Lifting homotopy T-algebra maps to strict maps

TL;DR

This paper develops an obstruction theory using spectral sequences to lift homotopy algebra maps to strict algebra maps within various homotopical algebra settings, providing computational tools and examples.

Contribution

It introduces a spectral sequence-based obstruction theory for lifting homotopy algebra maps to strict maps, applicable to monads from algebraic theories and operads, with explicit calculations.

Findings

Spectral sequence computes homotopy groups of T-algebra maps.

The forgetful functor from homotopy T-algebras to strict T-algebras is not always full or faithful.

Explicit calculations in G-spaces, G-spectra, and rational E-infinity algebras.

Abstract

The settings for homotopical algebra---categories such as simplicial groups, simplicial rings, $A_\infty$ spaces, $E_\infty$ ring spectra, etc.---are often equivalent to categories of algebras over some monad or triple $T$. In such cases, $T$ is acting on a nice simplicial model category in such a way that $T$ descends to a monad on the homotopy category and defines a category of homotopy $T$-algebras. In this setting there is a forgetful functor from the homotopy category of $T$-algebras to the category of homotopy $T$-algebras. Under suitable hypotheses we provide an obstruction theory, in the form of a Bousfield-Kan spectral sequence, for lifting a homotopy $T$-algebra map to a strict map of $T$-algebras. Once we have a map of $T$-algebras to serve as a basepoint, the spectral sequence computes the homotopy groups of the space of $T$-algebra maps and the edge homomorphism on $\pi_0$ is the aforementioned forgetful functor. We discuss a variety of settings in which the required hypotheses are satisfied, including monads arising from algebraic theories and operads. We also give sufficient conditions for the $E_2$-term to be calculable in terms of Quillen cohomology groups. We provide worked examples in $G$-spaces, $G$-spectra, rational $E_\infty$ algebras, and $A_\infty$ algebras. Explicit calculations, connected to rational unstable homotopy theory, show that the forgetful functor from the homotopy category of $E_\infty$ ring spectra to the category of $H_\infty$ ring spectra is generally neither full nor faithful. We also apply a result of the second named author and Nick Kuhn to compute the homotopy type of the space $E_\infty(\Sigma^\infty_+ \mathrm{Coker}\, J, L_{K(2)} R)$.