations sends the generators involving $x$ to zero.

Proof. Proposition 7.12 gives us two spectral sequences, pictured in Figure 1:

\begin{align*} H^{s}(C_2; \pi_t F_\mathbb{S}(H\mathbb{Z}/2, H\mathbb{Z}/2)) &\Rightarrow \pi_{t-s} F_{\mathbb{S}[C_2]}(H\mathbb{Z}/2, H\mathbb{Z}/2),\\ H^{s}(C_2; \pi_{t-s} F_\mathbb{S}(H\mathbb{Z}/2, H\mathbb{Z})) &\Rightarrow \pi_{t-s} F_{\mathbb{S}[C_2]}(H\mathbb{Z}/2, H\mathbb{Z}^{-}). \end{align*}

There is an isomorphism $\pi _{-*} F_\mathbb {S}(H\mathbb {Z}/2, H\mathbb {Z}/2) \cong A^{*}$, where $A^{*}$ is the mod-2 Steenrod algebra; this group is isomorphic to $\mathbb {Z}/2$ for $-2 \leq * \leq 0$ and is trivial for all other $* \geq -2$. Similarly, there is an isomorphism $\pi _{-*} F_\mathbb {S}(H\mathbb {Z}/2, H\mathbb {Z}) \cong \operatorname {Sq}^{1} \cdot A^{*} \subset A^{*}$; this group is isomorphic to $\mathbb {Z}/2$ for $* = -1, -3$ and is trivial for all other $* \geq -3$. The associated spectral sequences appear in Figure 1. These spectral sequences place an upper bound of $8$ on the size of the group $\pi _{-2} F_{\mathbb {S}[C_2]}(H\mathbb {Z}/2, H\mathbb {Z}/2)$ and of $4$ on the size of the group $\pi _{-3} F_{\mathbb {S}[C_2]}(H\mathbb {Z}/2, H\mathbb {Z}^{-})$. However, the cohomology operations on Borel equivariant cohomology that we have described in these groups are linearly independent over $\mathbb {Z}/2$, as can be checked by applying them to the group

\[ \pi_* F_{\mathbb{S}[C_2]}(\Sigma^{\infty}_+ EC_2, H\mathbb{Z}/2) \cong H^{*}(BC_2; \mathbb{Z}/2). \]

(These represent elements in different cohomological filtration in this spectral sequence.)

Proposition 7.14 The first two $C_2$-equivariant $k$-invariants of $\operatorname {\mathfrak {pic}}(KU)$ are $\operatorname {Sq}^{2} + x\operatorname {Sq}^{1}$ and $\beta ^{-} \operatorname {Sq}^{2}$.

Proof. The underlying nonequivariant $k$-invariants must be the first two $k$-invariants of $\operatorname {\mathfrak {pic}}(KU)$. These are $\operatorname {Sq}^{2}$ and $\beta \operatorname {Sq}^{2}$, where $\beta$ is the nonequivariant Bockstein [Reference FreedFre12, 1.42]. (As a sketch, the first $k$-invariant is determined by noting that the twist map on $\Sigma KU \otimes _{KU} \Sigma KU$ is multiplication by $-1 \in (\pi _0 KU)^{\times }$. The second is detected by the symmetric monoidal structure on the 2-groupoid of Clifford algebras. The nontriviality of this $k$-invariant is the source of the addition rule $(\lambda ,\mu ) (\lambda ',\mu ') = (\lambda + \lambda ', \mu + \mu ' + \beta (\lambda \cdot \lambda '))$ for twisting cocycles $(\lambda , \mu ) \in H^{1} \times H^{3}$ when expressing cup products in graded twisted $K$-theory [Reference KaroubiKar12, § 5].)

Figure 1. Spectral sequences for equivariant $k$-invariants.

Moreover, the generating elements in $\pi _0 \operatorname {\mathfrak {pic}}(KU)$ and $\pi _1 \operatorname {\mathfrak {pic}}(KU)$ are the images of the classes $[\Sigma KO]$ and ${-1}$ from $\operatorname {\mathfrak {pic}}(KO)$ respectively, and hence must survive the homotopy fixed-point spectral sequence. These classes would support a nontrivial $d_2$ or $d_3$ differential if the cohomology operation involved a nonzero multiple of $x^{2}$ or $\beta ^{-} x^{2}$, respectively. This shows that the second $k$-invariant can only be $\beta ^{-} \operatorname {Sq}^{2}$, and the first $k$-invariant can only be $\operatorname {Sq}^{2}$ or $\operatorname {Sq}^{2} + x\operatorname {Sq}^{1}$.

Suppose that the second $k$-invariant were $\operatorname {Sq}^{2}$. This $k$-invariant is in the image of the map

\[ \pi_{{-}2} F_{\mathbb{S}}(H\mathbb{Z}/2,H\mathbb{Z}/2) \to \pi_{{-}2} F_{\mathbb{S}[C_2]}(H\mathbb{Z}/2,H\mathbb{Z}/2) \]

induced by the ring map $\mathbb {S}[C_2] \to \mathbb {S}$, and so the resulting $C_2$-equivariant Postnikov stage $\tau _{\leq 1} \operatorname {\mathfrak {pic}}(KU)$ would be equivalent to one with the trivial $C_2$-action. We would then have the equivalence

\[ (\tau_{{\leq} 1} \operatorname{\mathfrak{pic}}(KU))^{hC_2} \simeq F((BC_2)_+, \tau_{{\leq} 1} \operatorname{\mathfrak{pic}}(KU)). \]

This splits off a copy of $\tau _{\leq 1} \operatorname {\mathfrak {pic}}(KU)$ so there could be no hidden extensions from $H^{0}(C_2; \pi _0 \operatorname {\mathfrak {pic}}(KU))$ to $H^{1}(C_2; \pi _1 \operatorname {\mathfrak {pic}}(KU))$ in the homotopy fixed-point spectral sequence. However, there is a hidden extension: the class $[\Sigma KO] \in \pi _0 \operatorname {\mathfrak {pic}}(KO)$ has nontrivial image in $H^{0}(C_2; \pi _0 \operatorname {\mathfrak {pic}}(KU))$ and twice it is $[\Sigma ^{2} KO]$, which has nontrivial image in $H^{1}(C_2; (\pi _0 KU)^{\times })$. (This reflects the fact that $KO$ is not $2$-periodic.)

Proposition 7.15 The homotopy fixed-point space $B\operatorname {Pic}(KU)^{hC_2}$ has homotopy groups

\[ \pi_n B\operatorname{Pic}(KU)^{hC_2} = \begin{cases} \pi_{n-2} {\rm GL}_1(KO) & \text{if }n \geq 2,\\ \mathbb{Z}/8 & \text{if }n = 1,\\ \mathbb{Z}/2 & \text{if }n = 0. \end{cases} \]

Proof. The homotopy fixed-point spectral sequence

\[ H^{s}(C_2; \pi_t \operatorname{\mathfrak{pic}}(KU)) \Rightarrow \pi_{t-s} \operatorname{\mathfrak{pic}}(KU)^{hC_2} \]

is pictured in Figure 2; we refer to [Reference Mathew and StojanoskaMS16] for the portion with $t > 3$, obtained by comparison with the homotopy fixed-point spectral sequence for $KU$. The differentials supported on $t=0$ and $t=1$ are the stable cohomology operations we just determined. The inclusion of $\mathbb {Z}/8$ into $\pi _0 \operatorname {\mathfrak {pic}}(KO) \cong \pi _0 \operatorname {\mathfrak {pic}}(KU)^{hC_2}$ forces the hidden extension in degree $0$.

Figure 2. Fixed-point spectral sequence for $\operatorname {\mathfrak {pic}}(KU)$ up to $E_3$.

This recovers the calculation of the Picard group of $KO$ by [Reference Hopkins, Mahowald and SadofskyHMS92].

There are potential further differentials in negative degrees in the homotopy fixed-point spectral sequence which we have not addressed here. There are potential sources for a $d_4$-differential when $t=0$, $s \equiv 3\ \mathrm {mod}\ 4$. There are also potential targets for a $d_3$- or $d_5$- or $d_6$-differential when $t=5$, $s \equiv 2\ \mathrm {mod}\ 4$, though the latter would be impossible if the Postnikov stage $\operatorname {\mathfrak {pic}}(KU) \to \tau _{\leq 3} \operatorname {\mathfrak {pic}}(KU)$ split off equivariantly. It seems likely that a precise formulation of the periodic structure in this spectral sequence would be able to address these questions.

7.3 Lifting from $KU$ to $KO$

In this section we examine those Azumaya $KO$-algebras whose extension to $KU$ is algebraic. By Example 7.7, we have the following .

Proposition 7.16 Any algebraic Azumaya $KU$-algebra is of the form $\operatorname {End}_{KU} N$, where $N$ is a finite coproduct of suspensions of $KU$.

Therefore, by Proposition 7.15 and Corollary 6.32, there are at most two Morita equivalence classes of Azumaya $KO$-algebras whose extensions to $KU$ are algebraic.

The following shows that the nontrivial Morita equivalence class is realizable.

Proposition 7.17 There exists a unique equivalence class of quaternion algebra $Q$ over $KO$ such that

  • $KU \otimes _{KO} Q \simeq M_2(KU)$, and

  • there is no $KO$-module $M$ such that $Q \not \simeq \operatorname {End}_{KO}(M)$ as $KO$-algebras.

This algebra has homotopy groups isomorphic, as a $KO_*$-algebra, to the homotopy groups of a twisted group algebra:

\[ \pi_* Q \cong \pi_* KU\langle C_2 \rangle \cong \pi_* \operatorname{End}_{KO} KU. \]

Proof. The $KO$-algebras $A$ such that $KU \otimes _{KO} A \simeq M_2(KU)$ are parametrized by the preimage of the component $B\operatorname {Aut}_{\operatorname {Alg}_{KU}} M_2(KU) \subset \operatorname {Az}_{KU}$. We may therefore apply the obstruction theory of § 6.5. We know that there is a chain of equivalences

\begin{align*} KU \otimes_{KO} \operatorname{End}_{KO}(KU) &\simeq \operatorname{End}_{KU}(KU \otimes_{KO} KU) \\ &\simeq \operatorname{End}_{KU}(KU \oplus KU) \simeq M_2(KU), \end{align*}

and so we may use $\operatorname {End}_{KO}(KU)$ as a basepoint for the purposes of calculations. The obstruction theory then takes place in a fringed spectral sequence with $E_2$-term

\[ H^{s}(C_2; \pi_t B\operatorname{Aut}_{\operatorname{Alg}_{KU}}(M_2(KU))). \]

By Corollary 5.20, we have a long exact sequence

\begin{align*} \cdots &\to \pi_n\operatorname{GL}_1(KU)\to \pi_n\operatorname{GL}_1(M_2(KU)) \to \pi_n (\operatorname{Aut}_{\operatorname{Alg}_{KU}}(M_2 KU)) \to \cdots\\ &\to \pi_0\operatorname{GL}_1(KU)\to \pi_0\operatorname{GL}_1(M_2(KU)) \to \pi_0 (\operatorname{Aut}_{\operatorname{Alg}_{KU}}(M_2(KU))) \to \pi_0 \operatorname{Pic}(KU). \end{align*}

Since $\pi _* M_2(KU) \cong M_2 (\pi _*(KU))$, we find that $\operatorname {Aut}_{\operatorname {Alg}_{KU}}(M_2 KU)$ has trivial homotopy groups in odd degrees, and that for $k > 0$ there are short exact sequences

\[ 0 \to \pi_{2k} KU \to \pi_{2k} M_2(KU) \to \pi_{2k} \operatorname{Aut}_{\operatorname{Alg}_{KU}}(M_2 KU) \to 0. \]

Moveover, the $C_2$-action on $\pi _{2k}(KU \otimes _{KO} \operatorname {End}_{KO}(KU)) \cong M_2(KU_{2k})$ is given in matrix form by

\[ \begin{bmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{bmatrix} \mapsto ({-}1)^{k} \begin{bmatrix} d & c \\ b & a \end{bmatrix}. \]

We may now use this to calculate group cohomology. We find that for $s,t > 0$, the cohomology $H^{s}(C_2; \pi _t M_2(KU))$ vanishes with this action and we have isomorphisms

\[ H^{s}(C_2; \pi_t \operatorname{Aut}_{\operatorname{Alg}_{KU}}(M_2 KU)) \to H^{s+1}(C_2; \pi_t \operatorname{Pic}(KU)), \]

realized by the natural map $B\operatorname {Aut}_{\operatorname {Alg}_{KU}}(M_2 KU) \to B\operatorname {Pic}(KU)$. We display the spectral sequence for calculating lifts of $M_2(KU)$ in Figure 3 through the $E_3$-term. The regions where the spectral sequence is undefined at $E_2$ or $E_3$ are blocked out, and the nonabelian cohomology $H^{s}(C_2; \operatorname {PGL}_2(\mathbb {Z}))$ is indicated with $\circledast$. The first detail we note about this spectral sequence is that for $t-s \geq -1$, the $E_4$-page vanishes entirely for $s \geq 5$. There are potential obstructions to lifting in the column $t-s = -1$ and to uniqueness in the column $t-s = 0$; we will now discuss these obstruction groups using the machinery of § 6.5.

Figure 3. Fixed-point spectral sequence for $B\operatorname {Aut}(KU \otimes _{KO} \operatorname {End}_{KO}(KU))$ up to $E_3$.

Because the groups $E_r^{s,s-1}$ and $E_r^{s,s}$ become trivial at $E_4$ for $s > 5$, there are no obstructions to existence or uniqueness of lifting algebras beyond $\operatorname {Tot}^{5}$: any Azumaya $KU$-algebra equivalent to $M_2(KU)$ with a lift to $\operatorname {Tot}^{5}$ has an essentially unique further lift to an Azumaya $KO$-algebra.

The group $E_2^{4,3}$ is $\mathbb {Z}/2$, and this group is a potential home for obstructions for a point in $\operatorname {Tot}^{2}$ which lifts to $\operatorname {Tot}^{3}$ to also lift to $\operatorname {Tot}^{4}$ (see Remark 7.18 for further elaboration). Since we have already chosen a lift of $M_2(KU)$ to the algebra $\operatorname {End}_{KO}(KU)$ in the homotopy limit to govern the obstruction theory, the obstruction must be zero at this basepoint.

The group $E_3^{5,5}$ parametrizes differences between lifts from $\operatorname {Tot}^{4}$ to $\operatorname {Tot}^{5}$. This group is $\mathbb {Z}/2$, and contains only permanent cycles due to the fact that the spectral sequence has a vanishing region at $E_4$. Therefore, there are two distinct lifts of $KU \otimes _{KO} \operatorname {End}_{KO}(KU)$ from $\operatorname {Tot}^{2}$ to $\operatorname {Tot}^{5}$, representing two inequivalent $KO$-algebras which become equivalent to $M_2(KU)$ after extending scalars. One of these is $\operatorname {End}_{KO}(KU)$; we will refer to the other algebra as $Q$.

Moreover, the map $B\operatorname {Aut}_{\operatorname {Alg}_{KU}}(M_2 KU) \to B\operatorname {Pic}(KU)$ induces an isomorphism on homotopy fixed-point spectral sequences in the relevant degree. The generator of $E_3^{5,5}$ representing $Q$ therefore maps to the nontrivial element of $\pi _0 (B\operatorname {Pic}(KU))^{hC_2} \subset \pi _0 \operatorname {Br}(KO)$, and so any points of the fixed-point category with distinct lifts to $\operatorname {Tot}^{5}$ are Morita inequivalent.

Hence, there exists precisely one other $KO$-algebra, $Q$, whose image in $\operatorname {Tot}^{4}$ is the same as the image of $\operatorname {End}_{KO}(KU)$, and $Q$ is Morita inequivalent to any endomorphism algebra.

Finally, to determine the coefficient ring of $Q$, we use the homotopy fixed-point spectral sequence $H^{s}(C_2; \pi _* (KU \otimes _{KO} Q)) \Rightarrow \pi _* Q$. The action of $C_2$ on the coefficient group $M_2(KU)$ is the same as that for $\operatorname {End}_{KO}(KU)$, by construction, and we have already established that there are no higher cohomology contributions, and so we have

\[ \pi_* Q \cong \pi_*(KO \otimes_{KO} \operatorname{End}_{KO}(KU))^{C_2} \cong \pi_* \operatorname{End}_{KO}(KU), \]

as desired.

Remark 7.18 The obstruction group $E_2^{4,3}$ deserves some mention. There is an element in $H^{1}(C_2; \pi _1 B\operatorname {Aut}_{\operatorname {Alg}_{KU}}(M_2 KU))$ whose image in $H^{2}(C_2; \pi _2 B\operatorname {Pic}(KU))$ is nontrivial. More explicitly, $\pi _1 B\operatorname {Aut}_{\operatorname {Alg}_{KU}}(M_2 KU)$ contains ${\rm PGL}_2(\mathbb {Z})$ and this $H^{1}$-class is represented by the alternative action

\[ \begin{bmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{bmatrix} \mapsto ({-}1)^{t} \begin{bmatrix} 0 & 1 \\ -1 & 0 \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix} 0 & -1 \\ 1 & 0 \end{bmatrix} \]

of $C_2$ on $\pi _{2t} M_2(KU)$. One might hope that there is a $KO$-algebra $A$ such that $KU \otimes _{KO} A$ is $M_2(KU)$ with this alternative $C_2$-action on the coefficient ring.

For example, we might imagine finding a self-map $\phi \colon \thinspace KO \to KO$ representing multiplication by $-1 \in \pi _0(KO)$, and using it to produce an action of $C_2$ on $KU \otimes _{KO} M_2(KO)$ such that the generator acts on the $KU$ factor by complex conjugation and on the $M_2(KO)$-factor by

\[ \begin{bmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{bmatrix} \mapsto \begin{bmatrix} 0 & 1 \\ \phi & 0 \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix} 0 & \phi \\ 1 & 0 \end{bmatrix}. \]

In the classical setup, one encounters a sequence of difficulties with carrying this program out. The spectrum $KO$ cannot be a fibrant-cofibrant $KO$-module if $KO$ is strictly commutative, so we require a replacement in order for $\phi$ to be defined. Then this replacement is not strictly the unit for the smash product and so we cannot move $\phi$ across a smash product without an intervening homotopy. In order to make this a ring homomorphism one either wants $\phi ^{2}$ to be the identity, or one wants to replace $\phi$ by an automorphism so that we can genuinely replace this with a conjugation action. And so on. One is left with the feeling that these are technical details and the tools are just barely inadequate for the job, but this is not the case: this $H^{1}$-class cannot be realized by an algebra at all because the image in $H^{2}(C_2;\pi _2 B\operatorname {Pic}(KU))$ supports a $d_3$-differential (see Figure 2). These seemingly mild details are fundamental to the situation.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Benjamin Antieau, Andrew Baker, Clark Barwick, Saul Glasman, Akhil Mathew, Lennart Meier, Birgit Richter, Vesna Stojanoska, and Markus Szymik for discussions related to this paper, as well as an anonymous referee for a number of excellent suggestions which strengthened the results and improved the exposition.

Footnotes

D.G. was partially supported by NSF grants DMS-1406529 and DMS-1714273 and T.L. was partially supported by NSF grant DMS-1206008.

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Figure 0

Figure 1. Spectral sequences for equivariant $k$-invariants.

Figure 1

Figure 2. Fixed-point spectral sequence for $\operatorname {\mathfrak {pic}}(KU)$ up to $E_3$.

Figure 2

Figure 3. Fixed-point spectral sequence for $B\operatorname {Aut}(KU \otimes _{KO} \operatorname {End}_{KO}(KU))$ up to $E_3$.