Norms in motivic homotopy theory

TL;DR

This paper develops a framework of norm functors in motivic homotopy theory, constructing normed motivic spectra that unify various transfer and power operation structures in algebraic geometry.

Contribution

It introduces norm functors for motivic homotopy categories, defines normed motivic spectra, and constructs examples including motivic cohomology, K-theory, and algebraic cobordism spectra.

Findings

Norm functors are constructed for schemes with finite locally free morphisms.

Normed motivic spectra are defined as motivic spectra with compatible norm structures.

Examples include normed structures on $H\mathbb Z$, $KGL$, and $MGL$ spectra.

Abstract

If $f:S' \to S$ is a finite locally free morphism of schemes, we construct a symmetric monoidal "norm" functor $f_\otimes: \mathcal H_*(S') \to\mathcal H_*(S)$, where $\mathcal H_*(S)$ is the pointed unstable motivic homotopy category over $S$. If $f$ is finite \'etale, we show that it stabilizes to a functor $f_\otimes: \mathcal{SH}(S') \to \mathcal{SH}(S)$, where $\mathcal{SH}(S)$ is the $\mathbb P^1$-stable motivic homotopy category over $S$. Using these norm functors, we define the notion of a normed motivic spectrum, which is an enhancement of a motivic $E_\infty$-ring spectrum. The main content of this text is a detailed study of the norm functors and of normed motivic spectra, and the construction of examples. In particular: we investigate the interaction of norms with Grothendieck's Galois theory, with Betti realization, and with Voevodsky's slice filtration; we prove that the norm functors categorify Rost's multiplicative transfers on Grothendieck-Witt rings; and we construct normed spectrum structures on the motivic cohomology spectrum $H\mathbb Z$, the homotopy K-theory spectrum $KGL$, and the algebraic cobordism spectrum $MGL$. The normed spectrum structure on $H\mathbb Z$ is a common refinement of Fulton and MacPherson's mutliplicative transfers on Chow groups and of Voevodsky's power operations in motivic cohomology.