Rational extensions of the representation ring global functor and a splitting of global equivariant $K$-theory

Abstract

We identify the group of homomorphisms $\operatorname{Hom}_{\mathcal{GF}}(F,\mathbf{RU}_{\mathbb Q})$ in the category of ($\operatorname{fin}$)-global functors to the rationalization of the unitary representation ring functor and deduce that the higher $\operatorname{Ext}$-groups $\operatorname{Ext}^n_{\mathcal{GF}}(F,\mathbf{RU}_{\mathbb Q})$, $n\geq 2$ have to vanish. This leads to a rational splitting of the ($\operatorname{fin}$)-global equivariant $K$-theory spectrum into a sum of Eilenberg-MacLane spectra. Interpreted in terms of cohomology theories, it means that the equivariant Chern character is compatible with restrictions along all group homomorphisms.