Trace methods for equivariant algebraic K-theory

Abstract

In the past decades, one of the most fruitful approaches to the study of algebraic $K$-theory has been trace methods, which construct and study trace maps from algebraic $K$-theory to topological Hochschild homology and related invariants. In recent years, theories of equivariant algebraic $K$-theory have emerged, but thus far few tools are available for the study and computation of these theories. In this paper, we lay the foundations for a trace methods approach to equivariant algebraic $K$-theory. For $G$ a finite group, we construct a Dennis trace map from equivariant algebraic $K$-theory to a $G$-equivariant version of topological Hochschild homology; for $G$ the trivial group this recovers the ordinary Dennis trace map. We show that upon taking fixed points, this recovers the trace map of Adamyk--Gerhardt--Hess--Klang--Kong, and gives a trace map from the fixed points of coarse equivariant $A$-theory to the free loop space. We also establish important properties of equivariant topological Hochschild homology, such as Morita invariance, and explain why it can be considered as a multiplicative norm.