Chern classes from Morava K-theories to $p^n$-typical oriented theories

Pavel Sechin

Published 2018-05-23Version 1

Generalizing the definition of Cartier, we introduce $p^n$-typical formal group laws over $\mathbb{Z}_{(p)}$-algebras. An oriented cohomology theory in the sense of Levin-Morel is called $p^n$-typical if its corresponding formal group law is $p^n$-typical. The main result of the paper is the construction of 'Chern classes' from the algebraic $n$-th Morava K-theory to every $p^n$-typical oriented cohomology theory. If the coefficient ring of a $p^n$-typical theory is a free $\mathbb{Z}_{(p)}$-module we also prove that these Chern classes freely generate all operations to it. Examples of such theories are algebraic $mn$-th Morava K-theories $K(nm)^*$ for all $m\in\mathbb{N}$ and $\mathrm{CH}^*\otimes\mathbb{Z}_{(p)}$ (operations to Chow groups were studied in a previous paper). The universal $p^n$-typical oriented theory is $BP\{n\}^*=BP^*/(v_j,j\nmid n)$ which coefficient ring is also a free $\mathbb{Z}_{(p)}$-module. Chern classes from the $n$-th algebraic Morava K-theory $K(n)^*$ to itself allow us to introduce the gamma filtration on $K(n)^*$. This is the best approximation to the topological filtration obtained by values of operations and it satisfies properties similar to that of the classical gamma filtration on $K_0$. The major difference from the classical case is that Chern classes from the graded factors $gr^i_\gamma K(n)^*$ to $\mathrm{CH}^i\otimes\mathbb{Z}_{(p)}$ are surjective for $i\le p^n$. For some projective homogeneous varieties this allows to estimate $p$-torsion in Chow groups of codimension up to $p^n$.