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# Real C*-Algebras, United 𝐾-Theory, and the Künneth Formula

## Introduction

In 1982, Claude Schochet () proved the existence of an exact Künneth-type sequence

$$0K_{}(A)K_{}(B)K_{}(AB)\text{Tor}(K_{}(A),K_{}(B))0$$

which holds for complex C\*-algebras $`A`$ and $`B`$ in which $`A`$ is in the bootstrap category $`𝒩`$. Recall that $`𝒩`$ is the smallest subcategory of complex, separable, nuclear C\*-algebras which contains the separable type I C\*-algebras; which is closed under the operations of taking inductive limits, stable isomorphisms, and crossed products by $``$ and $``$; and which satisfies the two out of three rule for short exact sequences (i.e. if $`0ABC0`$ is exact and two of $`A`$, $`B`$, $`C`$ are in $`𝒩`$, then the third is also in $`𝒩)`$.

In this paper, we will develop an analogous Künneth sequence for real C\*-algebras. A real C\*-algebra $`A`$ is a real Banach \*-algebra which satisfies the C\*-equation $`a^{}a=a^2`$ as well as the axiom that $`1+a^{}a`$ is invertible in the unitization $`A^+`$ for all $`aA`$. This is equivalent by  to saying that $`A`$ is \*-isometrically isomorphic to a norm-closed adjoint-closed algebra of operators on a real Hilbert space.

If $`A`$ is any real C\*-algebra, it has a unique complexification $`A`$ (sometimes denoted $`A_{}`$ in this paper) which is a complex C\*-algebra (see  or ). It is often useful to complexify a real C\*-algebra since complex C\*-algebras are better understood. However, the complexification by itself loses. For example, the real C\*-algebras $``$ and $``$ become isomorphic upon complexification. Later in this paper we will describe examples of distinct real simple purely infinite C\*-algebras whose complexifications are isomorphic.

Given two real C\*-algebras $`A`$ and $`B`$, let $`A_{}B`$ be the real spacial tensor product. The problem set before us is to express the $`K`$-theory of $`A_{}B`$ in terms of the $`K`$-theory of $`A`$ and of $`B`$ in the same way that Schochet’s Künneth-type sequence expresses the $`K`$-theory of the tensor product of two complex C\*-algebras in terms of the $`K`$-theory of the factors.

A key step in Schochet’s proof (following Atiyah in ) is to build a free geometric resolution of $`K_{}(B)`$ for any complex C\*-algebra $`B`$. This is a length one resolution

$$0K_{}(F_1)\stackrel{\mu _1}{}K_{}(F_0)\stackrel{\mu _0}{}K_{}(B)0$$

where $`K_{}(F_i)`$ are free (in the category of $``$-graded $`K_{}()`$-modules) and the homomorphisms $`\mu _i`$ are induced by homomorphisms on the level of C\*-algebras.

Unfortunately, if $`B`$ is a real C\*-algebra, $`K_{}(B)`$ does not necessarily have projective dimension one in the category of $`K_{}()`$-modules. Thus, it is impossible to build a length-one free resolution of $`K_{}(B)`$, so Schochet’s proof does not adapt to give a proof of a Künneth-type sequence for real C\*-algebras. In fact, counter-examples showing that the analogous sequence is not exact can be found in  (for the topological case) and  (for a simpler example of C\*-algebras).

United $`K`$-theory is the way around the problem of projective dimension. Following A.K. Bousfield’s work in the topological case (see ), we will define $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A)`$, the united $`K`$-theory of a real C\*-algebra, as a triple of $``$-graded abelian groups — ordinary $`K`$-theory, complex $`K`$-theory, and self-conjugate $`K`$-theory — together with their respective module structures and interrelating natural transformations. This functor takes values in the category CRT consisting of so-called CRT-modules.

As in the topological case (and drawing on a theorem of Bousfield), we find that $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(B)`$ has projective dimension one in the category CRT and so the homological algebraic obstruction to producing a Künneth Formula for real $`K`$-theory disappears. Using this result, we are able to produce free geometric resolutions and subsequently we prove the following product formula.

Main Theorem Let $`A`$ and $`B`$ be real C\*-algebras with $`A𝒩`$. Then there is a short exact sequence

$$0K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A)_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(B)K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(AB)\text{Tor}_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A),K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(B))0.$$

This Künneth Sequence partially generalizes Schochet’s result in  in the sense that by restricting attention to the complex part of each of the CRT-modules in the exact sequence, we recover Schochet’s Künneth sequence for the complex C\*-algebras $`A`$ and $`B`$. At the same time, it generalizes Bousfield’s Künneth sequence for topological united $`K`$-theory stated (but not proven) in . Indeed, Bousfield’s result can be recovered by taking $`A=C(X,)`$ and $`B=C(Y,)`$.

It is also the case that $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(B)`$ has injective dimension one in the category CRT, a property that we intend to exploit in a subsequent paper to prove a universal coefficient theorem for united $`K`$-theory, analogous to the universal coefficient theorem for complex C\*-algebras of .

Since united $`K`$-theory incorporates ordinary $`K`$-theory, the main product theorem provides a way of computing the ordinary $`K`$-theory of the tensor product of two real C\*-algebras. As an example, we compute the united $`K`$-theory of the tensor product of two real Cuntz algebras $`𝒪_{k+1}^{}`$ and $`𝒪_{k+1}^{}`$. In the case of complex Cuntz algebras, the $`K`$-theory of the tensor product — and therefore, the isomorphism class of the tensor product by the classification theorems of Phillips and Kirchberg ( and ) — only depends on the greatest common divisor of $`k`$ and $`l`$. In the real case however, we have found that the greatest common divisor is not enough to determine $`K`$-theory. The $`K`$-theory of $`𝒪_{k+1}^{}𝒪_{k+1}^{}`$ is a function of the greatest common divisor of $`k`$ and $`l`$ as well as the values of $`k`$ and $`l`$ modulo 4. As a particular example, it turns out that the real C\*-algebras $`𝒪_3^{}𝒪_3^{}`$ and $`𝒪_3^{}𝒪_5^{}`$ are not isomorphic, even though their complexifications $`𝒪_3𝒪_3`$ and $`𝒪_3𝒪_5`$ are isomorphic.

The organization of this paper is as follows. In Section 1, we define and develop united $`K`$-theory. In Section 2, we compute the united $`K`$-theory for the real C\*-algebras $``$, $``$, and $`T`$. These are the prototypical free CRT-modules and form the building blocks for the free geometric resolution which we construct for an arbitrary real C\*-algebra $`B`$. Section 3 is entirely algebraic, wherein we define and develop the theory of tensor products in the category CRT so that $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A)_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(B)`$ and $`\text{Tor}_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A),K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(B))`$ make sense in the statement of the main theorem. Finally, in Section 4 we prove the main theorem and in Section 5 we apply the main theorem to compute the united $`K`$-theory of the tensor product of two arbitrary Cuntz algebras.

Acknowledgments: The content of this paper represents work done for my dissertation at the University of Oregon. I gratefully acknowledge my debt to my advisor, Chris Phillips, for his patience and helpfulness, both before and after graduation.

## 1 United $`K`$-theory

We begin by recording the definition of united $`K`$-theory, even though the terms contained in it are as yet undefined. It is the task of this chapter to make full sense of the definition.

###### Definition 1.1.

Let $`A`$ be a real C\*-algebra. The united $`K`$-theory of $`A`$ is the triple of $``$-graded abelian groups

$$K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A):=\{KO_{}(A),KU_{}(A),KT_{}(A)\}$$

together with the eight natural transformations $`\{r,c,\epsilon ,\zeta ,\psi _U,\psi _T,\gamma ,\tau \}`$.

The $`K`$-groups comprising united $`K`$-theory will be defined in Section 1.1 and the natural transformations among the three graded groups will be described in Section 1.2. In Section 1.3 we will record some important properties of the category CRT which is the target category of United $`K`$-theory. Finally in Section 1.4 we will prove the existence of three long exact sequences involving the three graded groups comprising united $`K`$-theory.

### 1.1 Real, Complex, and Self-Conjugate $`K`$-theory

Recall from Section 1.4 of  that the $`K`$-theory of a real unital C\*-algebra $`A`$ is defined to be the Grothendieck group of equivalence classes of stable projections in $`_{k_+}M_k(A)`$. The equivalence relation can be taken in the sense of partial isometries, unitaries, or homotopies. If $`A`$ is not unital then $`K`$-theory is defined to be the kernel of the map $`K(A^+)K()`$. For $`n0`$, we define $`K_n(A)=K(S^nA)`$ where $`S^nA`$ denotes the $`n`$-fold suspension. Finally, for $`n<0`$, $`K_n(A)`$ is defined using the 8-fold periodicity. Note that in this paper, all $`K`$-groups are considered to be graded over $``$.

This definition of $`K`$-theory is identical with the familiar definition of $`K`$-theory for complex C\*-algebra (see , , or ) in the sense that if $`A`$ is a complex C\*-algebra, the groups obtained would be the same whether $`A`$ were considered a complex C\*-algebra or just a real C\*-algebra with a forgotten complex structure.

In this paper, we will use the phrase “real $`K`$-theory” to refer to the $`K`$-theory of a real C\*-algebra as described above while the phrase “complex $`K`$-theory” will refer to the $`K`$-theory of the complexification of a real C\*-algebra, as in the following definitions.

###### Definition 1.2 (Real $`K`$-theory).

$`KO_n(A):=K_n(A)`$ for all $`n`$.

###### Definition 1.3 (Complex $`K`$-theory).

$`KU_n(A):=K_n(A)`$ for all $`n`$.

The real $`K`$-theory $`KO_{}(A)`$ is a $``$-graded module over the ring $`KO_{}()`$, which according to  on p. 23, is given as below in gradings $`0`$ through $`8`$.

$$KO_{}()=_2_20000$$

We recall that $`KO_{}()`$ is a graded skew-commutative ring generated by the unit $`1_OKO_0()`$, $`\eta _OKO_1()`$, $`\xi KO_4()`$, and the Bott element $`\beta _OKO_8()`$. These generators are subject to the relations $`2\eta _O=0`$, $`(\eta _O)^3=0`$, $`\eta _O\xi =0`$, and $`\xi ^2=4\beta _O`$. Since the Bott element $`\beta _OKO_8()`$ is invertible, multiplication by $`\beta _O`$ induces a period 8 isomorphism of $`KO_{}(A)`$.

The complex $`K`$-theory $`KU_{}(A)`$ is a $``$-graded module over the ring $`KU_{}()`$.

$$KU_{}()=0000$$

The ring $`KU_{}()`$ is a free commutative polynomial ring over $``$ generated by the Bott element $`\beta _UKU_2()`$ and its inverse $`\beta _U^1KU_2()`$. In particular, the well-known Bott periodicity isomorphism for complex $`K`$-theory is induced by multiplication by $`\beta _U`$.

Finally, we define self-conjugate $`K`$-theory. Consider the real C\*-algebra

$$T=\{fC([0,1],)f(0)=\overline{f(1)}\}.$$

If $`A`$ is any other real C\*-algebra, we have

$$TA\{fC([0,1],A)f(0)=\overline{f(1)}\}$$

where the conjugation of $`A`$ is defined by $`\overline{\lambda a}=\overline{\lambda }a`$.

###### Definition 1.4 (Self-conjugate $`K`$-theory).

$`KT_n(A):=K_n(TA)`$ for all $`n`$.

The motivation for this definition comes from the topological case. Topological self-conjugate $`K`$-theory was first defined by D.W. Anderson in  in terms of self-conjugate vector bundles. A self-conjugate vector bundle is a complex vector bundle together with a given conjugate linear automorphism. In the case of real C\*-algebras, such an object is replaced by a self-conjugate projection, which is a projection $`p`$ in a matrix algebra over $`A`$ together with a given equivalence to the conjugate projection $`\overline{p}`$. If by “equivalence” we mean homotopy equivalence, this is a continuous path of projections from $`p`$ to $`\overline{p}`$, which is the same thing as a projection in a matrix algebra over $`TA`$.

The rest of this section is devoted to developing the theory of self-conjugate $`K`$-theory for real C\*-algebras. A priori, $`KT_{}(A)`$ has a periodicity of period 8 since $`TA`$ is a real C\*-algebra, but we will eventually show that it has period 4 (see the discussion following Corollary 1.6). Since $`T`$ is commutative there is a pairing $`TTT`$ which makes $`KT_{}()`$ into a ring and makes $`KT_{}(A)`$ into a $`KT_{}()`$-module. To compute the structure ring $`KT_{}()`$, we must develop the relationship between self-conjugate and complex $`K`$-theory, particularly the long exact sequence relating the two.

Let $`\zeta `$ be the C\*-algebra homomorphism from $`T`$ to $``$ defined by $`\zeta (f)=f(0)`$ for any $`fT`$. If $`A`$ is any real C\*-algebra, then the homomorphism

$$\zeta \text{id}:TAA$$

induces a natural transformation $`KT_n(A)KU_n(A)`$, which we also call $`\zeta `$ or $`\zeta _n`$. Similarly, the conjugation $`\psi _U:`$ defines an involutive natural transformation $`(\psi _U)_n:KU_n(A)KU_n(A)`$ for any C\*-algebra $`A`$.

Finally, the inclusion $`\gamma :ST`$ defines a natural transformation $`\gamma _n:KU_n(A)KT_{n1}(A)`$ as follows. For $`n1`$, the transformation $`\gamma _n`$ is induced by the homormophism

$$S^n(A)S^{n1}(TA)$$

where by convention we say that it is the outermost (or leftmost) suspension that gets used by $`\gamma _n`$ and the innermost $`n1`$ suspensions go along for the ride. For $`n<0`$, $`\gamma _n`$ is defined using the periodicity isomorphisms.

###### Theorem 1.5.

There is a natural long exact sequence

$$\mathrm{}KU_{n+1}(A)\stackrel{𝛾}{}KT_n(A)\stackrel{𝜁}{}KU_n(A)\stackrel{1\psi _U}{}KU_n(A)\mathrm{}.$$

###### Proof.

The short exact sequence

$$0SA\stackrel{𝛾}{}TA\stackrel{𝜁}{}A0$$

induces the long exact sequence

$$\mathrm{}K_n(SA)\stackrel{𝛾}{}K_n(TA)\stackrel{𝜁}{}K_n(A)\stackrel{𝛿}{}K_{n1}(SA)\mathrm{}.$$

Since $`K_{n1}(SA)KU_n(A)`$, this is the long exact sequence we want. It only remains to identify the index $`\delta `$. We will prove that $`\delta =(1\psi _U)`$. This is sufficient since the sign of the homomorphism does not affect the exactness of the sequence.

We first consider the case $`n=1`$. Since the index map $`\delta `$ is most conveniently defined in terms of unitaries, we consider the unitary definition of $`K`$-theory, denoted by $`KU_1^𝒰(A)`$, and show that the following diagram commutes. Here $`\mathrm{\Theta }`$ is the usual isomorphism from $`KU_1^𝒰(A)`$ to $`KU_0(SA)`$ as described in Section 7.2 of .

Let $`u`$ be a unitary element of $`M_k(A)`$. Then $`\delta ([u])=[V_tp_kV_t^{}][p_k]`$ where $`V_t`$ is a unitary lift of $`\left(\begin{array}{cc}u& 0\\ 0& u^{}\end{array}\right)`$ in $`M_{2k}(TA)`$. In other words, $`V_t`$ may be taken to be any path in $`𝒰_{2k}(A_{})`$ from $`\left(\begin{array}{cc}u& 0\\ 0& u^{}\end{array}\right)`$ to $`\left(\begin{array}{cc}\overline{u}& 0\\ 0& \overline{u}^{}\end{array}\right)`$. The class $`[V_tp_kV_t^{}][p_k]`$ is ostensibly an element of $`KU_0(C(S^1,A))`$; but since it is in the kernel of the point-evaluation map $`KU_0(C(S^1,A))KU_0(A)`$, it determines a unique element of $`KU_0(SA)`$.

On the other hand, $`\mathrm{\Theta }(\psi _U1)[u]=\mathrm{\Theta }[\overline{u}u^{}]=[W_tp_kW_t^{}][p_k]`$ where $`W_t`$ is any path in $`𝒰_{2k}(A)`$ from $`\left(\begin{array}{cc}1& 0\\ 0& 1\end{array}\right)`$ to $`\left(\begin{array}{cc}\overline{u}u^{}& 0\\ 0& u\overline{u}^{}\end{array}\right)`$. Now, $`\overline{u}u^{}`$ is stably path-connected to $`u^{}\overline{u}`$ through unitaries so we can replace $`W_t`$ by any path $`\stackrel{~}{W_t}`$ from $`\left(\begin{array}{cc}1& 0\\ 0& 1\end{array}\right)`$ to $`\left(\begin{array}{cc}u^{}\overline{u}& 0\\ 0& u\overline{u}^{}\end{array}\right)`$. Furthermore, the class $`[\stackrel{~}{W_t}p_k\stackrel{~}{W_t}^{}]`$ is equivalent to the class $`\left[\left(\begin{array}{cc}u& 0\\ 0& u^{}\end{array}\right)\stackrel{~}{W_t}p_k\stackrel{~}{W_t}^{}\left(\begin{array}{cc}u& 0\\ 0& u^{}\end{array}\right)^{}\right]`$. Therefore, in the definition of $`\delta `$, we take $`V_t`$ to be the path $`\left(\begin{array}{cc}u& 0\\ 0& u^{}\end{array}\right)\stackrel{~}{W_t}`$ from $`\left(\begin{array}{cc}u& 0\\ 0& u^{}\end{array}\right)`$ to $`\left(\begin{array}{cc}\overline{u}& 0\\ 0& \overline{u}^{}\end{array}\right)`$ and it follows that $`\theta (\psi _U1)[u]=[V_tp_kV_t^{}][p_k]=\delta ([u])`$.

We have proven that $`\delta =(1\psi _U)`$ for $`n=1`$ and for all $`A`$. The general case follows using suspensions and periodicity. ∎

###### Corollary 1.6.

The self-conjugate $`K`$-theory of $``$ in degrees zero through eight is

$$KT_{}()=_20_20$$

###### Proof.

Take $`A=`$ in the sequence of Theorem 1.5 and use

$`KU_n()`$ $`=\{\begin{array}{cc}\hfill & n0(mod2)\hfill \\ 0\hfill & n2(mod2)\hfill \end{array}`$
and
$`(\psi _U)_n`$ $`=\{\begin{array}{cc}1\hfill & n0(mod4)\hfill \\ 1\hfill & n2(mod4)\hfill \end{array}`$
where $`(\psi _U)_n:KU_n()KU_n()`$ to compute $`KT_{}()`$. ∎

Let $`1_TKT_0()`$ be the class of the unit. Since $`\zeta `$ is a unital homomorphism, it sends $`1_T`$ to $`1_UKU_0()`$. The calculation above also reveals that $`\zeta :KT_4()KU_4()`$ is an isomorphism. We let $`\beta _T`$ denote the generator of $`KT_4()`$ satisfying $`\zeta (\beta _T)=\beta _U^2`$. We let $`\eta _T=\gamma (\beta _U)`$ denote the non-zero element of $`KT_1()`$ and we let $`\omega `$ denote $`\gamma (\beta _U^2)`$, which is a generator of $`KT_3()`$.

Since $`\zeta `$ is a ring homomorphism and an isomorphism in degree $`4k`$ for all integers $`k`$, it follows that the element $`\beta _T`$ is invertible, where the inverse is given by the element $`\zeta ^1(\beta _U^2)`$. This fact and the relations $`(\eta _T)^2=0`$, $`\omega ^2=0`$, and $`\eta _T\omega =\omega \eta _T=0`$ (which are forced by dimension considerations) completely determine the ring structure of $`KT_{}()`$.

Since $``$ and $`T`$ are commutative, there are external products in real, complex, and self-conjugate $`K`$-theory for any real C\*-algebras $`A`$ and $`B`$.

$`\alpha _O:KO_m(A)KO_n(B)`$ $`KO_{m+n}(AB)`$
$`\alpha _U:KU_m(A)KU_n(B)`$ $`KU_{m+n}(AB)`$
$`\alpha _T:KT_m(A)KT_n(B)`$ $`KT_{m+n}(AB)`$
We will use the notation $`x_Oy`$, $`x_Uy`$, and $`x_Ty`$ to denote the real, complex, and self-conjugate products respectively.

### 1.2 Natural Transformations

In this subsection we define the rest of the eight natural transformations which interrelate the real, complex, and self-conjugate $`K`$-theories. These transformations are

$`c_n`$ $`:KO_n(A)KU_n(A)`$ $`r_n`$ $`:KU_n(A)KO_n(A)`$
$`\epsilon _n`$ $`:KO_n(A)KT_n(A)`$ $`\zeta _n`$ $`:KT_n(A)KU_n(A)`$
$`(\psi _U)_n`$ $`:KU_n(A)KU_n(A)`$ $`(\psi _T)_n`$ $`:KT_n(A)KT_n(A)`$
$`\gamma _n`$ $`:KU_n(A)KT_{n1}(A)`$ $`\tau _n`$ $`:KT_n(A)KO_{n+1}(A).`$
The transformations $`\zeta `$, $`\psi _U`$, and $`\gamma `$ have already been defined, induced by C\*-algebra homomorphisms on the appropriate C\*-algebras. In the same way, $`c`$, $`r`$, $`\epsilon `$, and $`\psi _T`$ are induced by C\*-algebra homomorphisms

$`c`$ $`:`$ $`r`$ $`:M_2()`$
$`\epsilon `$ $`:T`$ $`\psi _T`$ $`:TT`$
defined as follows. We take $`c`$ and $`\epsilon `$ to be the unital inclusion maps. The realification $`r`$ is defined by $`r(x+iy)=\left(\begin{array}{cc}x& y\\ y& x\end{array}\right)`$ for all $`x+iy`$. Finally, let $`fT`$ be a path from $`f(0)`$ to $`f(1)=\overline{f(0)}`$. We define $`\psi _T(f)T`$ to be the reverse path from $`f(1)`$ to $`f(0)`$ — that is, $`\psi _T(f)(s)=f(1s)`$ for all $`s[0,1]`$.

Defining $`\tau `$ will take a little more work. First, we will define two homomorphisms $`\sigma _1`$ and $`\sigma _2`$ from $`T`$ to $`C(S^1,M_4())`$.

To define $`\sigma _1`$, let $`U_s`$ be any path in $`𝒰_4()=O(4)`$

$$\text{from}\left(\begin{array}{cccc}1& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& 1& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 1& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 1\end{array}\right)\text{to}\left(\begin{array}{cccc}0& 1& 0& 0\\ 1& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 1\\ 0& 0& 1& 0\end{array}\right).$$

Let $`f`$ be an element of $`T`$ and write $`f(0)=x+iy`$. Then $`f(1)=xiy`$. Now $`U_s\left(\begin{array}{cc}r\left(f\left(1\right)\right)& 0\\ 0& 0\end{array}\right)U_s^{}`$ is a path in $`M_4()`$

$$\text{from}\left(\begin{array}{cccc}x& y& 0& 0\\ y& x& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 0\end{array}\right)\text{to}\left(\begin{array}{cccc}x& y& 0& 0\\ y& x& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 0\end{array}\right).$$

On the other hand, $`r(f)`$ is a path from $`\left(\begin{array}{cc}x& y\\ y& x\end{array}\right)`$ to $`\left(\begin{array}{cc}x& y\\ y& x\end{array}\right)`$. We define $`\sigma _1(f)`$ to be the concatenation

$$\left(\begin{array}{cc}r\left(f\right)& 0\\ 0& 0\end{array}\right)\mathrm{\#}U_s\left(\begin{array}{cc}r\left(f\left(1\right)\right)& 0\\ 0& 0\end{array}\right)U_s^{}$$

which is a loop in $`M_4()`$ based at

$$\left(\begin{array}{cc}r\left(f\left(0\right)\right)& 0\\ 0& 0\end{array}\right)=\left(\begin{array}{cccc}x& y& 0& 0\\ y& x& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 0\end{array}\right)$$

We define $`\sigma _2(f)`$ to be simply the constant path with value $`r(f(0))=\left(\begin{array}{cc}x& y\\ y& x\end{array}\right)M_2()M_4()`$.

Now each of the homomorphisms $`\sigma _1`$ and $`\sigma _2`$ induces, for any real C\*-algebra $`A`$, a natural homomorphism

$$(\sigma _i)_{}:KT_0(A)KO_0(C(S^1,M_4(A)))KO_0(C(S^1,A)).$$

We define $`\tau =(\sigma _1)_{}(\sigma _2)_{}`$. This homomorphism takes values in $`KO_0(C(S^1,A))`$. But elements in the image of $`\tau `$ are in the kernel of the base-point evaluation map

$$KO_0(C(S^1,A))KO_0(A)$$

and hence determine elements of $`KO_0(SA)=KO_1(A)`$. Therefore $`\tau `$ is a homomorphism $`KT_0(A)KO_1(A)`$. By use of suspensions and periodicity, we then have a natural transformation

$$\tau _n:KT_n(A)KO_{n+1}(A)$$

for all $`n`$.

###### Proposition 1.7.

For any real C\*-algebra $`A`$, the natural transformations among $`KO_{}(A)`$, $`KU_{}(A)`$, and $`KT_{}(A)`$ satisfy the following relations

$`rc`$ $`=2`$ $`\psi _U\beta _U`$ $`=\beta _U\psi _U`$ $`\xi `$ $`=r\beta _U^2c`$
$`cr`$ $`=1+\psi _U`$ $`\psi _T\beta _T`$ $`=\beta _T\psi _T`$ $`\omega `$ $`=\beta _T\gamma \zeta `$
$`r`$ $`=\tau \gamma `$ $`\epsilon \beta _O`$ $`=\beta _T^2\epsilon `$ $`\beta _T\epsilon \tau `$ $`=\epsilon \tau \beta _T+\eta _T\beta _T`$
$`c`$ $`=\zeta \epsilon `$ $`\zeta \beta _T`$ $`=\beta _U^2\zeta `$ $`\epsilon r\zeta `$ $`=1+\psi _T`$
$`(\psi _U)^2`$ $`=1`$ $`\gamma \beta _U^2`$ $`=\beta _T\gamma `$ $`\gamma c\tau `$ $`=1\psi _T`$
$`(\psi _T)^2`$ $`=1`$ $`\tau \beta _T^2`$ $`=\beta _O\tau `$ $`\tau `$ $`=\tau \psi _T`$
$`\psi _T\epsilon `$ $`=\epsilon `$ $`\gamma `$ $`=\gamma \psi _U`$ $`\tau \beta _T\epsilon `$ $`=0`$
$`\zeta \gamma `$ $`=0`$ $`\eta _O`$ $`=\tau \epsilon `$ $`\epsilon \xi `$ $`=2\beta _T\epsilon `$
$`\zeta `$ $`=\psi _U\zeta `$ $`\eta _T`$ $`=\gamma \beta _U\zeta `$ $`\xi \tau `$ $`=2\tau \beta _T.`$
In this section, we will prove the relations in the first two columns. The relations in the third column will be proven in subsequent sections concluding in Section 2.2. As we go, we will be careful to use only those relations which have been proven.

###### Lemma 1.8.

Let $`x_1KO_i(A)`$, $`x_2KO_j(B)`$, $`y_1KU_k(C)`$, $`y_2KU_l(D)`$, $`z_1KT_m(E)`$, and $`z_2KT_n(F)`$. Then

1. $`\psi _U(y_1_Uy_2)=\psi _U(y_1)_U\psi _U(y_2)`$
2. $`\zeta (z_1_Tz_2)=\zeta (z_1)_U\zeta (z_2)`$
3. $`\gamma (y_1_U\zeta (z_1))=\gamma (y_1)_Tz_1`$
4. $`\gamma (\zeta (z_1)_Uy_1)=(1)^mz_1_T\gamma (y_1)`$
5. $`c(x_1_Ox_2)=c(x_1)_Uc(x_2)`$
6. $`r(c(x_1)_Uy)=x_1_Or(y)`$
7. $`r(y_Uc(x_1))=r(y)_Ux_1`$
8. $`\epsilon (x_1_Ox_2)=\epsilon (x_1)_T\epsilon (x_2)`$
9. $`\psi _T(z_1_Tz_2)=\psi _T(z_1)_T\psi _T(z_2)`$
10. $`\tau (z_1_T\epsilon (x_1))=\tau (z_1)_Ox_1`$
11. $`\tau (\epsilon (x_1)_Tz_1)=(1)^ix_1_O\tau (z_1)`$

###### Proof.

Parts (1), (2), (5), (8), and (9) follow from the facts that $`\psi _U`$, $`\zeta `$, $`c`$, $`\epsilon `$, and $`\psi _T`$ are ring homomorphisms on the level of real C\*-algebras.

To show part (3), we first show that the diagram

commutes up to homotopy, where $``$ represents multiplication in $``$ or $`T`$. Indeed, for $`fS`$, $`gT`$, and $`s[0,1]`$; let $`F_s(f,g)T`$ be defined by $`F_s(f,g)(t)=f(t)g(st)`$. Since $`F_s(f,g)(0)=F_s(f,g)(1)=0`$, we see that $`F_s(f,g)`$ is in $`T`$ for each $`s`$. Furthermore, $`F_0(f,g)=\gamma (\alpha _U(f\zeta (g)))`$ and $`F_1(f,g)=\alpha _T(\gamma (f)g)`$.

This implies that, up to homotopy, the diagram

commutes (It is at this point where we rely on our convention regarding suspensions in the definition of $`\gamma _k`$.) and hence in $`K`$-theory the formula $`\gamma (z_1_U\zeta (y_1))=\gamma (z_1)_Ty_1`$ holds. Part (4) follows from part (3) using skew-commutativity.

Part (6) follows from the following commutative diagram which expresses that $`r`$ is an $``$-module homomorphism:

Now we move to part (10). For each $`i`$, the homomorphism $`\sigma _i:TC(S^1,M_4())`$ is an $``$-module homomorphism. Therefore, the following diagram commutes:

This establishes the formula $`(\sigma _i)_{}(z_1_T\epsilon (x_1))=(\sigma _i)_{}(z_1)_Ox_1`$ for each $`i`$. Therefore, since $`\tau =(\sigma _1)_{}(\sigma _2)_{}`$, it follows that $`\tau (z_1_T\epsilon (x_1))=\tau (z_1)_Ox_1`$.

Finally, using skew-commutativity, parts (4), (7), and (11) follow from parts (3), (6), and (10). ∎

###### Beginning of Proof of 1.7.

The composition $`rc`$ from $``$ to $`M_2()`$ is given by $`x\left(\begin{array}{cc}x& 0\\ 0& x\end{array}\right)`$ which induces multiplication by 2 on real $`K`$-theory. The composition $`cr`$ from $``$ to $`M_2()`$ is given by $`x+iy\left(\begin{array}{cc}x& y\\ y& x\end{array}\right)`$. This map is unitarily equivalent (via the unitary $`\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left(\begin{array}{cc}1& i\\ i& 1\end{array}\right)`$) to the map $`x+iy\left(\begin{array}{cc}x+iy& 0\\ 0& xiy\end{array}\right)`$ , which induces $`1+\psi _U`$ on complex $`K`$-theory. This proves the first two relations in the first column.

Next we prove the relation $`r=\tau \gamma `$. Let $`p`$ be a projection in $`SA`$ and consider it (via the inclusion $`\gamma `$) as an element of $`TA`$. Then

$$\tau \gamma [p]=\sigma _1[p]\sigma _2[p]=[r(p)\mathrm{\#}U_sr(p(1))U_s^{}][r(p(0))].$$

But $`r(p(0))`$ and $`U_sr(p(1))U_s^{}`$ are both identically zero since $`p(0)=p(1)=0`$. Therefore, $`\tau \gamma [p]=[r(p)]`$.

The next five relations in the first column are satisfied directly on the level of C\*-algebra homomorphisms. The relations $`\zeta =\psi _U\zeta `$ and $`\gamma =\gamma \psi _U`$ follow from the exact sequence of Theorem 1.5.

Now we prove the first six relations in the second column. In preparation, we recall the formulas $`\psi _U(\beta _U)=\beta _U`$ and $`\zeta (\beta _T)=\beta _U^2`$. Furthermore, we have the formulas $`\epsilon (\beta _O)=\beta _T^2`$ and $`\psi _T(\beta _T)=\beta _T`$. Indeed, the first identity is established from $`\zeta \epsilon =c`$ and $`c(\beta _O)=\beta _U^4`$ using the fact that $`\zeta _8`$ is an isomorphism. The second identity is established from the identities $`\psi _U(\beta _U^2)=\beta _U^2`$ and $`\zeta \psi _T=\psi _U\zeta `$ (the latter holds on the level of C\*-algebra homomorphisms) using the fact that $`\zeta _4`$ is an isomorphism taking $`\beta _T`$ to $`\beta _U^2`$.

Let $`xKO_n(A)`$, $`yKU_n(A)`$, and $`zKT_n(A)`$. Then using Lemma 1.8 we have

$`\psi _U\beta _U(y)`$ $`=\psi _U(\beta _U_Uy)=\psi _U(\beta _U)_U\psi _U(y)=\beta _U_U\psi _U(y)=\beta _U\psi _U(y),`$
$`\psi _T\beta _T(z)`$ $`=\psi _T(\beta _T_Tz)=\psi _T(\beta _T)_T\psi _T(z)=\beta _T_T\psi _T(z)=\beta _T\psi _T(z),`$
$`\epsilon \beta _O(x)`$ $`=\epsilon (\beta _O_Ox)=\epsilon (\beta _O)_T\epsilon (x)=\beta _T^2_T\epsilon (x)=\beta _T^2\epsilon (x),`$
$`\zeta \beta _T(z)`$ $`=\zeta (\beta _T_Tz)=\zeta (\beta _T)_U\zeta (z)=\beta _U^2_U\zeta (z)=\beta _U^2\zeta (z),`$
$`\gamma \beta _U^2(y)`$ $`=\gamma (\beta _U^2_Uy)=\gamma (\zeta (\beta _T)_Uy)=\beta _T_U\gamma (y)=\beta _T\gamma (y),`$
$`\text{and}\tau \beta _T^2(z)`$ $`=\tau (\beta _T^2_Tz)=\tau (\epsilon (\beta _O)_Tz)=\beta _O_O\tau (z)=\beta _O\tau (z).`$
We end by proving the relations $`\eta _O=\tau \epsilon `$ and $`\eta _T=\gamma \beta _U\zeta `$. First we prove that $`\tau \epsilon (1_O)=\eta _OKO_1()`$. Now

$$\tau (1_T)=\sigma _1(1_T)\sigma _2(1_T)=[1_2\mathrm{\#}U_s1_2U_s^{}][1_2]=[U_s\left(\begin{array}{cc}1& 0\\ 0& 1\end{array}\right)U_s^{}][\left(\begin{array}{cc}1& 0\\ 0& 1\end{array}\right)].$$

But since $`U_s`$ is a path in $`M_4()`$ from $`\left(\begin{array}{cc}1_2& 0\\ 0& 1_2\end{array}\right)`$ to $`\left(\begin{array}{cc}u& 0\\ 0& u^{}\end{array}\right)`$ where $`u=\left(\begin{array}{cc}0& 1\\ 1& 0\end{array}\right)`$, we have

$$\tau \epsilon (1_O)=\tau (1_T)=\mathrm{\Theta }[\left(\begin{array}{cc}0& 1\\ 1& 0\end{array}\right)]=\mathrm{\Theta }[\left(\begin{array}{cc}1& 0\\ 0& 1\end{array}\right)]=\mathrm{\Theta }[1]=\eta _O.$$

This proves that $`\tau \epsilon (1_O)=\tau (1_T)=\eta _O`$. In general, we let $`xKO_n(A)`$ and we use Lemma 1.8, parts (8) and (10):

$`\tau \epsilon (x)`$ $`=\tau \epsilon (1_O_Ox)=\tau (\epsilon (1_O)_T\epsilon (x))`$
$`=\tau \epsilon (1_O)_Ox=\eta _O_Ox.`$
Therefore $`\eta _O=\tau \epsilon `$.

Finally, we compute

$$\gamma \beta _U\zeta (1_T)=\gamma (\beta _U_U1_U)=\gamma (\beta _U)=\eta _TKO_1().$$

In general, then, we have for any $`zKT_n(A)`$,

$`\gamma \beta _U\zeta (z)`$ $`=\gamma \beta _U\zeta (1_T_Tz)=\gamma \beta _U(\zeta (1_T)_U\zeta (z))`$
$`=\gamma (\beta _U\zeta (1_T)_U\zeta (z))=(\gamma \beta _U\zeta (1_T)_Tz)=\eta _T_Tz`$
using Lemma 1.8, parts (2) and (3). ∎

### 1.3 CRT-modules

This section is a summary of sections 1, 2, and 3 of  describing the category CRT which is the target category of united $`K`$-theory.

###### Definition 1.9.

(Section 2.1 of ) A CRT-module is a triple $`M=\{M^O,M^U,M^T\}`$ of $``$-graded abelian groups where $`M^O`$ is a $`KO_{}()`$-module, $`M^U`$ is a $`KU_{}()`$-module, and $`M^T`$ is a $`KT_{}()`$-module. In addition to the operations implied by the module structures, each object $`M`$ comes with CRT-operations

$`c_n`$ $`:M_n^OM_n^U`$ $`r_n`$ $`:M_n^UM_n^O`$
$`\epsilon _n`$ $`:M_n^OM_n^T`$ $`\zeta _n`$ $`:M_n^TM_n^U`$
$`(\psi _U)_n`$ $`:M_n^UM_n^U`$ $`(\psi _T)_n`$ $`:M_n^TM_n^T`$
$`\gamma _n`$ $`:M_n^UM_{n1}^T`$ $`\tau _n`$ $`:M_n^TM_{n+1}^O`$
which are $`KO_{}()`$-module homomorphisms and satisfy all the relations of Proposition 1.7.

###### Definition 1.10.

A CRT-morphism $`\varphi :MN`$ is a triple $`\varphi =\{\varphi ^O,\varphi ^U,\varphi ^T\}`$ where $`\varphi ^O:M^ON^O`$ is a graded $`KO_{}()`$-module homomorphism, $`\varphi ^U:M^UN^U`$ is a graded $`KU_{}()`$-module homomorphism, and $`\varphi ^T:M^TN^T`$ is a graded $`KT_{}()`$-module homomorphism. Furthermore, $`\varphi `$ must commute with the eight transformations $`r`$, $`c`$, $`\epsilon `$, $`\zeta `$, $`\psi _U`$, $`\psi _T`$, $`\gamma `$, and $`\tau `$.

###### Definition 1.11.

The abelian category CRT is the category whose objects are CRT-modules and whose morphisms are CRT-morphisms.

###### Theorem 1.12.

United $`K`$-theory is a natural, exact, homotopy invariant, continuous, stable, covariant functor from the category of real C\*-algebras to the category CRT.

###### Proof.

These properties all hold for ordinary real $`K`$-theory. They hold then for for complex and self-conjugate $`K`$-theory because the operation of tensoring a C\*-algebra by $``$ or by $`T`$ commutes with stabilization and is natural, exact, homotopy invariant, continuous, and covariant. Finally, since the homomorphisms involved with these properties are natural, they commute with the internal CRT-module homomorphisms and thus are CRT-module homomorphisms. ∎

We now record some general results about the category CRT from  which will be necessary in what follows.

###### Definition 1.13.

(Section 2.3 of ) An object $`M=\{M^O,M^U,M^T\}`$ in the category CRT is said to be acyclic if the sequences

$$\mathrm{}M_{n+1}^U\stackrel{\gamma }{}M_n^T\stackrel{\zeta }{}M_n^U\stackrel{1\psi _U}{}M_n^U\mathrm{}$$
(1)
$$\mathrm{}M_n^O\stackrel{\eta _O}{}M_{n+1}^O\stackrel{c}{}M_{n+1}^U\stackrel{r\beta _U^1}{}M_{n1}^O\mathrm{}$$
(2)
$$\mathrm{}M_n^O\stackrel{\eta _O^2}{}M_{n+2}^O\stackrel{\epsilon }{}M_{n+2}^T\stackrel{\tau \beta _T^1}{}M_{n1}^O\mathrm{}$$
(3)
are exact.

We will show in Section 1.4 that the united $`K`$-theory of any real C\*-algebra is acyclic. The acyclicity condition imposes a high degree of rigidity on the CRT-module, as demonstrated by the following propositions found in Section 2.3 of .

###### Proposition 1.14.

Suppose $`\varphi :MN`$ is a homomorphism of acyclic objects of CRT. If one of $`\varphi ^O`$, $`\varphi ^U`$, and $`\varphi ^T`$ is an isomorphism, then the other two are also isomorphisms.

###### Proposition 1.15.

Suppose $`M=\{M^O,M^U,M^T\}`$ is an acyclic object of CRT. If one of the groups $`M^O`$, $`M^U`$, and $`M^T`$ is trivial, then the other two are also trivial.

The following two theorems of Bousfield will be used in Section 2 to form geometric, free, length-one resolutions of $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(B)`$ for any real C\*-algebra $`B`$.

###### Theorem 1.16.

(Theorem 3.4 of ) An object $`M`$ in CRT has projective dimension at most 1 if and only if it is acyclic.

###### Theorem 1.17.

(Theorem 3.2 of ) For an object $`M\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}`$, the following are equivalent

1. $`M`$ is projective
2. $`M`$ is free
3. $`M`$ is acyclic and $`M^U`$ is a free abelian group

Furthermore, Bousfield explicitly describes the free CRT-modules which are generated by one element. Arbitrary free CRT-modules are direct sums of monogenic free CRT-modules. We will come across examples of these monogenic free CRT-modules in Section 2.1 as the united $`K`$-theory of $``$, $``$, and $`T`$.

### 1.4 Long Exact Sequences

###### Theorem 1.18.

For any real C\*-algebra $`A`$, the following sequences are exact:

$$\mathrm{}KU_{n+1}(A)\stackrel{\gamma }{}KT_n(A)\stackrel{\zeta }{}KU_n(A)\stackrel{1\psi _U}{}KU_n(A)\mathrm{}$$
(4)
$$\mathrm{}KO_n(A)\stackrel{\eta _O}{}KO_{n+1}(A)\stackrel{c}{}KU_{n+1}(A)\stackrel{r\beta _U^1}{}KO_{n1}(A)\mathrm{}$$
(5)
$$\mathrm{}KO_n(A)\stackrel{\eta _O^2}{}KO_{n+2}(A)\stackrel{\epsilon }{}KT_{n+2}(A)\stackrel{\tau \beta _T^1}{}KO_{n1}(A)\mathrm{}$$
(6)
In the language of , this theorem says that $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A)`$ is acyclic. It is an immediate corollary of Theorems 1.16 and 1.18 that $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A)`$ has projective dimension at most $`1`$ in the category CRT. However, this corollary will not be justified until we finish the proof of Proposition 1.7. In this section, we will not use any of the unproven relations of that proposition, nor will we use any consequences of them.

In Section 1.1, we proved the exactness of Sequence 4. Sequence 5 can be found in  or , but we will give a new proof which avoids Clifford algebras. Using similar techniques we will also prove the exactness of Sequence 6 which is new in the non-commutative context; in the topological case, it is due to Anderson .

We will use the following notation in this section.

###### Definition 1.19.

Let $`A`$ be any real C\*-algebra, let $`X`$ be any locally compact topological space, and let $`\tau `$ be any involution of $`X`$. Then $`C(X,A)`$ denotes the algebra of continuous functions from $`X`$ to $`A`$ and $`C_0(X,A)`$ is the subalgebra of those functions which vanish at infinity. We further define

$`C(X;\tau )`$ $`=\{fC(X,)f(\tau (x))=\overline{f(x)}\}`$
$`C_0(X;\tau )`$ $`=\{fC_0(X,)f(\tau (x))=\overline{f(x)}\}`$
$`IA`$ $`=C([0,1],A)`$
$`SA`$ $`=C_0(,A)`$
$`S^1A`$ $`=\{fC_0(,A)f(x)=\overline{f(x)}\}`$
$`S^{m,n}A`$ $`=S^m(S^1)^nA.`$
The operation $`ASA`$ is the usual suspension operation. The operation $`AS^1A`$ is an inverse suspension operation in the sense of the following proposition.

###### Proposition 1.20.

The real C\*-algebras $``$ and $`S^{1,1}`$ are $`KK`$-equivalent. Hence, for any real C\*-algebra $`A`$, there is an isomorphism $`K(S^{m,n}A)K_{mn}(A)`$.

In Section 1.5 of , Schröder adapts the Toeplitz algebra proof of Bott periodicity to the case of real C\*-algebras to show that $`K_n(A)K_n(S^{1,1}A)`$. Our proposition is somewhat stronger, but the proof takes the same approach using the real Toeplitz algebra. The proof will follow the next lemma. Recall that a short exact sequence is semisplit if it has a linear completely positive contractive section.

###### Lemma 1.21.

A short exact sequence of real C\*-algebras is semisplit if the short exact sequence obtained by complexifying is semisplit.

###### Proof.

Let $`s`$ be a section for the complexified short exact sequence

$$0AB\stackrel{1\pi }{}C0$$

so that $`(1\pi )s=1`$. If we simply restrict $`s`$ to $`C=1CC`$, we cannot be guaranteed that the image will lie in $`B`$. However, we claim that the linear projection $`f:BB`$ defined by $`f(b_1+ib_2)=b_1`$ is contractive and completely positive. In that case the composition $`fs|_{1C}:CB`$ is the desired section for the short exact sequence

$$0AB\stackrel{𝜋}{}C0.$$

To prove the claim, assume that $`B`$ is an algebra of operators on a real Hilbert space $``$. Then $`B`$ is an algebra of operators on the complex Hilbert space $``$.

We show that $`f`$ is positive using the condition (Theorem VIII.3.8 in ) that an operator $`T`$ on a Hilbert space is positive if and only if $`Tx,x0`$ for all vectors $`x`$ in the Hilbert space. Let $`b_1+ib_2`$ be an arbitrary positive element in $`B`$. Then $`b_1`$ is positive since for all $`x`$,

$$0(b_1+ib_2)x,x=b_1x,x+ib_2x,x.$$

Since $`b_ix,x`$, it follows that $`b_1x,x0`$ and that $`b_2x,x=0`$ for all $`x`$. This shows that $`f`$ is positive. To show $`f`$ is completely positive repeat the argument, replacing $`B`$ with $`M_n(B)`$.

To show that $`f`$ contractive, we compute

$`b_1+ib_2`$ $`=\underset{x_1+ix_2=1}{sup}(b_1+ib_2)(x_1+ix_2)`$
$`\underset{x_1=1}{sup}(b_1+ib_2)(x_1)`$
$`\underset{x_1=1}{sup}b_1(x_1)=b_1.`$
###### Proof of Proposition 1.20.

Let $`𝒯`$ denote the complex Toeplitz algebra generated by a single isometry $`S`$. Then as in Section V.1 of  or Section 11.2 of , $`𝒯`$ has an ideal isomorphic to the compact operators $`𝒦`$ which is the kernel of the homomorphism $`\sigma :𝒯C(S^1,)`$ which sends $`S`$ to the identity function $`z`$. Thus we have the short exact sequence

$$0𝒦𝒯\stackrel{𝜎}{}C(S^1,)0.$$
(7)
If we let $`𝒯_{}`$ be the real Toeplitz algebra generated by $`S`$, then $`𝒯_{}`$ contains the ideal $`𝒯_{}𝒦=𝒦_{}`$, the algebra of real compact operators. The quotient is isomorphic to the real subalgebra of $`C(S^1,)`$ that is generated by $`z`$, namely

$$C(S^1;\overline{})=\{fC(S^1,)f(\overline{x})=\overline{f(x)}\}.$$

Therefore we have the short exact sequence

$$0𝒦_{}𝒯_{}\stackrel{𝜎}{}C(S^1;\overline{})0$$
(8)
as found in Section 1.5 of .

Now let $`\pi :𝒯_{}`$ be the composition of $`\sigma `$ with evaluation at $`1S^1`$ and let $`𝒯_{,0}`$ be the kernel of $`\pi `$. Then $`𝒦_{}`$ is an ideal of $`𝒯_{,0}`$ with quotient

$$\{fC(S^1;\overline{})f(1)=0\}S^1.$$

Therefore we have our third short exact sequence

$$0𝒦_{}𝒯_{,0}\stackrel{𝜎}{}S^10.$$
(9)
Since $`C(S^1,)`$ is nuclear, the theorem of Choi and Effros recorded as Theorem 15.8.3 of  implies that Sequence 7 has a completely positive section. Since Sequence 7 is the complexification of Sequence 8, Lemma 1.21 implies that Sequence 8 also has a completely positive section. Finally, since $`𝒯_{,0}`$ is precisely the set of operators $`T`$ in $`𝒯_{}`$ such that $`\sigma (T)`$ is in $`S^1`$, this section restricts to a completely positive section for Sequence 9.

Then by Proposition 2.5.6 of , for any real separable C\*-algebra $`A`$ the semisplit exact Sequence 9 induces long exact sequences

$$\mathrm{}KK_{n+1}(A,𝒯_{,0})KK_n(A,S^{1,1})\stackrel{𝛿}{}KK_n(A,)KK_n(A,𝒯_{,0})\mathrm{}$$
(10)
and

$$\mathrm{}KK_n(𝒯_{,0},A)KK_n(,A)\stackrel{𝛿}{}KK_n(S^{1,1},A)KK_{n1}(𝒯_{,0},A)\mathrm{}$$
(11)
where in both cases $`\delta `$ is given by the intersection product with an element $`\delta KK_0(S^{1,1},)`$. The element $`\delta `$ is one half of our $`KK`$-equivalence.

We claim that $`KK_n(A,𝒯_{,0})=KK_n(𝒯_{,0},A)=0`$. Using the long exact sequence on $`K`$-theory induced by

$$0𝒯_{,0}𝒯_{}\stackrel{𝜋}{}0,$$

Schröder shows (in Section 1.5 of ) that $`K_{}(𝒯_{,0})=0`$ by showing that the homomorphism $`\pi _{}`$ induced on $`K`$-theory has an inverse. The same techniques immediately generalize to show that the $`KK`$-theory homomorphisms $`\pi _{}`$ and $`\pi ^{}`$ have inverses in the sequences

$$\mathrm{}KK_n(A,𝒯_{,0})KK_n(A,𝒯_{})\stackrel{\pi _{}}{}KK_n(A,)KK_{n1}(A,𝒯_{,0})\mathrm{}$$

and

$$\mathrm{}KK_{n+1}(𝒯_{,0},A)KK_n(,A)\stackrel{\pi ^{}}{}KK_n(𝒯_{},A)KK_n(𝒯_{,0},A)\mathrm{}.$$

Therefore $`KK_n(A,𝒯_{,0})=KK_n(𝒯_{,0},A)=0`$.

It follows that $`\delta `$ is an isomorphism in the Sequences 10 and 11. In particular, setting $`A=`$ in Sequence 10, we have an isomorphism

$$KK_0(,S^{1,1})\stackrel{𝛿}{}KK_0(,).$$

To find the inverse $`KK`$-element to $`\delta `$, let $`\epsilon KK_0(,S^{1,1})`$ be the element such that $`\epsilon \delta =1_{}KK_0(,)`$. It remains only to show that $`\delta \epsilon =1KK_0(S^{1,1},S^{1,1})`$.

Applying Sequence 11 with $`A=S^{1,1}`$ gives an isomorphism

$$KK_0(,S^{1,1})KK_0(S^{1,1},S^{1,1})$$

and we conclude that $`KK_0(S^{1,1},S^{1,1})`$. Now, we note that $`\delta \epsilon `$ is an idempotent since

$$(\delta \epsilon )^2=\delta (\epsilon \delta )\epsilon =\delta 1\epsilon =\delta \epsilon .$$

But $`\delta \epsilon `$ is non-zero since $`\delta \epsilon \delta =\delta 0`$. Therefore, $`\delta \epsilon `$ must be the only non-zero idempotent in the ring $`KK_0(S^{1,1},S^{1,1})`$, namely the identity. ∎

We are now ready to prove the exactness of the sequences of Theorem 1.18.

###### Construction of Sequence 5.

We start with the inclusion homomorphism $`c:`$ and construct the mapping cylinder and mapping cone. See Section 2 of  as a basic reference for mapping cylinders and mapping cones. In our case, the mapping cylinder is

$`Zc`$ $`=\{(x,f)If(0)=c(x)\}`$
$`\{fIf(0)\}`$
and the mapping cone is
$`Cc`$ $`=\{(x,f)If(0)=c(x),f(1)=0\}`$
$`\{fIf(0),f(1)=0\}`$
$`\{fC_0(,)f(z)=\overline{f(z)}\}`$
$`S^1`$
Then there is a short exact sequence

$$0CcZc0.$$
(12)
Since $`Zc`$ is homotopy equivalent to $``$ and $`Cc`$ is isomorphic to $`S^1`$, we have up to homotopy equivalence a sequence

$$0S^1\stackrel{𝑐}{}0$$
(13)
which, upon tensoring on the right by $`A`$ and applying $`K`$-theory, gives rise to a long exact sequence

$$\mathrm{}KO_n(A)\stackrel{𝛼}{}KO_{n+1}(A)\stackrel{𝑐}{}KU_{n+1}(A)\stackrel{𝛽}{}KO_{n1}(A)\mathrm{}.$$
(14)
Let $`\alpha `$ be the element of $`KK_0(S^1,)KK_1(,)`$ determined by the homomorphism $`S^1`$ so that the $`K`$-theory homomorphism $`\alpha `$ in the sequence above is realized by multiplication by the element $`\alpha `$. Now, the index map in the long exact sequence above is induced by a homomorphism $`SS^1`$ (see Proposition 2.3 of ). Let $`\beta KK(S,S^1)KK_2(,)`$ be the $`KK`$-element corresponding to this homomorphism.

We will show that $`\alpha =\eta _OKK_1(,)`$ and $`\beta =\pm r\beta _U^1KK_2(,)`$. The first is easy since there are only two elements in $`KK_1(,)_2`$. The element $`\alpha `$ cannot be zero since then Sequence 14 would not be exact for $`A=`$.

To show that $`\beta =\pm r\beta _U^1`$, we must first compute $`KK_2(,)`$. For this, we use the long exact sequence induced by Sequence 13 on the functor $`KK(,)`$,

$$KK_1(,)KK_2(,)KK_2(,)KK_0(,)KK_1(,)$$

according to Proposition 2.5.4 of . Since $`KK_2(,)KK_1(,)=0`$ it follows that there is an isomorphism $`KK_0(,)KK_2(,)`$ given by the intersection product with $`\beta `$. Therefore, $`\beta `$ is a generator of $`KK_2(,)`$.

Now, the inverse Bott element $`\beta _U^1`$ is a generator of $`KK_2(,)`$ , so it remains only to prove that $`r`$ is a generator of $`KK_0(,)`$. For this, it is enough to show that $`r:K_4()K_4()`$ is an isomorphism $``$. We use the short exact sequence

$$0K_4()\stackrel{𝑐}{}K_4()K_4()0$$

induced by Sequence 13 and the fact that $`K_2()=_2`$ to deduce that $`c:K_4()K_4()`$ is multiplication by $`\pm 2`$ from $``$ to $``$. Then the relation $`cr=2`$ implies that $`r_4`$ is an isomorphism. ∎

###### Construction of Sequence 6.

To develop the third exact sequence, we follow the same procedure as above, starting with the homomorphism $`\epsilon :T`$.

The mapping cylinder of $`\epsilon `$ is

$`Z\epsilon `$ $`=\{(x,f)ITf(0)=\epsilon (x)\}`$
$`\{fI^2f(s,0)=\overline{f(s,1)}\text{for all }sI\text{ and}f(0,t_1)=f(0,t_2)\text{for all }t_1,t_2I\}`$
and the mapping cone is
$`C\epsilon `$ $`=\{(x,f)ITf(0)=\epsilon (x)\text{and}f(1)=0\}`$
$`\{fI^2f(s,0)=\overline{f(s,1)}\text{for all }sI\text{,}`$
$`f(0,t_1)=f(0,t_2)\text{for all }t_1,t_2I\text{, and}`$
$`f(1,t)=0\text{for all }tI\}`$
$`\{fI^2f(s,0)=f(s,1)=f(1,t)=0\text{and}f(0,t)=\overline{f(0,1t)}\}`$
Call this last algebra $`B`$. We will prove that $`B`$ is isomorphic to $`S^2`$. Recall that in previous proof, we found that

$`S^1`$ $`\{fIf(0),f(1)=0\};`$
thus
$`S^2`$ $`\{fIf(0),f(1)=0\}^2`$
$`\{fI^2(_{})f(1,t)=f(s,1)=0\text{for all }s\text{ and }tI\text{,}`$
$`f(0,t)\text{for all }t\text{ in }I\text{, and}`$
$`f(s,0)\text{for all }s\text{ in }I\}.`$
Now, $``$ is isomorphic to $`_{}`$ via the homomorphism

$$\alpha (x,y)=\frac{1}{2}(x+y)1+\frac{1}{2}(xy)ii.$$

(This isomorphism is an isomorphism of complex C\*-algebras when $`_{}`$ receives the complex structure based on its first factor.) Under this isomorphism $`_{}`$ is identified with $`\{(x,\overline{x})x\}`$ and $`_{}`$ is identified with $`\{(x,x)x\}`$.

Hence $`S^2`$ is isomorphic to the subalgebra $`B^{}`$ of $`I^2()I^2I^2`$ consisting of pairs $`(f,g)`$ satisfying

$`f(s,1)`$ $`=f(1,t)=g(s,1)=g(1,t)=0`$
$`f(0,t)`$ $`=\overline{g(0,t)},\text{and}`$
$`f(s,0)`$ $`=g(s,0).`$
Finally, the pasting map $`(f,g)h`$ defined by

$$h(s,t)=\{\begin{array}{cc}g(s,12t),\hfill & \text{if }t\frac{1}{2}\text{.}\hfill \\ f(s,2t1),\hfill & \text{if }t\frac{1}{2}\hfill \end{array}$$

gives an isomorphism from $`B^{}`$ to $`B`$. We have shown that $`C\epsilon `$ is isomorphic to $`S^2`$.

Then the short exact sequence

$$0C\epsilon Z\epsilon T0$$

becomes, up to homotopy, the sequence

$$0S^2\stackrel{𝜀}{}T0$$
(15)
which gives rise to a long exact sequence

$$\mathrm{}KO_n(A)\stackrel{𝛼}{}KO_{n+2}(A)\stackrel{𝜀}{}KT_{n+2}(A)\stackrel{𝛽}{}KO_{n1}(A)\mathrm{}.$$
(16)
Let $`\alpha KK_2(,)`$ and $`\beta KK_3(T,)`$ be the $`KK`$-elements that implement the homomorphisms in the above sequence.

We will show that $`\alpha =\eta _O^2`$ and $`\beta =\pm \tau \beta _T^1`$. The element $`\alpha `$ cannot be zero, since otherwise Sequence 16 above would not be exact for $`A=`$. Since $`\eta _O^2`$ is the only non-zero element of $`KK_2(,)_2`$, we have $`\alpha =\eta _O^2`$.

Sequence 15 gives rise to a long exact sequence

$$KK_1(,)KK_3(,)KK_3(T,)\stackrel{𝛽}{}KK_0(,)KK_2(,).$$

Since $`KK_2(,)=KK_3(,)=0`$ and since $`KK_0(,)`$, this implies that $`KK_3(T,)`$ and the element $`\beta `$ is a generator.

In the proof of the exactness of Sequence 5, we discovered that $`r`$ is an isomorphism from $`KU_4()`$ to $`KO_4()`$. This isomorphism passes through $`KT_3()`$ via the factorization $`r=\tau \gamma `$. So $`\tau `$ must be a generator of $`KK_1(T,)`$. Since $`\beta _T`$ is a $`KK`$-equivalence, this implies $`\tau \beta _T^1`$ is a generator of $`KK_3(T,)`$.

## 2 Free Geometric Resolutions

In this section we show that given an arbitrary unital C\*-algebra $`A`$, we can form a free geometric resolution of $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A)`$. In the first section, we compute the united $`K`$-theory of the real C\*-algebras $``$, $``$, and $`T`$. These CRT-modules give us geometric realizations of singly-generated free CRT-modules and form the basic building blocks for the free geometric resolutions which will be obtained in Section 2.2

### 2.1 Geometrically Realized Free CRT-Modules

The united $`K`$-theory of the real C\*-algebras $``$, $``$, and $`T`$ are given in Tables 1, 2, and 3. These tables give the groups $`KO_n(A)`$, $`KU_n(A)`$, and $`KT_n(A)`$ up to isomorphism as well as the operations $`c_n`$, $`r_n`$, $`\epsilon _n`$, $`\zeta _n`$, $`(\psi _U)_n`$, $`(\psi _T)_n`$, $`\gamma _n`$, and $`\tau _n`$ which are written as multiplication by a certain number or matrix in terms of fixed ordered generators for each of the groups. These preferred generators are shown in the table for $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}()`$. For $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}()`$ and $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(T)`$ the preferred generators are described in the course of the computation in the text. These preferred generators are chosen to be stable under the periodicity isomorphisms. The $`KO_{}()`$-, $`KU_{}()`$-, and $`KT_{}()`$-module structures are given implicitly by the relations $`\eta _O=\tau \epsilon `$, $`\eta _T=\gamma \beta _U\zeta `$, $`\xi =\tau \gamma \beta _U^2c`$, and $`\omega =\beta _T\gamma \zeta `$. These last two relations have not been proven in general yet. However, our calculation of $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}()`$ will imply that they hold for $`A=`$ and, following the computation, we use this to prove the general case.

Let $`F(b,n,)`$ (respectively $`F(b,n,)`$ and $`F(b,n,T)`$) denote the free CRT-module with a single generator $`b`$ in the real (respectively complex and self-conjugate) part in degree $`n`$ (see Section 2 of ). Any free CRT-module can be obtained as a direct sum of these three monogenic free CRT-modules.

By direct comparison with Paragraph 2.4 of , we observe from our computations that $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}()`$ is a free CRT-module with single generator $`1_OKO_0()`$; $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}()`$ is a free CRT-module with generator $`\kappa _1=\left(\begin{array}{c}1\\ 0\end{array}\right)KU_0()`$; and $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(T)`$ is a free CRT-module with generator $`\chi =\left(\begin{array}{c}1\\ 0\end{array}\right)KT_1(T)`$. Therefore, any free CRT-module can be realized as $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(F)`$, where $`F`$ is a direct sum of suspensions of the algebras $``$, $``$, and $`T`$.

###### Computation of Table 1.

We have already established the group and module structures of $`KO_{}()`$, $`KU_{}()`$, and $`KT_{}()`$. For the computation of $`c`$, $`r`$, and $`\psi _U`$, we refer to  (III.5.19) or . Alternatively, the values of $`c`$ and $`r`$ can be computed directly using Sequence 5 and $`\psi _U`$ using the relation $`cr=1+\psi _U`$. We computed $`\zeta `$ and $`\gamma `$ in Section 2.1 using Sequence 4. The remaining homomorphisms $`\epsilon `$, $`\psi _T`$, and $`\tau `$ can be easily determined by the constraints $`c=\zeta \epsilon `$, $`\eta _O=\tau \epsilon `$, $`\epsilon r\zeta =1+\psi _T`$, and $`r=\tau \gamma `$. ∎

At this point, we pause to prove two more of the relations stated in Proposition 1.7 using the results of the computation of $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}()`$. These relations will be used in computing $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}()`$.

###### Continuation of proof of Proposition 1.7.

First we prove $`\xi =r\beta _U^2c`$. Let $`xKO_{}(A)`$. Then using the relations $`r=\tau \gamma `$, $`c=\zeta \epsilon `$ (from Proposition 1.7); Lemma 1.8, parts (3), (5), and (10); and $`r\beta _U^2c(1_O)=\xi `$ from Table 1 we have

$`r\beta _U^2c(x)`$ $`=r\beta _U^2c(1_O_Ox)`$
$`=r\beta _U^2(1_U_Uc(x))`$
$`=\tau \gamma (\beta _U^2_U\zeta \epsilon (x))`$
$`=\tau (\gamma \beta _U^2_T\epsilon (x))`$
$`=\tau \gamma \beta _U^2_O(x)`$
$`=r\beta _U^2c(1_O)_Ox`$
$`=\xi _Ox.`$
Second, we prove $`\omega =\beta _T\gamma \zeta `$. Let $`zKT_{}(A)`$. Then using $`\gamma (1_U)=\beta _T^1\omega `$ (from Table 1) and Lemma 1.8 part (3), we have

$`\beta _T\gamma \zeta (z)`$ $`=\beta _T\gamma (1_U_U\zeta (z))`$
$`=\beta _T(\gamma (1_U)_Tz)`$
$`=\beta _T(\beta _T^1\omega _Tz)`$
$`=\omega _Tz.`$
###### Computation of Table 2.

We designate the preferred generators of $`KO_n()`$ to be those elements which correspond to the preferred generators of $`KU_n()`$.

Now, as in the proof of Thoerem 1.18, $``$ is isomorphic to $`_{}`$ via the isomorphism

$$\alpha (\lambda _1,\lambda _2)=\frac{1}{2}(\lambda _1+\lambda _2)1+\frac{1}{2}(\lambda _1\lambda _2)ii.$$

Thus, $`KU_n()=K_n(_{})K_n()`$ is isomorphic to $``$ if $`n`$ is even and is 0 otherwise. We define the classes

$`\kappa _1`$ $`=\alpha _{}[(1,0)]=[\frac{1}{2}(11)+\frac{1}{2}(ii)]`$
$`\kappa _2`$ $`=\alpha _{}[(0,1)]=[\frac{1}{2}(11)\frac{1}{2}(ii)]`$
in $`KU_0()`$. Then the preferred generators of $`KU_{2n}()`$ are set to be $`\beta _U^n\kappa _1`$ and $`\beta _U^n\kappa _2`$ in that order.

Now the complexification operation $`c:KO_n()KU_n()`$ is computed by studying the composition

$$_{}_{}$$

which is given by $`\lambda (\overline{\lambda },\lambda ).`$ Similarly, the operation $`\psi _U:KU_n()KU_n()`$ is computed by studying the composition

$$_{}\stackrel{\psi _U1}{}_{}$$

which is given by $`(\lambda _1,\lambda _2)(\overline{\lambda _2},\overline{\lambda _1})`$.

To compute $`KT_{}()`$, we use the exact sequence

$$0KT_n()\stackrel{\zeta }{}KU_n()\stackrel{1\psi _U}{}KU_n()\stackrel{\gamma }{}KT_{n1}()0$$

for $`n`$ even.

Now $`1(\psi _U)_n=\left(\begin{array}{cc}1& 1\\ 1& 1\end{array}\right)`$ for $`n0(mod4)`$ and $`1(\psi _U)_n=\left(\begin{array}{cc}1& 1\\ 1& 1\end{array}\right)`$ for $`n2(mod4)`$. So for any even $`n`$, the kernel and the cokernel of $`1(\psi _U)_n`$ are both isomorphic to $``$. Thus $`KT_n()`$ for all $`n`$. For each $`n`$, choose the preferred generators of $`KT_n()`$ such that $`\gamma _n`$ and $`\zeta _n`$ are as described in the table. Since $`\zeta \beta _T=\beta _U^2\zeta `$ and $`\gamma \beta _U^2=\beta _T\gamma `$, the collection of these preferred generators is stable under the periodicity isomorphism $`\beta _T`$.

Finally, the operations $`r`$, $`\epsilon `$, $`\psi _T`$, and $`\tau `$ are determined by the relations $`cr=1+\psi _U`$, $`c=\zeta \epsilon `$, $`\epsilon r\zeta =1+\psi _T`$, and $`r=\tau \gamma `$. ∎

###### Computation of Table 3.

The structure of real $`K`$-theory is immediate, since $`KO_n(T)KT_n()`$. We specify generators of $`KO_{}(T)`$ which correspond to the previously specified generators of $`KT_{}()`$. The $`KO_{}()`$-module structure of $`KO_{}(T)`$ is inferred from the $`KT_{}()`$-module structure on $`KT_{}()`$ via the inclusion $`\epsilon :T`$. For example, for the element $`\xi KO_4()`$ and any $`zKT_k()=KO_k(T)`$ we have

$$\xi z=\epsilon (\xi )z=2\beta _Tz,$$

a fact which we shall use shortly.

For all $`n`$, we have $`KU_n(T)K_n(T)KT_n()`$. Then use the sequence

$$KO_{n1}(T)\stackrel{\eta _O}{}KO_n(T)\stackrel{c}{}KU_n(T)\stackrel{r\beta _U^1}{}KO_{n2}(T)\stackrel{\eta _O}{}KO_{n1}(T)$$
(17)
from Theorem 1.18 to compute $`c`$ and $`r`$.

Let $`y_0=c(1_T)`$ be the preferred generator of $`KU_0(T)`$ and let $`y_1`$ be the generator of $`KU_1(T)`$ such that $`c(\omega )=2\beta _Uy_1`$. Then we take $`\beta _U^ny_0`$ to be the preferred generator of $`KU_{2n}(T)`$ and we take $`\beta _U^ny_1`$ to be the preferred generator of $`KU_{2n+1}(T)`$.

From these choices of generators and from Sequence 17, along with the relations $`\psi _Uc=c`$, $`\psi _U\beta _U=\beta _U\psi _U`$, $`rc=2`$ and $`cr=1+\psi _U`$, we can mostly compute the operations of $`r`$, $`c`$, and $`\psi _U`$. However, the values of $`r_4`$, $`c_4`$, $`r_7`$, and $`c_7`$ are only determined up to sign. The following calculations show that $`r_4=2`$ and $`r_7=1`$ and it follows that $`c_4=1`$ and $`r_7=2`$:

$`r(\beta _U^2y_0)`$ $`=r(\beta _U^2c(1_T))`$
$`=r(\beta _U^2)1_T`$
$`=\xi 1_T`$
$`=2\beta _T`$
and
$`2r(\beta _U^3y_1)`$ $`=r(\beta _U^22\beta _Uy)`$
$`=r(\beta _U^2c(\omega ))`$
$`=r(\beta _U^2)\omega `$
$`=\xi \omega `$
$`=2\beta _T\omega `$
The groups $`KT_{}(T)`$ can be computed immediately from the sequence

$$KU_{n+1}(T)\stackrel{1\psi _U}{}KU_{n+1}(T)\stackrel{\gamma }{}KT_n(T)\stackrel{\zeta }{}KU_n(T)\stackrel{1\psi _U}{}KU_n(T)$$
(18)
using what we know about $`KU_{}(T)`$ and $`\psi _U`$. Choose generators for $`KT_n(T)`$ so that $`\gamma `$ and $`\zeta `$ are as specified in the table (this choice is not unique).

To compute $`\epsilon `$ we use the sequence

$$KO_{n2}(T)\stackrel{\eta _O^2}{}KO_n(T)\stackrel{\epsilon }{}KT_n(T)\stackrel{\tau \beta _T^1}{}KO_{n3}(T)\stackrel{\eta _O^2}{}KO_{n1}(T).$$
(19)
Note that in this sequence, $`\eta _O^2=0`$ for all $`n`$. It is immediate that $`\epsilon _1=\epsilon _5=1`$.

Looking at Sequence 19 with $`n=0`$, we see that the image of $`\epsilon _0`$ is a subgroup of index 2 in $`KT_0(T)_2`$. Since $`\zeta _0\epsilon _0=c_0=1`$, we conclude that $`\epsilon _0`$ is either $`\left(\begin{array}{c}1\\ 0\end{array}\right)`$ or $`\left(\begin{array}{c}1\\ 1\end{array}\right)`$. By changing the basis of $`KT_0(T)`$ we may assume that $`\epsilon _0=\left(\begin{array}{c}1\\ 0\end{array}\right)`$. (If a change is necessary, the new generators will be $`\left(\begin{array}{c}1\\ 1\end{array}\right)`$ and $`\left(\begin{array}{c}0\\ 1\end{array}\right)`$ given in terms of the old generators. This basis change does not disturb our previously computed representations of $`\gamma `$ and $`\zeta `$.)

From $`\zeta _3\epsilon _3=c_3=2`$, we see that $`\epsilon _3`$ is $`\left(\begin{array}{c}2\\ a\end{array}\right)`$ where $`a`$ is some integer. But the exact sequence above tells us that the image of $`\epsilon _3`$ is a free summand of $`KT_3(T)`$. Thus $`a`$ must be odd. Again we may change the basis $`KT_3(T)`$ so that $`\epsilon _3=\left(\begin{array}{c}2\\ 1\end{array}\right)`$. (The new generators will be $`\left(\begin{array}{c}1\\ \frac{a1}{2}\end{array}\right)`$ and $`\left(\begin{array}{c}0\\ 1\end{array}\right)`$. Again this change does not disturb our representations of $`\gamma `$ and $`\zeta `$.)

Using the same reasoning that we used in the computation of $`\epsilon _0`$ above, we know that $`\epsilon _4`$ is either $`\left(\begin{array}{c}1\\ 0\end{array}\right)`$ or $`\left(\begin{array}{c}1\\ 1\end{array}\right)`$. However at this point we do not have the freedom to change generators. (The generators of $`KT_4(T)`$ are to be the suspensions of the generators of $`KT_0(T)`$.) Instead, we compute $`\tau _0=\left(\begin{array}{cc}1& 1\end{array}\right)`$ using the relations $`\eta _O=\tau \epsilon `$ and $`r=\tau \gamma `$. Then we use the relation $`\tau \beta _T^1\epsilon =0`$ from Sequence 6 to see that $`\epsilon _4=\left(\begin{array}{c}1\\ 1\end{array}\right)`$.

The computation of $`\epsilon _7`$ is similar to that of $`\epsilon _4`$. First we use the relation $`\zeta _7\epsilon _7=c_7=2`$ and the exact Sequence 19 to deduce that $`\epsilon _7=\left(\begin{array}{c}2\\ a\end{array}\right)`$ for some odd $`a`$. Independently, we compute $`\tau _3=\left(\begin{array}{cc}1& 2\end{array}\right)`$ using the relations $`\eta _O=\tau \epsilon `$ and $`r=\tau \gamma `$. Finally, we use the relation $`\tau \beta _T^1\epsilon =0`$ to see that $`a=1`$.

It remains to compute $`\psi _T`$ and $`\tau `$, which can easily be done using the relations $`\epsilon r\zeta =1+\psi _T`$, $`r=\tau \gamma `$, and $`\eta _O=\tau \epsilon `$. ∎

### 2.2 Geometrically Realized Surjections and Resolutions

In , Schochet produces a geometric resolution by first producing for any unital complex C\*-algebra $`A`$ a homomorphism $`\mu :F𝒦()A`$ that is surjective on both $`K_0`$ and $`K_1`$ where $`F`$ is a C\*-algebra such that $`K_{}(F)`$ is free (Lemma 3.1 of ). Roughly, he used homomorphisms from $``$ in order to hit each projection (representing an element in $`K_0(A)`$) and a homomorphism from $`S`$ in order to hit each unitary (representing an element in $`K_1(A)`$). Then he embedded $`A`$ in $`𝒦A`$ in order to have room to combine the homomorphisms. Once $`\mu `$ is consructed, the resolution is completed using a mapping cone construction.

In what follows we will also produce a geometric resolution by first producing a homomorphism which is surjective on united $`K`$-theory. Now there are eight distinct groups in real $`K`$-theory and only two of them have simple intrinsic descriptions (projections for $`K_0`$ and unitaries for $`K_1`$). Therefore, we have to resort to suspensions, representing elements of $`K_i(A)`$ by projections in $`S_iA`$. Therefore the target of our homomorphism will be the stabilization of a certain eightfold suspension of $`A`$ described below.

We will make essential use of Schochet’s stabilization trick in order to have room to paste together the many homomorphisms that are necessary to hit the many elements of all the different groups of united $`K`$-theory. Finally, we will use a mapping cone construction similar to Schochet’s and the fact that $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A)`$ has projective dimension 1 in CRT to turn a geometric surjective homomorphism into a geometric resolution of length 1.

Let $`A`$ be a real unital C\*-algebra. Let

$$S^+A=\{fC([0,1],A)f(0)=f(1)1_A\}$$

be the unitized suspension of $`A`$. We let $`𝔖A`$ denote the unital algebra obtained by repeating this process eight times:

$$𝔖A:=(S^+)^8A.$$

There is a split exact sequence

$$0S^8A𝔖A(S^+)^70$$

yielding the direct sum decomposition

$$K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝔖A)K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(S^8A)K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}((S^+)^7).$$

There is also an isomorphism $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A)K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(S^8A)`$ so $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝔖A)`$ carries the same essential information as $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A)`$. In our geometric resolution, we will replace $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A)`$ by $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒦()𝔖A)`$. The main theorems of this section are the following.

###### Proposition 2.1.

Let $`A`$ be a real unital C\*-algebra. Then there is a real C\*-algebra $`F`$, a real Hilbert space $``$, and a C\*-algebra homomorphism $`\mu :F𝒦()𝔖A`$ such that $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(F)`$ is a free CRT-module and the induced homomorphism

$$\mu _{}:K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(F)K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒦()𝔖A)K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝔖A)$$

is a surjection.

###### Theorem 2.2.

Let $`A`$ be a real unital C\*-algebra. Then there are real C\*-algebras $`F_1`$ and $`F_0`$, C\*-algebra homomorphisms $`\mu _1`$ and $`\mu _2`$, and a Hilbert space $``$ making the following sequence exact

$$0K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(F_1)\stackrel{(\mu _1)_{}}{}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(F_0)\stackrel{(\mu _0)_{}}{}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒦()𝔖A)0.$$

Furthermore, $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(F_0)`$ and $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(F_1)`$ are free CRT-modules.

We tackle the proof of Proposition 2.1 by considering the real, complex, and self-conjugate cases independently in the next lemmas. Once it is proven, it will be used with Lemma 1.7 to prove Theorem 2.2.

###### Lemma 2.3.

Let $`A`$ be a real unital C\*-algebra. Then there is a real C\*-algebra $`F`$, a real Hilbert space $``$, and a C\*-algebra homomorphism $`\mu :F𝒦()A`$ such that $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(F)`$ is a free CRT-module and the induced homomorphism

$$\mu _{}:KO_0(F)KO_0(𝒦()A)KO_0(A)$$

is a surjection.

###### Proof.

Let $`\{p_s\}_{sS}`$ be a collection of projections $`p_s𝒦(_s)A`$ such that $`\{[p_s]\}_{sS}`$ generates $`KO_0(A)`$. Here $`S`$ is a possibly uncountable index set $`S`$, and for each $`sS`$, $`_s`$ is a finite dimensional Hilbert space. Then construct homomorphisms

$$\mu _s:𝒦(_s)A$$

defined by $`\mu _s(\lambda )=\lambda p_s`$ so that $`[p_s]`$ is in the image of $`(\mu _s)_{}`$.

Now form the Hilbert space direct sum $`={\displaystyle \underset{sS}{}}_s`$ and the C\*-algebra direct sum $`F={\displaystyle \underset{sS}{}}`$. Then we patch together the homomorphisms $`\mu _s`$ to form a homomorphism

$$\mu :F𝒦()A$$

by defining $`\mu `$ to be the composition

$$\stackrel{\mu _s}{}𝒦(_s)A𝒦()A$$

on each summand $``$ of $`F`$. ∎

Recall that $`\kappa _1KU_0()`$ is the free generator of $`K_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}()`$. From Table 2 we have $`r(\kappa _1)=1_U`$.

###### Lemma 2.4.

Let $`A`$ be a real unital C\*-algebra. Let $`p`$ be a projection in $`A`$. Then there is a C\*-algebra homomorphism $`\mu :M_2(A)`$ such that the induced homomorphism

$$\mu _{}:KU_0()KU_0(M_2(A))KU_0(A)$$

carries $`\kappa _1`$ to $`[p]`$ modulo the image of $`\beta _U^1c`$.

###### Proof.

Define $`\mu `$ by $`\mu (\lambda )=r(\lambda p)M_2(A)`$. Then

$$r(\mu _{}(\kappa _1)[p])=\mu _{}(r(\kappa _1))r[p]=\mu _{}[1]r[p]=0.$$

Therefore $`\mu _{}(\kappa _1)[p]`$ is in the kernel of $`r`$ which is the image of $`\beta _U^1c`$. ∎

###### Lemma 2.5.

Let $`A`$ be a real unital C\*-algebra. Then there is a real C\*-algebra $`F`$, a real Hilbert space $``$, and a C\*-algebra homomorphism $`\mu :F𝒦()A`$ such that $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(F)`$ is a free CRT-module and the induced homomorphism

$$\mu _{}:KU_0(F)KU_0(𝒦()A)KU_0(A)$$

is a surjection modulo the image of $`\beta _U^1c`$.

###### Proof.

Again, choose a family of projections $`p_s𝒦(_s)A`$ such that the classes $`[p_s]`$ generate $`KU_0(A)`$. By Lemma 2.4, we have homomorphisms

$$\mu _s:M_2(𝒦(_s)A)𝒦(_s^{})A$$

such that $`\mu _s(\kappa _1)=[p_s]`$ modulo $`\beta _U^1c`$. Here $`_s^{}`$ is taken to be the Hilbert space tensor product $`^2_s`$ so that $`M_2()𝒦(_s)𝒦(^2)𝒦(_s)𝒦(_s^{})`$.

Then the family $`\mu _s`$ is patched together as in the proof of Lemma 2.3 to form

$$\mu _s:F𝒦()A$$

where $`F={\displaystyle \underset{sS}{}}`$ and $`={\displaystyle \underset{sS}{}}_s^{}`$. ∎

We now turn to the self-conjugate case. In this case the target of our homomorphism will not be a matrix algebra over $`A`$, but a matrix algebra over $`S^+A`$. With respect to the natural decomposition

$$K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(S^+A)K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(SA)K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(),$$

let $`\pi :K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(S^+A)K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(SA)`$ be the projection onto the first summand. For the source of our homomorphism, we will use the algebra $`T`$. Recall that $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(T)`$ is a free CRT-module generated by $`\chi =\left(\begin{array}{c}1\\ 0\end{array}\right)KT_1(T)`$. The only other fact we need to remember about $`\chi `$ is that $`\tau (\chi )=1_TKO_0(T)`$ (see Table 3).

###### Lemma 2.6.

Let $`A`$ be unital and let $`p`$ be a projection in $`TA`$. Then there is a C\*-algebra homomorphism $`\mu :TM_{16}(S^+A)`$ such that the composition

$$\pi \mu _{}:KT_1(T)KT_1(M_{16}(S^+A))KT_1(SA)KT_0(A)$$

carries $`\chi `$ to $`[p]`$ modulo the image of $`\beta _T^1\epsilon `$.

###### Proof.

Fix a unitary $`u`$ in $`M_8(A)`$ such that

$$u\left(\begin{array}{cccc}r(p(0))& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 1_2r(p(0))& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 0\end{array}\right)u^{}=\left(\begin{array}{cccc}1_2& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& 0\end{array}\right).$$

Recall from Section 1.2 that for $`i=1,2`$, we have homomorphisms

$$\sigma _i:TAC(S^1,M_4(A))$$

such that $`\tau =(\sigma _1)_{}(\sigma _2)_{}`$. Then let $`P^{}C(S^1,M_8(A))`$ be the projection defined by

$$P^{}=u\left(\begin{array}{cc}\sigma _1(p)& 0\\ 0& \sigma _2(1p)\end{array}\right)u^{}.$$

Note that $`P^{}`$ is in $`M_8(S^+A)`$ since

$$P^{}(0)=P^{}(1)=u\left(\begin{array}{cc}\sigma _1\left(p\right)\left(0\right)& 0\\ 0& \sigma _2\left(1p\right)\left(0\right)\end{array}\right)u^{}=u\left(\begin{array}{cc}r\left(p\left(0\right)\right)& 0\\ 0& 1r\left(p\left(0\right)\right)\end{array}\right)u^{}=\left(\begin{array}{cc}1_2& 0\\ 0& 0\end{array}\right).$$

Finally, let $`P=\left(\begin{array}{cc}P^{}& 0\\ 0& 0\end{array}\right)M_{16}(S^+A)`$.

We will construct a homomorphism $`\mu :TM_{16}(S^+A)`$ that sends the unit to $`P`$. For this we first define the C\*-algebra homomorphism $`\mu ^{}:TM_{16}()`$ as follows. Given $`fT`$, let $`\zeta (f)=f(0)=x+iy`$. Then define

$$\mu ^{}(f)=\left(\begin{array}{cccccccc}x& 0& 0& 0& y& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& x& 0& 0& 0& y& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& x& 0& 0& 0& y& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& x& 0& 0& 0& y\\ y& 0& 0& 0& x& 0& 0& 0\\ 0& y& 0& 0& 0& x& 0& 0\\ 0& 0& y& 0& 0& 0& x& 0\\ 0& 0& 0& y& 0& 0& 0& x\end{array}\right)$$

Now $`\mu ^{}(f)`$ commutes with the projection $`P`$ for all $`f`$ so the rule

$$\mu (f)=\mu ^{}(f)P$$

defines a C\*-algebra homomorphism which sends the unit to $`P`$.

We claim that $`\mu _{}`$ carries $`1_TKO_0(T)`$ to $`\tau [p]+21_OKO_0(M_8()S^+A)KO_1(A)KO_0()`$. Indeed,

$`\mu _{}(1_T)`$ $`=[P]`$
$`=[\sigma _1(p)]+[\sigma _2(1p)]`$
$`=[\sigma _1(p)]+[\sigma _2(1)][\sigma _2(p)]`$
$`=\tau [p]+[r(1)]`$
$`=\tau [p]+21_O.`$
Then

$$\tau (\pi \mu _{})(\chi )=(\pi \mu _{})\tau (\chi )=(\pi \mu _{})(1_T)=\pi (\tau [p]+2_O)=\tau [p].$$

Therefore, $`(\pi \mu _{})(\chi [p])`$ is in the kernel of $`\tau `$ which is the image of $`\beta _T^1\epsilon `$, according to Sequence 6. ∎

###### Lemma 2.7.

Let $`A`$ be a real unital C\*-algebra. Then there is a C\*-algebra $`F`$, a Hilbert space $``$, and a C\*-algebra homomorphism $`\mu :F𝒦()S^+A`$ such that $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(F)`$ is a free CRT-module and the induced homomorphism

$$\mu _{}:KT_1(F)KT_1(𝒦()S^+A)KT_1(S^+A)KT_0(A)KT_1()$$

is a surjection modulo the image of $`\beta _T^1\epsilon `$.

###### Proof.

Let $`\mu _0:S^+A=𝒦(_0)S^+A`$ be the unital inclusion where $`_0`$ is a one-dimensional real Hilbert space. The homomorphism $`\mu _0`$ is designed to insure that the image of $`\mu _{}`$ includes $`KT_1()KT_1(S^+(A))`$. Now let $`p_s𝒦(_s)TA`$ be a family of projections indexed by $`S`$ so that $`\{[p_s]\}_{sS}`$ and the image of $`\beta _T^1\epsilon `$ generate $`KT_0(A)`$. For each $`sS`$, let

$$\mu _s:TM_{16}(𝒦(_s)S^+A)𝒦(_s^{})S^+A$$

be given according to Lemma 2.6 such that $`(\pi (\mu _s)_{})\chi =[p_s]`$ modulo $`\beta _T^1\epsilon `$.

Then, taking $`F={\displaystyle \underset{sS}{}}T`$ and $`=_0{\displaystyle \underset{sS}{}}_s^{}`$, we form

$$\mu :F𝒦()S^+A$$

by patching together the homomorphisms $`\mu _0`$ and $`\{\mu _s\}_{sS}`$. ∎

###### Proof of Proposition 2.1.

Let $`A`$ be a given real unital C\*-algebra. Using the now familiar patching technique, it suffices to produce enough maps of the form

$$\mu _s:F_s𝒦(_s)𝔖A$$

(where $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(F_s)`$ is a free CRT-module for each $`s`$) so that the images of $`(\mu _s)_{}`$ generate $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝔖A)`$. There will be 25 maps in all.

Recall that we have the decomposition

$$K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝔖A)K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(S^8A)K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}((S^+)^7)$$

arising from the split exact sequence

$$0S^8A𝔖A(S^+)^70.$$

The first map in our collection is taken to be the section

$$s:(S^+)^7𝔖A$$

whose image in united $`K`$-theory is the the second summand in the decomposition above.

Now for each integer $`i`$ satisfying $`0i7`$, we let

$$\mu _i^O:F_i^O𝒦(_i^O)S^iA$$

be given as in Lemma 2.3 so that the image of $`(\mu _i^O)_{}`$ contains $`KO_0(S^iA)KO_i(A)`$. Then we suspend to get a map with the correct codomain:

$$S^{8i}\mu _i^O:S^{8i}(F_i^O)S^8(𝒦(_i^O)A)𝒦(_i^O)𝔖A.$$

The image of the maps $`\{S^{8i}\mu _i^O\}_{s=0}^7`$ induced on real $`K`$-theory is all of $`KO_{}(S^8A)KO_{}(𝔖A)`$. It also follows, therefore, that the image of the maps induced on complex and self-conjugate $`K`$-theory contains the image of $`c`$ (and therefore of $`\beta _U^1c`$) in $`KU_{}(S^8A)`$ and the image of $`\epsilon `$ (and therefore of $`\beta _T^1\epsilon `$) in $`KT_{}(S^8A)`$.

Similarly, we use Lemma 2.5 to build maps

$$S^{8i}\mu _i^U:S^{8i}(F_i^U)S^8(𝒦(_i^U)A)𝒦(_i^U)𝔖A$$

so that the image of the corresponding maps induced on $`K`$-theory contains $`KU_{}(S^8A)`$ modulo $`\beta _U^1c`$.

Finally, for each integer $`i`$, Lemma 2.7 guarantees the existence of a map

$$\mu _i^T:F_i^T𝒦(_i^T)S^+(S^iA)$$

such that the image of the map induced on self-conjugate $`K`$-theory, in degree $`1`$, is surjective modulo $`\beta _T^1\epsilon `$. Then we suspend to get maps

$$S^{8i}\mu _i^T:S^{8i}F_i^T𝒦(_i^T)S^{8i}(S^+S^iA)𝒦(_i^T)𝔖A.$$

The image of the corresponding maps induced on self-conjugate $`K`$-theory lies in $`KT_{}(𝔖A)`$. But modulo the image of $`s_{}`$ and the image of $`\beta _T^1\epsilon `$ we know that the image of $`S^{8i}\mu _i^T`$ contains all of $`KT_{}(S^8A)`$.

Therefore, the images of the maps on united $`K`$-theory induced by the homomorphisms $`s`$, $`\mu _i^O`$, $`\mu _i^U`$, and $`\mu _i^T`$ contain all of $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝔖A)`$ and hence these maps can be used to patch together a map $`\mu `$ that is surjective on united $`K`$-theory. ∎

###### Completion of Proof of Proposition 1.7.

Given a real unital C\*-algebra $`A`$, let $`F`$ and $`\mu `$ be given as in the Proposition 2.1. Since $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(F)`$ is a free CRT-module, it follows in particular that the CRT-relations are satisfied. Therefore, the CRT-relations hold for the image of $`\mu _{}`$, which contains $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(S^8A)K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A)`$. So $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A)`$ is a CRT-module for all real unital C\*-algebras and thus, using a unitization argument, for all real C\*-algebras. ∎

Now that Proposition 1.7 is finally proven, it is also established that $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A)`$ has projective dimension at most $`1`$ by Theorem 1.16. This fact and Proposition 2.1 will both be used in the proof of Theorem 2.2.

###### Proof of Theorem 2.2.

Given $`A`$, we take $`F`$, $`\mu `$, and $``$ as in Proposition 2.1 so that

$$K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(F)\stackrel{\mu _{}}{}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒦()𝔖A)$$

is a surjection.

Now let $`F_0`$ be the mapping cylinder of $`\mu `$ and let $`F_1`$ be the mapping cone of $`\mu `$:

$`F_0`$ $`=\{(f,g)FC([0,1],𝒦()𝔖A)g(0)=\mu (f)\}`$
$`F_1`$ $`=\{(f,g)FC([0,1],𝒦()𝔖A)g(0)=\mu (f),g(1)=0\}.`$
The homomorphism $`\pi :F_0F`$ defined by $`\pi (f,g)=f`$ is a homotopy equivalence. Furthermore, the homomorphism $`\mu _0:F_0𝒦()𝔖A`$ defined by $`\mu _0(f,g)=g(1)`$ is equivalent to $`\mu `$ in the sense that the diagram

commutes up to homotopy. Indeed, there is a homotopy from $`\mu _0`$ to the homomorphism $`(f,g)g(0)`$ which would make the diagram commute on the nose.

The homomorphism $`\mu _0`$ is surjective and its kernel is $`F_1`$. Let $`\mu _1:F_1F_0`$ be the inclusion. Then we have the short exact sequence of C\*-algebras

$$0F_1\stackrel{\mu _1}{}F_0\stackrel{\mu _0}{}𝒦()𝔖A0.$$

Since $`(\mu _0)_{}`$ is surjective on united $`K`$-theory, the long exact sequence on united $`K`$-theory breaks down into a resolution of $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝔖A)`$. Furthermore, $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(F_0)K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(F)`$ is a free CRT-module. Since $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝔖A)`$ has projective dimension at most 1 in CRT, the CRT-module $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(F_1)`$ must also be projective (see Theorem 9.5 of ), hence free (by Theorem 1.17). ∎

## 3 Tensor Products

Before we can state and prove the Künneth Theorem for united $`K`$-theory, we must discuss the tensor product in the category CRT. I am grateful to A.K. Bousfield for sharing with me some valuable unpublished notes on this topic (). The following sections are largely drawn from those notes.

In Section 3.1, we define the tensor product in the category CRT. Given two CRT-modules $`M`$ and $`N`$, their tensor product $`M_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}N`$ will also be a CRT-module. In Section 3.2 we prove some results about the behavior of tensor products when one of the factors is acyclic or when one of the factors is free. These results are important both for the proof of our Künneth formula and for purposes of computation (see Section 5).

### 3.1 Tensor Products in CRT

Let $`M=\{M^O,M^U,M^T\}`$ be a CRT-module. In particular $`M^O`$ is a left module over $`KO_{}()`$. We give $`M^O`$ the structure of a right $`KO_{}()`$ module by the rule $`mx=(1)^{|m||x|}xm`$ for all $`mM^O`$ and $`xKO_{}()`$ where $`|m|`$ and $`|x|`$ denote the graded degree of those elements. Similarly, $`M^U`$ and $`M^T`$ are given right $`KU_{}()`$\- and $`KT_{}()`$-module structures, respectively.

Now if $`N=\{N^O,N^U,N^T\}`$ is also a CRT-module we have the tensor products $`M^O_{KO_{}()}N^O`$, $`M^U_{KU_{}()}N^U`$, and $`M^T_{KT_{}()}N^T`$ using the right module structures on $`M`$ described above and the natural left module structures on $`N`$. These tensor products are again $`KO_{}()`$-, $`KU_{}()`$-, and $`KT_{}()`$-modules, respectively.

###### Definition 3.1.

Let $`M`$, $`N`$, and $`P`$ be CRT-modules. A CRT-pairing $`\alpha :(M,N)P`$ consists of three homomorphisms:

1. a $`KO_{}()`$-module homomorphism $`\alpha ^O:M^O_{KO_{}()}N^OP^O`$
2. a $`KU_{}()`$-module homomorphism $`\alpha ^U:M^U_{KU_{}()}N^UP^U`$
3. a $`KT_{}()`$-module homomorphism $`\alpha ^T:M^T_{KT_{}()}N^TP^T.`$

We use the notation $`\alpha ^O(m_On_O)=m_O_On_O`$, $`\alpha ^U(m_Un_U)=m_U_Un_U`$, and $`\alpha ^T(m_Tn_T)=m_T_Tn_T`$ to express these products. Furthermore, in order to be a CRT-pairing, the homomorphisms $`\alpha ^O`$, $`\alpha ^U`$, and $`\alpha ^T`$ must satisfy the following properties for all $`m_OM^O`$, $`n_ON^O`$, $`m_UM^U`$, $`n_UN^U`$, $`m_TM^T`$, and $`n_TN^T`$:

1. $`c(m_O_On_O)=c(m_O)_Oc(n_O)`$
2. $`r(c(m_O)_Un_U)=m_O_Or(n_U)`$
3. $`r(m_U_Uc(n_O))=r(m_U)_On_O`$
4. $`\epsilon (m_O_On_O)=\epsilon (m_O)_T\epsilon (n_O)`$
5. $`\zeta (m_T_Tn_T)=\zeta (m_T)_U\zeta (n_T)`$
6. $`\psi _U(m_U_Un_U)=\psi _U(m_U)_U\psi _U(n_U)`$
7. $`\psi _T(m_T_Tn_T)=\psi _T(m_T)_T\psi _T(n_T)`$
8. $`\gamma (m_U_U\zeta (n_T))=\gamma (m_U)_Tn_T`$
9. $`\gamma (\zeta (m_T)_Un_U)=(1)^{|m_T|}m_T_T\gamma (n_U)`$
10. $`\tau (m_T_T\epsilon (n_O))=\tau (m_T)_On_O`$
11. $`\tau (\epsilon (m_O)_Tn_T)=(1)^{|m_O|}m_O_O\tau (n_T)`$
12. $`\epsilon \tau (m_T_Tn_T)=\epsilon \tau (m_T)_Tn_T+(1)^{|m_T|}m_T_T\epsilon \tau (n_T)+\eta _T(m_T_Tn_T).`$

In the above definition, the first three equations are redundant in the sense that they can be derived from the others using the relations $`r=\tau \gamma `$ and $`c=\zeta \epsilon `$. We include them explicitly on our list simply out of convenience, remembering that it is enough to check properties 4 through 12 to have a CRT-pairing.

The tensor product in the category of CRT-modules is defined as the solution of a universal property described in the statement of the following proposition.

###### Proposition 3.2.

Let $`M`$ and $`N`$ be CRT-modules. Then there exists a unique CRT-module, denoted $`M_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}N`$, and CRT-pairing $`\iota :(M,N)M_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}N`$ such that for every CRT-pairing $`\alpha :(M,N)P`$ there exists a unique CRT-module homomorphism $`\alpha :M_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}NP`$ making the diagram below commute.

###### Proof.

We construct $`M_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}N`$ as follows. Let $`R`$ be the free CRT-module generated by the elements of $`M^O\times N^O`$, $`M^U\times N^U`$, and $`M^T\times N^T`$. These generators are denoted as pure tensors $`m_On_O`$, $`m_Un_U`$, and $`m_Tn_T`$. Let $`Q`$ be the smallest CRT-submodule of $`R`$ such that the composition pairing $`(M,N)RR/Q`$ is a CRT-pairing. In other words, $`Q`$ is the CRT-submodule generated by elements of $`R`$ corresponding to the CRT-pairing relations in Definition 3.1

###### Definition 3.3.

Given a CRT-module $`M`$, we define the suspension of $`M`$ by shifting the degrees such that

$$(\mathrm{\Sigma }M)_k=M_{k+1}$$

and the desuspension by

$$(\mathrm{\Sigma }^1M)_k=M_{k1}$$

These are defined such that $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(S^nA)=\mathrm{\Sigma }^nK^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A)`$ for any integer $`n`$.

The tensor product in the category of CRT-modules enjoys the usual properties associated with tensor products as stated in the following proposition. The proof uses standard techniques of homological algebra, the details of which can be found in Section IV.1 of .

###### Proposition 3.4.

The tensor product functor is a symmetric bifunctor which in each argument is covariant, continuous, right exact, and commutes with suspensions and direct sums.

Since the tensor product is right exact and since there are enough projective modules in CRT to form projective resolutions, we also have derived functors $`\text{Tor}_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}^i(M,N)`$ for all CRT-modules $`M`$ and $`N`$ (see , page 121).

The next three propositions characterize tensor products with monogenic free objects of CRT. They are due to Bousfield () and proofs can be found in .

###### Proposition 3.5.

Let $`N`$ be an arbitrary CRT-module. Then

$`F(b,0,)_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}N`$ $`\{\{bn_On_ON^O\},`$
$`\{cbn_Un_UN^U\},`$
$`\{\epsilon bn_Tn_TN^T\}\}`$
$`N.`$
###### Proposition 3.6.

Let $`N`$ be an arbitrary CRT-module. Then

$`F(b,0,)_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}N`$ $`\{\{r(bn_U)n_UN^U\},`$
$`\{bn_Un_UN^U\}\{\psi _Ubn_Un_UN^U\},`$
$`\{\gamma (bn_U)n_UN^U\}\{\epsilon r(bn_U)n_UN^U\}\}`$
$`\{N^U,N^UN^U,\mathrm{\Sigma }N^UN^U\}.`$
###### Proposition 3.7.

Let $`N`$ be an arbitrary CRT-module. Then

$`F(b,0,T)_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}N`$ $`\{\{\tau (bn_T)n_TN^T\},`$
$`\{\zeta bn_Un_UN^U\}\{c\tau bn_Un_UN^U\},`$
$`\{bn_Tn_TN^T\}\{\epsilon \tau bn_Tn_TN^T\}\}`$
$`\{\mathrm{\Sigma }^1N^T,N^U\mathrm{\Sigma }^1N^U,N^T\mathrm{\Sigma }^1N^T\}.`$
We say that a CRT-module $`N`$ is flat if tensoring on the right by $`N`$ preserves exact sequences of CRT-modules.

###### Corollary 3.8.

Free objects in CRT are flat.

###### Proof.

It follows immediately from Propositions 3.5, 3.6, and 3.7 that $`F(b,0,)`$, $`F(b,0,)`$, and $`F(b,0,T)`$ are flat. Since all free CRT-modules are directs sums of suspensions and desuspensions of these three monogenic free objects, the corollary follows using Lemma 3.4. ∎

###### Corollary 3.9.

Suppose $`M`$ and $`N`$ are CRT-modules such that $`M`$ is acyclic. Then the natural homomorphism

$$M^U_{KU_{}()}N^U(M_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}N)^U$$

is an isomorphism.

###### Proof.

Again, this follows from Propositions 3.5, 3.6, and 3.7 in case $`M`$ is free. Otherwise, $`M`$ has a free resolution

$$0F_1F_0M0$$

of length one by Theorem 1.16. Then consider the commutative diagram

in which the vertical sequences are exact and the middle two horizontal homomorphisms are isomorphisms. It follows from the five lemma that the other horizontal homomorphisms are isomorphisms. ∎

On the other hand, in the real and self-conjugate cases, there are homomorphisms

$$M^O_{KO_{}()}N^O(M_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}N)^O$$

and

$$M^T_{KT_{}()}N^T(M_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}N)^T$$

which are not isomorphisms in general.

### 3.2 Acyclic Objects and Tensor Products

In this section we will prove the following proposition.

###### Proposition 3.10.

Let $`M`$ be free and $`N`$ be acyclic in CRT. Then $`M_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}N`$ is acyclic.

On the other hand, we will see in Table 11 that the tensor product of two arbitrary acyclic CRT-modules is not necessarily acyclic.

To prove Proposition 3.10 it suffices to assume that $`M`$ is a free monogenic CRT-module. In fact, since tensor products commute with the operation of suspension, it suffices to assume that $`M`$ is either $`F(b,0,)`$, $`F(b,0,)`$, or $`F(b,0,T)`$ (since suspensions and products preserve acyclicity). The case $`M=F(b,0,)`$ is immediate since $`F(b,0,)_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}NN`$. The other two cases are addressed in the following lemmas.

###### Lemma 3.11.

$`F(b,0,)_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}N`$ is acyclic for any CRT-module $`N`$.

###### Proof.

Recall that

$`F(b,0,)_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}N`$ $`\{\{r(bn_U)n_UN^U\},`$
$`\{bn_1+\psi _Ubn_2n_iN^U\},`$
$`\{\gamma (bn_1)+\epsilon r(bn_2)n_iN^U\}\}\}`$
To show $`F(b,0,)_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}N`$ is acyclic, there are three sequences that must be shown to be exact. This can be done directly, using the representation of $`F(b,0,)_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}N`$ above. We illustrate by showing that the image of $`\gamma `$ is the kernel of $`\zeta `$ (which shows exactness at one point of the exact sequence relating the complex and self-conjugate parts).

Let $`bn_1+\psi _U(b)n_2`$ be an arbitrary element of $`(F(b,0,)_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}N)^U`$. Then

$$\gamma (bn_1+\psi _U(b)n_2)=\gamma (bn_1)+\gamma \psi _U(b\psi _U(n_2))=\gamma (b(n_1+\psi _U(n_2))).$$

On the other hand, if $`\gamma (bn_1)+\epsilon r(bn_2)`$ is an arbitrary element of $`(F(b,0,)_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}N)^T`$ then

$$\zeta (\gamma (bn_1)+\epsilon r(bn_2))=cr(bn_2)=(bn_2)+(\psi _U(b)\psi _U(n_2)).$$

Therefore,

$`\mathrm{ker}\zeta `$ $`=\{\gamma (bn_1)+\epsilon r(bn_2)n_1N^U\text{ and }n_2=0\}`$
$`=\{\gamma (bn)nN^U\}`$
$`=\text{image}\gamma .`$
Before proving that $`F(b,0,T)N`$ is acyclic, we need the following lemma concerning acyclic objects (compare , Paragraph 2.3).

###### Lemma 3.12.

If $`M`$ is acyclic, then the sequence

$$\mathrm{}M_n^T\stackrel{\eta _T}{}M_{n+2}^T\stackrel{\left(\begin{array}{c}\zeta \\ c\tau \end{array}\right)}{}M_{n+2}^UM_{n+3}^U\stackrel{\left(\begin{array}{cc}\epsilon r\beta _U& \gamma \beta _U\end{array}\right)}{}M_{n+2}^T\mathrm{}$$
(20)
is exact.

###### Proof.

Consider the following diagram.

In this diagram, the rows are exact since $`M`$ is acyclic. We check that the squares commute:

$`\beta _U(1\psi _U)\beta _U^1`$ $`=1+\psi _U=cr=\zeta \epsilon \tau \gamma `$
$`\gamma \beta _U^1\zeta \epsilon \tau `$ $`=\beta _T^1\gamma \beta _U\zeta \epsilon \tau =\beta _T^1\eta _T\epsilon \tau =\beta _T^1\epsilon \tau \eta _T`$
$`=\epsilon \tau \beta _T^1\eta _T+\eta _T\beta _T^1\eta _T=\epsilon \tau \beta _T^1\gamma \beta _U\zeta =\epsilon \tau \gamma \beta _U^1\zeta =\epsilon r\beta _U^1\zeta `$
$`\zeta \epsilon r\beta _U^1`$ $`=cr\beta _U^1=(1+\psi _U)\beta _U^1=\beta _U^1(1\psi _U).`$
In this computation the relation $`\eta _T\epsilon \tau =\epsilon \tau \eta _T`$ follows from the fact that $`\epsilon `$ and $`\tau `$ are $`KO_{}()`$-module homomorphisms and the relation $`\epsilon (\eta _O)=\eta _T`$.

Now the exact Sequence 20 is easily derived from this commutative ladder above by a diagram chase, recalling that $`\eta _T=\gamma \beta _U\zeta `$. ∎

###### Lemma 3.13.

If $`N`$ is acyclic then $`F(b,0,T)_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}N`$ is acyclic.

###### Proof.

Recall that

$`F(b,0,T)_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}N`$ $`\{\{\tau (bn)nN^T\},`$
$`\{\zeta bn_1+c\tau bn_2n_iN^U\},`$
$`\{bn_1+\epsilon \tau bn_2n_iN^T\}\}.`$
Again, it can easily be shown by hand that the three sequences that need to be exact are exact. For this, the two exact sequences

$$\mathrm{}N_{n+1}^U\stackrel{\gamma }{}N_n^T\stackrel{\zeta }{}N_n^U\stackrel{1\psi _U}{}N_n^U\mathrm{}$$
(21)
and

$$\mathrm{}N_n^T\stackrel{\eta _T}{}N_{n+2}^T\stackrel{\left(\begin{array}{c}\zeta \\ \zeta \epsilon \tau \end{array}\right)}{}N_{n+2}^UN_{n+3}^U\stackrel{\left(\begin{array}{cc}\epsilon r\beta _U& \gamma \beta _U\end{array}\right)}{}N_{n+2}^T\mathrm{}$$
(22)
must be used.

For example, to show that the image of $`\gamma `$ is the kernel of $`\zeta `$ in $`F(b,0,T)_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}N`$, we compute

$$\gamma (\zeta bn_1+c\tau bn_2)=b\gamma (n_1)+\epsilon \tau b\gamma (n_2)$$

and

$$\zeta (bn_1+\epsilon \tau bn_2)=\zeta b\zeta (n_1)+c\tau b\zeta (n_2).$$

Therefore,

$`\text{image}\gamma `$ $`=\{bn_1+\epsilon \tau bn_2n_1,n_2\text{image}\gamma \}`$
$`=\{bn_1+\epsilon \tau bn_2n_1,n_2\mathrm{ker}\zeta \}`$
$`=\mathrm{ker}\zeta .`$
We will also show that the image of $`\eta _O`$ is the kernel of $`c`$ to illustrate how Sequence 22 is used:

$$\eta _O(\tau (bn))=\tau (b\eta _Tn)$$

and

$`c(\tau (bn))`$ $`=\zeta \epsilon \tau (bn)`$
$`=\zeta (\epsilon \tau bn+b\epsilon \tau (n)+\eta _Tbn)`$
$`=c\tau b\zeta (n)+\zeta bc\tau (n)`$
Hence

$`\text{image}\eta _O`$ $`=\{\tau (bn)n\text{image}\eta _T\}`$
$`=\{\tau (bn)n\mathrm{ker}\zeta \mathrm{ker}c\tau \}`$
$`=\mathrm{ker}c.`$
This completes the proof of Proposition 3.10

## 4 The Künneth Formula

### 4.1 The Statement of the Künneth Formula

In this section we will prove that the usual pairings in real, complex, and self-conjugate $`K`$-theory form a CRT-pairing in united $`K`$-theory. This pairing forms one of the maps of our Künneth exact sequence, which is stated as a theorem near the end of this section.

###### Proposition 4.1.

Let $`A`$ and $`B`$ be C\*-algebras. Then there is a CRT-module homomorphism

$$\alpha :K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A)_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(B)K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(AB).$$

###### Proof.

By Lemma 1.8, the homomorphisms

$`\alpha _O:KO_{}(A)_{KO_{}()}KO_{}(B)`$ $`KO_{}(AB)`$
$`\alpha _U:KU_{}(A)_{KU_{}()}KU_{}(B)`$ $`KU_{}(AB)`$
$`\alpha _T:KT_{}(A)_{KT_{}()}KT_{}(B)`$ $`KT_{}(AB)`$
are known to satisfy all of the CRT-pairing relations of Definition 3.1 except the last. We must show that

$$\epsilon \tau (z_1_Tz_2)=\epsilon \tau (z_1)_Tz_2+(1)^{|z_1|}z_1_T\epsilon \tau (z_2)+\eta _T(z_1_Tz_2)$$
(23)
for any $`z_1KT_{}(A)`$ and $`z_2KT_{}(B)`$.

First, we suppose $`z_1=\epsilon (x_1)`$ for some $`x_1KO_{}(A)`$. In this case,

$`\epsilon \tau (z_1_Tz_2)`$ $`=\epsilon \tau (\epsilon (x_1)_Tz_2)`$
$`=(1)^{|x_1|}\epsilon (x_1_O\tau (z_2))`$
$`=(1)^{|x_1|}\epsilon (x_1)_T\epsilon \tau (z_2)`$
$`=(1)^{|z_1|}z_1_T\epsilon \tau (z_2).`$
We also have

$`\epsilon \tau (z_1)_Tz_2`$ $`=\epsilon \tau \epsilon (x_1)_Tz_2`$
$`=\epsilon (\eta _O_Ox_1)_Tz_2`$
$`=\eta _T(\epsilon (x_1)_Tz_2)`$
$`=\eta _T(z_1_Tz_2)`$
(since $`2\eta _T=0`$) so Equation 23 holds in this case.

Similarly, if $`z_2=\epsilon (x_2)`$ for some $`x_2KO_{}(B)`$ we have $`\epsilon \tau (z_1_Tz_2)=\epsilon \tau (z_1)_Tz_2`$ and $`(1)^{|z_1|}z_1_T\epsilon \tau (z_2)=\eta _T(z_1_Tz_2)`$ and so Equation 23 holds in this case, too.

Next, we prove the claim that Equation 23 holds for a pair of elements $`z_1`$ and $`z_2`$ if and only if it holds for the pair $`\beta _Tz_1`$ and $`z_2`$. Indeed, suppose that it holds for $`z_1`$ and $`z_2`$. Then

$`\epsilon \tau (\beta _Tz_1z_2)`$ $`=\epsilon \tau \beta _T(z_1z_2)`$
$`=\beta _T\epsilon \tau (z_1z_2)+\eta _T\beta _T(z_1z_2)`$
$`=\beta _T(\epsilon \tau z_1z_2+(1)^{|z_1|}z_1\epsilon \tau z_2+\eta _Tz_1z_2)+\beta _T\eta _T(z_1z_2)`$
$`=\epsilon \tau (\beta _Tz_1)z_2+\eta _T(\beta _Tz_1z_2)+(1)^{|z_1|}\beta _Tz_1\epsilon \tau (z_2)`$
using the relations $`\beta _T\epsilon \tau =\epsilon \tau \beta _T+\eta _T\beta _T`$ and $`2\eta _T=0`$. Conversely, suppose that Equation 23 holds for $`\beta _Tz_1`$ and $`z_2`$. Then repeating the above calculation, we find that it holds for $`\beta _T^2z_1`$ and $`z_2`$. But $`\beta _T^2=\beta _O`$ and all operations commute with $`\beta _O`$. Since $`\beta _O`$ is invertible, Equation 23 holds for $`z_1`$ and $`z_2`$.

Furthermore, because of the symmetry, Equation 23 holds for a pair $`z_1`$ and $`z_2`$ if and only if it holds for the pair $`z_2`$ and $`z_1`$.

We are now ready to prove Equation 23 in general. It suffices to assume that $`z_1`$ and $`z_2`$ are both elements in degree zero and that $`A`$ and $`B`$ are unital. Furthermore, we may assume that $`z_1`$ is represented by a projection in $`TA`$ and that $`z_2`$ is represented by a projection in $`TB`$ (rather than differences of projections in matrix algebras over $`TA`$ and $`TB`$). We will prove Equation 23 for the pair $`\beta _Tz_1`$ and $`\beta _Tz_2`$. Using Lemma 2.6, let $`\mu _1:TM_{16}(S^+A)`$ and $`\mu _2:TM_{16}(S^+B)`$ be homomorphisms such that the equations $`(\mu _1)_{}(\chi )=z_1KT_1(S^+A)`$ and $`(\mu _2)_{}(\chi )=z_2KT_1(S^+B)`$, hold modulo $`\beta _T^1\epsilon `$. (Recall that $`\chi KT_1(T)`$ is the free generator of $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(T)`$.) Then the equations $`(\mu _1)_{}(\beta _T\chi )=\beta _Tz_1`$ and $`(\mu _2)_{}(\beta _T\chi )=\beta _Tz_2`$ hold modulo $`\epsilon `$.

Using these maps, it suffices to consider the case $`A=B=T`$ with the elements $`z_1,z_2KT_3(T)`$. Using the periodicity isomorphism $`\beta _T`$ and the claim above, it is enough to consider $`z_1,z_2KT_1(T)`$. In fact, we will establish the formula for any elements $`z_1`$ and $`z_2KT_1(T)`$.

We first prove that $`KT_1(T)`$ is generated by the image of $`\epsilon :KO_1(T)KT_1(T)`$ and the image of $`i_{}:KT_1()KT_1(T)`$ where $`i`$ is the inclusion $`T`$. From Table 3 we know that the image of $`\epsilon `$ is the $`+1`$ eigenspace of $`\psi _T`$, forming a free summand of $`KT_1(T)`$. On the other hand, $`\psi _T`$ is multiplication by $`1`$ on $`KT_1()`$ by Table 1; and therefore, the image of $`i_{}`$ is contained in the $`1`$ eigenspace of $`\psi _T`$.

Now consider the involution $`\iota :TTTT`$ which interchanges the two factors of the tensor product. The map induced by $`\iota `$ on $`KT_1(T)K_1(TT)`$ interchanges the image of $`\epsilon `$ and the image of $`i_{}`$. Therefore $`KT_1(T)`$ can be written as the direct sum of the image of $`\epsilon `$ and the image of $`i_{}`$, each of which is isomorphic to $``$.

Since Equation 23 holds if either $`z_1`$ or $`z_2`$ is in the image of $`\epsilon `$, it suffices to suppose that both $`z_1`$ and $`z_2`$ are in the image of $`i_{}`$. Therefore, it suffices to demonstrate that Equation 23 holds for $`KT_1()`$.

Now $`KT_1()`$ is generated by $`\beta _T^1\omega `$. Referring to Table 1 we have $`(\beta _T^1\omega )^2=0`$, $`\eta _T\beta _T=0`$, and $`\epsilon \tau (\beta _T^1\omega )=21_T`$. Thus

$`\epsilon \tau (\beta _T^1\omega )_T\beta _T^1\omega +\beta _T^1\omega _T\epsilon \tau (\beta _T^1\omega )`$ $`+\eta _T(\beta _T^1\omega _T\beta _T^1\omega )`$
$`=21_T_T\beta _T^1\omega \beta _T^1\omega _T21_T+0`$
$`=0`$
$`=\epsilon \tau (\beta _T^1\omega _T\beta _T^1\omega )`$
proving that Equation 23 holds for $`z_1=z_2=\beta _T^1\omega `$. ∎

Now that the homomorphism $`\alpha `$ is defined, we are finally prepared to understand the statement of the main theorem. Recall that $`𝒩`$ is the bootstrap category of complex C\*-algebras described in the introduction.

###### Theorem 4.2 (Künneth Theorem).

Let $`A`$ and $`B`$ be real C\*-algebras such that $`A`$ is in $`𝒩`$. Then there is a natural short exact sequence

$$\begin{array}{c}0K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A)_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(B)\stackrel{𝛼}{}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(AB)\hfill \\ \hfill \stackrel{𝛽}{}\text{Tor}_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A),K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(B))0\end{array}$$
(24)
which does not necessarily split. Here $`\alpha `$ is the pairing described above and $`\beta `$ is a CRT homomorphism of degree $`1`$.

We will prove this theorem in the next section. In Section 5.2 we will come across examples which show that the sequence does not split.

The following corollary states that the subcategory of C\*-algebras $`A`$ for which the Künneth sequence holds for all $`B`$ is at least as large as we would expect. Let $`𝒩_{}`$ be the bootstrap category of real C\*-algebras: the smallest subcategory of real separable C\*-algebras whose complexification is nuclear which contains real separable type I C\*-algebras; which is closed under the operations of taking inductive limits, stable isomorphisms, and crossed products by $``$ and $``$; and which satisfies the two out of three rule for short exact sequences.

###### Corollary 4.3.

Let $`A`$ and $`B`$ be real C\*-algebras with $`A𝒩_{}`$. Then the Künneth sequence is exact for $`A`$ and $`B`$.

###### Proof.

Let $`A_{}`$ denote the complexification $`A`$ of $`A`$. It suffices to show that the collection of real C\*-algebras $`A`$ such that $`A_{}𝒩`$ contains real separable type I C\*-algebras; is closed under the operations of taking inductive limits, stable isomorphisms, and crossed products by $``$ and $``$; and satisfies the two out of three rule for short exact sequences.

Suppose that $`A`$ is a real, separable, type I C\*-algebra. Then $`A_{}`$ is certainly separable. We show that $`A_{}`$ is type I. Let $`\pi `$ be a non-zero, irreducible representation of $`A_{}`$ on a complex Hilbert space $``$. Then the restriction $`\pi _A`$ of $`\pi `$ to $`A`$ is a non-zero representation of $`A`$ on the Hilbert space $``$ (thought of as a real Hilbert space). If $`\pi _A`$ is irreducible, then $`\pi _A(A)`$ would contain a compact operator (since $`A`$ is type I) and then so must $`\pi (A_{})`$.

On the other hand, if $`\pi _A`$ is not irreducible, then there is a non-zero $`\xi H`$ such that $`E_1=\pi (A)\xi H`$. Let $`E_2=\pi (iA)\xi =iE_1`$. Then $`E_1+E_2=\pi (A_{})\xi =H`$. Now, $`E_1E_2`$ is a complex $`A_{}`$-invariant subspace of $`H`$. Since $`\pi `$ is irreducible, either $`E_1E_2=0`$ or $`E_1E_2=H`$. However, $`E_1E_2=H`$ implies $`E_1=H`$, contrary to hypothesis. Hence $`E_1E_2=0`$, so $`H=E_1E_2`$. In this case, the representation $`\pi `$ of $`A_{}`$ on $`H`$ is isomorphic to the complexification of the representation $`\pi `$ of $`A`$ on $`E_1`$. Since the former is irreducible, so is the latter. Therefore the latter contains a compact operator, and so does the former.

Either way, $`\pi (A_{})`$ contains a compact operator and therefore $`A_{}`$ is a type I C\*-algebra.

The operation of complexification commutes with the operations of taking inductive limits, of stabilizing, and of taking crossed products by by $``$ and by $``$. Therefore the category in question is closed under these four operations.

Finally, since complexification preserves exact sequences, the collection of C\*-algebras whose complexification is in $`𝒩`$ satisfies the two out of three rule. ∎

### 4.2 The Proof of the Künneth Formula

We first consider the case that $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(B)`$ is a free CRT-module. In this case, the CRT-module $`\text{Tor}_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A),K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(B))`$ vanishes and so the claim that Sequence 24 is exact collapses to the statement that $`\alpha `$ is an isomorphism. This is proven below in Proposition 4.4. Once that is accomplished, we will prove Theorem 4.2 in the general case by using a geometric resolution of $`B`$.

###### Proposition 4.4.

Let $`A`$ and $`B`$ be real C\*-algebras such that $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(B)`$ is free and $`A𝒩`$. Then $`\alpha (A,B)`$ is an isomorphism.

###### Proof.

By Theorem 1.18 and Proposition 3.10, $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A)_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(B)`$ and $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(AB)`$ are both acyclic objects. By Proposition 1.14, it suffices to show that

$$\alpha ^U:(K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A)_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(B))^U(K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(AB))^U$$

is an isomorphism. Using Lemma 3.9, this homomorphism can be rewritten as

$$\alpha ^U:KU_{}(A)_{KU_{}()}KU_{}(B)KU_{}(AB).$$

Now since $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(B)`$ is a free CRT-module, $`KU_{}(B)`$ is a free abelian group by Theorem 3.2 of . Furthermore $`A`$ is in the complex bootstrap category $`𝒩`$, so the Künneth formula for complex C\*-algebras (Theorem 2.14 of ) shows that $`\alpha _U`$ is an isomorphism. ∎

The next proposition and the lemmas which follow will complete the proof of the Künneth Theorem.

###### Proposition 4.5.

Suppose $`A`$ is a real C\*-algebra such that $`A`$ is nuclear and $`\alpha (A,B)`$ is an isomorphism whenever $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(B)`$ is a free CRT-module. Then for any C\*-algebra $`B`$, the Künneth formula holds for the pair $`(A,B)`$.

###### Proof.

Let $`A`$ be as specified in the hypothesis. Let $`B`$ be an arbitrary unital C\*-algebra. Then, using Theorem 2.2, let

$$0F_1\stackrel{\mu _1}{}F_0\stackrel{\mu _0}{}𝒦()𝔖B0$$
(25)
be a sequence of C\*-algebras such that

$$0K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(F_1)\stackrel{(\mu _1)_{}}{}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(F_0)\stackrel{(\mu _0)_{}}{}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝔖B)0$$
(26)
is a free resolution of $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝔖B)`$.

Now, we take Sequence 25 and tensor everything on the left by the C\*-algebra A obtaining

$$0AF_1\stackrel{1\mu _1}{}AF_0\stackrel{1\mu _0}{}A𝒦()𝔖B0.$$
(27)
The condition that $`A`$ is nuclear insures that tensoring by $`A`$ preserves exact sequences. We unsplice the induced long exact sequence on united $`K`$-theory, forming

$$0\text{coker}((1\mu _1)_{})\stackrel{(1\mu _0)_{}}{}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A𝔖B)\stackrel{\delta }{}\mathrm{ker}((1\mu _1)_{})0$$

where the connecting homomorphism $`\delta `$ is a map of degree $`1`$.

It remains to make the identifications

$`\mathrm{ker}((1\mu _1)_{})`$ $`=\text{Tor}_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A),K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝔖B))`$
$`\text{coker}((1\mu _1)_{})`$ $`=K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A)_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝔖B)`$
which is done using the following commutative diagram.

(28)
The vertical sequence on the left is exact, derived from the resolution given by Sequence 26. The vertical sequence on the right is also exact, induced by Sequence 27. The horizontal maps $`\alpha (A,F_1)`$ and $`\alpha (A,F_0)`$ are isomorphisms since $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(F_0)`$ and $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(F_1)`$ are free. The diagram then shows that the kernel of $`(1\mu _1)_{}`$ is isomorphic to the kernel of $`1(\mu _1)_{}`$ which, in turn, is isomorphic to $`\text{Tor}_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A),K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝔖B))`$. Composing $`\delta `$ with this isomorphism, we obtain the homomorphism $`\beta :K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A𝔖B)\text{Tor}_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A),K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝔖B))`$ of the Künneth formula.

Similarly, Diagram 28 shows that the cokernel of $`(1\mu _1)_{}`$ is isomorphic to the cokernel of $`1(\mu _1)_{}`$ which, in turn, is isomorphic to $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A)_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝔖B)`$. Furthermore, in this last identification, the composition

$$K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A)K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝔖B)\text{coker}(1\mu _1)_{}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A𝔖B)$$

is the homomorphism $`\alpha (A,𝔖B)`$.

This proves that the Künneth formula holds for the pair $`(A,𝔖B)`$. Recall that $`𝔖B`$ is the eight-fold unital suspension of $`B`$. By repeatedly applying Lemmas 4.6 and 4.7 below, it follows that the Künneth formula holds for the pair $`(A,B)`$.

A further application of Lemma 4.7 shows that the Künneth formula holds if $`B`$ is not unital. ∎

###### Lemma 4.6.

The Künneth formula is satisfied for the pair $`(A,B)`$ if and only if it is satisfied for the pair $`(A,SB)`$.

###### Proof.

Consider the following diagram.

The horizontal maps in this diagram are all CRT-module isomorphisms with degree $`1`$. Therefore, there exists a homomorphism $`\beta (A,B)`$ making the left vertical sequence exact if and only if there exists a homomorphism $`\beta (A,SB)`$ making the right vertical sequence exact. ∎

###### Lemma 4.7.

Let $`A`$ and $`B`$ be real C\*-algebras with $`A`$ nuclear. Suppose that the Künneth Formula holds for the pair $`(A,B^+)`$. Then it holds for the pair $`(A,B)`$.

###### Proof.

We consider the short exact sequence

$$0B\stackrel{i}{}B^+\stackrel{\pi }{}0.$$

Because of the presence of a section $`s:B^+`$ such that $`\pi s=1`$ (and because $`A`$ is nuclear) the vertical sequences in the diagram below are split exact.

Furthermore, the second and third rows are exact by hypothesis. In the first row, we define $`\beta (A,B)`$ to be the composition $`\text{Tor}(1,i)^1\beta (A,B^+)(1i)_{}`$. This makes the first row a complex and by the snake lemma (Exercise 6.16 of ) it is exact. ∎

The proof of Theorem 4.2 is completed by the following Proposition.

###### Proposition 4.8.

The Künneth Sequence is natural with respect to homomorphisms of real C\*-algebras in either variable.

###### Proof.

It is clear that $`\alpha `$ is natural. So it suffices to show that $`\beta `$ is natural with respect to either argument. First, we show that the homomorphism $`\beta `$ is independent of the choice of geometric resolution. Indeed, suppose that

$$0E_1\stackrel{\lambda _1}{}E_0\stackrel{\lambda _0}{}𝒦()𝔖B0$$

and

$$0F_1\stackrel{\mu _1}{}F_0\stackrel{\mu _0}{}𝒦()𝔖B0$$

are two geometric resolutions as in Theorem 2.2. Then we can form a third geometric resolution

$$0D_1\stackrel{\kappa _1}{}D_0\stackrel{\kappa _0}{}𝒦()𝔖B0$$

by defining $`D_0=E_0F_0`$ and $`D_1`$ to be the kernel of

$$\kappa _0=\left(\begin{array}{cc}\mu _0& \lambda _0\end{array}\right):D_0𝒦()𝔖B.$$

Then we obtain a commutative diagram

where $`F_0D_0`$ is the inclusion onto the second summand of $`D_0=E_0F_0`$. This homomorphism of resolutions induces a homomorphism from each group of Diagram 28 to the corresponding group of a similar diagram based on the resolution with $`D_1`$ and $`D_0`$. The resulting commutative diagram shows that the homomorphism $`\beta `$ based on the resolution $`D_1`$ and $`D_0`$ is the same as the homomorphism $`\beta `$ based on the resolution with $`F_1`$ and $`F_0`$. Similarly, a diagram based on the inclusion onto the first summand shows that this homomorphism $`\beta `$ is the same as the one based on the resolution with $`E_1`$ and $`E_0`$. Therefore $`\beta `$ does not depend on the particular geometric resolution.

Now, if $`\varphi :AA^{}`$ is a homomorphism of real C\*-algebras, then we choose a fixed resolution of $`𝒦()𝔖B`$ to compute $`\beta (A,B)`$ and $`\beta (A^{},B)`$. Because $`\alpha `$ is natural, there is a homomorphism induced by $`\varphi `$ from each group of Diagram 28 to the corresponding groups of the same diagram with $`A`$ replaced by $`A^{}`$. Since $`\beta `$ is defined in terms of $`\alpha `$ by way of this commutative diagram, the diagram shows that $`\beta `$ is natural with respect to homomorphisms in the first argument.

Finally, suppose that we have a real C\*-algebra homomorphism $`\varphi :BB^{}`$. Let $`\mu :F𝒦()𝔖B`$ and $`\mu ^{}:F^{}𝒦()𝔖B^{}`$ both be given by Proposition 2.1. Let $`\varphi `$ also denote the induced homomorphism from $`𝒦()𝔖B`$ to $`𝒦()𝔖B^{}`$. Then there is a commutative diagram

where $`\mu ^{\prime \prime }=\left(\begin{array}{cc}\varphi \mu & \mu ^{}\end{array}\right)`$. The naturality of the mapping cone construction produces the following commutative diagram

where $`F_1`$ and $`F_0`$ are the mapping cone and mapping cylinder of $`\mu `$ while $`F_1^{\prime \prime }`$ and $`F_0^{\prime \prime }`$ are the mapping cone and mapping cylinder of $`\mu ^{\prime \prime }`$. This is a homomorphism from one geometric resolution to the other and it induces a family of homomorphisms from the groups of Diagram 28 to the groups of the same diagram with $`B`$ replaced by $`B^{}`$. Since $`\beta `$ does not depend on the particular geometric resolution, it follows that $`\beta `$ commutes with $`\varphi `$.

## 5 Application: Real Cuntz Algebras

### 5.1 The United $`K`$-Theory of the Real Cuntz Algebras

For $`k1`$, the real Cuntz algebra $`𝒪_{k+1}^{}`$ is the universal real C\*-algebra generated by $`k+1`$ isometries $`S_1,S_2,\mathrm{},S_{k+1}`$ subject to the relation $`{\displaystyle \underset{i=1}{\overset{k+1}{}}}S_iS_i^{}=1`$ (see , page 4). The complexification of $`𝒪_{k+1}^{}`$ is the complex Cuntz algebra $`𝒪_{k+1}`$ introduced in .

The $`K`$-theory of the complex Cuntz algebras was computed by Cuntz in  while the ordinary $`K`$-theory of the real Cuntz algebras was computed by Schröder (Theorem 1.6.8 in ). However, this last computation is not entirely correct, as it involves a mistaken solution to a certain extension problem. In this section we compute the united $`K`$-theory of the real Cuntz algebras. In particular, we find the correct real $`K`$-groups. In fact, it is the structure of united $`K`$-theory — namely, the relationship between real and complex $`K`$-theory — that allowed us to detect Schröder’s error and correctly solve the extension problem.

The form that $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{k+1}^{})`$ takes depends on the congruence class of $`k`$ modulo 4. Tables 4, 5, and 6 below show the united $`K`$-theory in the case that $`k`$ is odd, the case that $`k`$ is congruent to 2 modulo 4, and the case that $`k`$ is congruent to 0 modulo 4, respectively.

###### Computation of Tables 4, 5, and 6.

The complex $`K`$-theory of the real Cuntz algebras is the same as the ordinary $`K`$-theory of the complex Cuntz algebras. Hence, we refer to  for the values of $`KU_{}(𝒪_{k+1}^{})`$. Furthermore, since $`KU_0(𝒪_{k+1}^{})_k`$ is generated by the class of the identity in $`𝒪_{k+1}^{}𝒪_{k+1}^{}`$, we know that $`KU_0(𝒪_{k+1}^{})`$ is in the image of $`c_0`$. It follows that $`(\psi _U)_n`$ is the trivial involution for $`n0(mod4)`$ and multiplication by $`1`$ for $`n2(mod4)`$.

Let $`\varphi _i:M_{(k+1)^i}M_{(k+1)^{i+1}}`$ be the matrix algebra embedding of multiplicity $`k+1`$ and let $`A_{(k+1)^{\mathrm{}}}`$ be the real UHF algebra obtained by taking the direct limit of the system $`\{M_{(k+1)^i},\varphi _i\}`$. We find the real $`K`$-theory of $`A_{(k+1)^{\mathrm{}}}`$ in degrees 0 through 8 using the fact that $`K`$-theory passes through direct limits:

$$\begin{array}{cccccccccc}KO_{}(A_{(k+1)^{\mathrm{}}})=& [\frac{1}{k+1}]& _2& _2& \text{0}& [\frac{1}{k+1}]& \text{0}& \text{0}& \text{0}& [\frac{1}{k+1}]\\ & & & & & & & & \multicolumn{2}{c}{\text{for }k+1\text{ odd}}\\ KO_{}(A_{(k+1)^{\mathrm{}}})=& [\frac{1}{k+1}]& \text{0}& \text{0}& \text{0}& [\frac{1}{k+1}]& \text{0}& \text{0}& \text{0}& [\frac{1}{k+1}]\\ & & & & & & & & \multicolumn{2}{c}{\text{for }k+1\text{ even}}\end{array}$$

There is an automorphism $`\alpha `$ of $`𝒦A_{(k+1)^{\mathrm{}}}`$ which induces multiplication by $`\frac{1}{k+1}`$ on real $`K`$-theory such that there is an isomorphism

$$𝒦𝒪_{k+1}^{}(𝒦A_{(k+1)^{\mathrm{}}})\times _\alpha .$$

(See page 51 of , following  in the complex case.)

We compute the $`K`$-theory of this crossed product, and hence of $`𝒪_{k+1}^{}`$, using the real $`K`$-theory version of the Pimsner-Voiculescu sequence (found as Theorem 1.5.5 in , following  in the complex case):

$$KO_{n+1}(𝒪_{k+1}^{})KO_n(A_{(k+1)^{\mathrm{}}})\stackrel{1\alpha _{}}{}KO_n(A_{(k+1)^{\mathrm{}}})KO_n(𝒪_{k+1}^{})$$

In the cases where $`KO_n(A_{(k+1)^{\mathrm{}}})[\frac{1}{k+1}]`$, the homomorphism $`1\alpha _{}=1\frac{1}{k+1}=\frac{k}{k+1}`$ is injective with cokernel isomorphic to $`_k`$. In the cases where $`k+1`$ is odd and $`n`$ is congruent to 1 or 2 (mod 8), the homomorphism $`1\alpha _{}`$ is zero.

Using this, the Pimsner-Voiculescu sequence almost completely determines $`KO_{}(𝒪_{k+1}^{})`$; the exception is $`KO_2(𝒪_{k+1}^{})`$ which is an extension of $`_2`$ by $`_2`$ in case $`k+1`$ is odd. We show that it is $`_4`$ for $`k2(mod4)`$ and it is $`_2^2`$ for $`k0(mod4)`$.

We will use the exact sequence

$$\mathrm{}KO_n(𝒪_{k+1}^{})\stackrel{\eta _O}{}KO_{n+1}(𝒪_{k+1}^{})\stackrel{c}{}KU_{n+1}(𝒪_{k+1}^{})\stackrel{r\beta _U^1}{}KO_{n1}(𝒪_{k+1}^{})\mathrm{}.$$
(29)
Since $`KU_3(𝒪_{k+1}^{})0`$, we deduce that $`(\eta _O)_1`$ must be injective and $`(\eta _O)_2`$ must be surjective.

Suppose first that $`KO_2(𝒪_{k+1}^{})_4`$. Then $`(\eta _O)_1=2`$ and $`(\eta _O)_2=1`$. Now the image of $`(\eta _O)_1`$ is the kernel of $`c_2`$, so we conclude that $`c_2=\frac{k}{2}`$. Also, since the kernel of $`(\eta _O)_2`$ is the image of $`r_2`$, we conclude that $`r_2=2`$. Therefore, the relation $`rc=2`$ forces $`k2(mod4)`$.

On the other hand, suppose that $`KO_2(𝒪_{k+1}^{})_2^2`$. Since $`(\eta _O)_1`$ is injective we can write $`(\eta _O)_1=\left(\begin{array}{c}1\\ 0\end{array}\right):_2_2^2`$ (written in terms of appropriately chosen generators of $`KO_2(𝒪_{k+1}^{})`$). Now $`KO_1(𝒪_{k+1}^{})`$ is in the image of $`\eta _O`$. Since $`\eta _O^3=0`$ we know that $`(\eta _O)_2`$ vanishes on the image of $`(\eta _O)_1`$. But $`(\eta _O)_2`$ is non-zero, so we conclude that $`(\eta _O)_2=\left(\begin{array}{cc}0& 1\end{array}\right)`$.

Using Sequence 29 again, we determine $`r_2=\left(\begin{array}{c}1\\ 0\end{array}\right)`$ and $`c_2=\left(\begin{array}{cc}0& \frac{k}{2}\end{array}\right)`$. Then $`rc=0`$ implies $`\frac{k}{2}0(mod2)`$, which implies $`k0(mod4)`$.

This completes the computation of $`KO_{}(𝒪_{k+1}^{})`$. Now the computation of $`KT_{}(𝒪_{k+1}^{})`$ and the remaining operations proceeds without difficulty using the exact sequence

$$\mathrm{}KU_{n+1}(𝒪_{k+1}^{})\stackrel{\gamma }{}KT_n(𝒪_{k+1}^{})\stackrel{\zeta }{}KU_n(𝒪_{k+1}^{})\stackrel{1\psi _U}{}KU_n(𝒪_{k+1}^{})\mathrm{},$$

and the known values of $`\psi _U`$, as well as the relations $`rc=2`$, $`c=\zeta \epsilon `$, $`r=\tau \gamma `$, and $`\epsilon r\zeta =1+\psi _T`$. ∎

### 5.2 The United $`K`$-Theory of Tensor Products of Real Cuntz Algebras

In this section, we compute the united $`K`$-theory of $`𝒪_{k+1}^{}𝒪_{l+1}^{}`$ where $`k`$ and $`l`$ are positive integers. Throughout, let $`g=\text{gcd}(k,l)`$. Also if $`k`$ and $`l`$ are both even, let $`k^{},l^{}_2`$ be defined by

$`k^{}`$ $`=\{\begin{array}{cc}0\hfill & \text{if }\frac{k}{2}0(modg)\hfill \\ 1\hfill & \text{if }\frac{k}{2}\frac{g}{2}(modg)\hfill \end{array}`$
and
$`l^{}`$ $`=\{\begin{array}{cc}0\hfill & \text{if }\frac{l}{2}0(modg)\hfill \\ 1\hfill & \text{if }\frac{l}{2}\frac{g}{2}(modg).\hfill \end{array}`$
The simplest case — to describe and to compute — is when one of the indices is odd. Table 7 shows the united $`K`$-theory of $`𝒪_{k+1}^{}𝒪_{l+1}^{}`$ if $`k`$ is odd.

If $`k`$ and $`l`$ are both even, the united $`K`$-theory of $`𝒪_{k+1}^{}𝒪_{l+1}^{}`$ falls into three cases: both $`k`$ and $`l`$ are congruent to 2 modulo 4; both $`k`$ and $`l`$ are congruent to 0 modulo 4; and $`k`$ is congruent to 2 and $`l`$ is congruent to 0 modulo 4. The results of these computations are shown in Tables 8, 9, and 10 respectively.

Notice that, unlike in the complex case, it is not enough to know the greatest common divisor of $`k`$ and $`l`$. Suppose that $`k`$ and $`l`$ are both congruent to 2 modulo 4. Then we find the united $`K`$-theory in Table 8. If we replace $`l`$ by $`2l`$, then we find the united $`K`$-theory in Table 10. This change does not change the greatest common divisor, but it does change the $`K`$-theory and therefore the isomorphism class of the tensor product.

To be concrete, let $`A=𝒪_3^{}_{}𝒪_3^{}`$ and $`B=𝒪_3^{}_{}𝒪_5^{}`$. Then $`A`$ and $`B`$ are simple, real C\*-algebras that are not isomorphic, distinguished by $`K`$-theory. However, $`A_{}`$ and $`B_{}`$ are simple complex C\*-algebra that have the same $`K`$-theory and hence are isomorphic by the classification theorems of Phillips and Kirchberg ( and ).

###### Computation of Table 7.

The complex Cuntz algebras are stably isomorphic to a crossed product of an AF-algebra by $``$ (see ). Hence all of complex Cuntz algebras are in Schochet’s bootstrap category $`𝒩`$. We are therefore entitled to use our Künneth sequence for the united $`K`$-theory of the product.

Let $`k`$ and $`l`$ be integers with $`k`$ odd. We must first compute $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{k+1}^{})_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{l+1}^{})`$ and $`\text{Tor}_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{k+1}^{}),K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{l+1}^{}))`$. For this we must build a free resolution of $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{k+1}^{})`$. In the case that $`k`$ is odd, this is easy since $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{k+1}^{})`$ is generated by the class of the unit in $`KO_0(𝒪_{k+1}^{})`$. Let $`F(b,0,)`$ be the free $`\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}`$-module with a single generator in the real part in degree 0. Our free resolution for $`k`$ odd is:

$$0F(b,0,)\stackrel{\mu _1}{}F(b,0,)\stackrel{\mu _0}{}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{k+1}^{})0$$

where $`\mu _1`$ is multiplication by $`k`$ and $`\mu _0`$ is the homomorphism which sends the generator $`b`$ in $`F(b,0,)`$ to the class of the unit $`[1]`$ in $`KO_0(𝒪_{k+1}^{})`$. When we tensor this resolution on the right by $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{l+1}^{})`$, we obtain the homomorphism

$$K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{l+1}^{})\stackrel{\mu _11}{}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{l+1}^{}),$$

referring to Proposition 3.5. Now $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{k+1}^{})_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{l+1}^{})`$ is isomorphic to the cokernel of $`\mu _11`$ and $`\text{Tor}_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{k+1}^{}),K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{l+1}^{}))`$ is isomorphic to the kernel of $`\mu _11`$. But $`\mu _11`$ is multiplication by $`k`$. Therefore, the $`\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}`$-module $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{k+1}^{})_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{l+1}^{})`$ is easily computed and is shown in Table 11. The Tor group turns out to be the same in this case so we will not reproduce it in a separate table.

It remains to solve the extension problem given by the Künneth Sequence

$$\begin{array}{c}0K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{k+1}^{})_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{l+1}^{})\stackrel{\alpha }{}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{k+1}^{}𝒪_{l+1}^{})\hfill \\ \hfill \stackrel{\beta }{}\text{Tor}_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{k+1}^{}),K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{l+1}^{}))0.\end{array}$$

We show that it splits in this case. Indeed, the only graded degree in which there is a possibility of a non-trivial extension is that for $`KT_0(𝒪_{k+1}^{}𝒪_{l+1}^{})`$ which is an extension of $`_g`$ by $`_g`$. However, since $`\gamma _0`$ is an isomorphism in the $`\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}`$-module $`\text{Tor}_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{k+1}^{}),K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{l+1}^{}))`$ and since $`\beta `$ is an isomorphism in degree 1, we have a splitting $`s=\gamma _1\beta ^1\gamma _0^1`$ for $`\beta `$ in the self-conjugate part in degree 0. ∎

The other three cases are somewhat more complicated than the case when $`k`$ is odd. We will sketch the computation of Table 9 as a representative example.

###### Sketch of Computation of Table 9.

Let $`k`$ and $`l`$ be integers which are both multiples of 4. The united $`K`$-theory of $`𝒪_{k+1}^{}`$ is generated by two elements: one in $`KO_0(𝒪_{k+1}^{})`$ and one in $`KO_2(𝒪_{k+1}^{})`$. Thus we must start our resolution with a surjective homomorphism $`\mu _0`$ from $`F(b,0,)F(b,2,)`$ to $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{k+1}^{})`$. The kernel of $`\mu _0`$ turns out to be isomorphic to $`F(b,0,)`$. Hence our resolution is

$$0F(b,0,)\stackrel{\mu _1}{}F(b,0,)F(b,2,)\stackrel{\mu _0}{}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{k+1}^{})0$$

where $`\mu _1`$ sends the generator $`bF(b,0,)_0^U`$ to $`b\beta ^1cb\left(F(b,0,)F(b,2,)\right)_0^U`$.

Using Propositions 3.5 and 3.6, we study the tensor product of this resolution with $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{l+1}^{})`$. Then we obtain Tables 12 and 13 by finding the cokernel and kernel (respectively) of

$$F(b,0,)_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{l+1}^{})\stackrel{\mu _11}{}(F(b,0,)F(b,2,))_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{l+1}^{}).$$

It remains to determine the extension

$$0K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{k+1}^{})_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{l+1}^{})\stackrel{\alpha }{}K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{k+1}^{}𝒪_{l+1}^{})$$

$$\stackrel{\beta }{}\text{Tor}_{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{k+1}^{}),K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{l+1}^{}))0.$$

Fortunately, the structure imposed by the $`\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}`$-relations and the acyclicity of united $`K`$-theory will be enough to determine $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(𝒪_{k+1}^{}_{}𝒪_{l+1}^{})`$.

Let $`A`$ denote $`𝒪_{k+1}^{}𝒪_{l+1}^{}`$. We can immediately establish $`KO_{}(A)`$ in degrees 0, 2, 4, 6, and 7; $`KU_{}(A)`$ in all degrees; and $`KT_{}(A)`$ in degrees 2 and 6. The realification and complexification operations are also established in the even degrees.

In the following, we will make frequent use of the long exact sequence

$$\mathrm{}KO_n(A)\stackrel{\eta _O}{}KO_{n+1}(A)\stackrel{c}{}KU_{n+1}(A)\stackrel{r\beta _U^1}{}KO_{n1}(A)\mathrm{}.$$

First, we show that $`KO_1(A)`$ is isomorphic to $`_2_g`$, rather than $`_{2g}`$. Indeed, the kernel of $`c_2:_2^3_g`$ must have at least two generators. Since the kernel of $`c_2`$ is the image of $`(\eta _O)_1`$, it follows that $`KO_1(A)`$ must have two generators.

Second, we show that $`KO_5(A)`$ is isomorphic to $`_g`$. Indeed, $`KO_6(A)=KO_7(A)=0`$, so the long exact sequence above shows that $`r_5`$ is an isomorphism. It also follows from this and the relation $`rc=2`$ that the image of $`c_5`$ is $`2_g`$.

Third, we show that $`KO_3(A)`$ is isomorphic to $`_2^3`$ rather than $`_2_4`$. Assume that $`KO_3(A)_2_4`$. Because the image of $`c_5`$ is $`2_g`$, the realification map $`r_3`$ must take the generator of $`KU_3(A)`$ to an element of degree 2. On the other hand, the image of $`(\eta _O)_3`$ (which is the kernel of $`c_4`$) has two generators. Therefore, the image of $`r_3`$ cannot be the $`_2`$ summand of $`_2_4`$. By re-choosing the basis, we may assume $`r_3=\left(\begin{array}{c}0\\ 2\end{array}\right)`$.

The image of $`(\eta _O)_2`$ is a copy of $`_2_2`$. As there is only one such subgroup of $`_2_4`$, this determines $`c_3=\left(\begin{array}{cc}0& \frac{g}{2}\end{array}\right)`$. However, then we have $`rc=\left(\begin{array}{cc}0& 0\\ 0& g\end{array}\right)`$ which is not multiplication by 2. By this contradiction, we conclude that $`KO_3(A)_2^3`$. This completes the computation of the groups $`KO_{}(A)`$.

Because $`KO_6(A)KO_7(A)0`$, the long exact sequence

$$\mathrm{}KO_n(A)\stackrel{\eta _O^2}{}KO_{n+2}(A)\stackrel{\epsilon }{}KT_{n+2}(A)\stackrel{\tau \beta _T^1}{}KO_{n1}(A)\mathrm{}$$

shows that $`\epsilon _1`$ and $`\tau _3`$ are isomorphisms. Thus we know $`KT_{}(A)`$ in degrees 1 and 3, and hence in degrees 5 and 7. It remains to find $`KT_0(A)KT_4(A)`$. The sequence

$$KU_1(A)\stackrel{1\psi _U}{}KU_1(A)\stackrel{𝛾}{}KT_0(A)\stackrel{𝜁}{}KU_0(A)\stackrel{1\psi _U}{}KU_0(A)$$

becomes

$$_g\stackrel{0}{}_g\stackrel{𝛾}{}KT_0(A)\stackrel{𝜁}{}_g\stackrel{0}{}_g$$

so $`KT_0(A)`$ is an extension of $`_g`$ by $`_g`$. We claim that it is isomorphic to $`_g_g`$. For this we also need the sequence

$$KO_2(A)\stackrel{\eta _O^2}{}KO_0(A)\stackrel{𝜀}{}KT_0(A)\stackrel{\tau \beta _T^1}{}KO_3(A)\stackrel{\eta _O^2}{}KO_1(A)$$

which becomes

$$0_g\stackrel{𝜀}{}KT_0(A)_g0.$$

Since $`c_0=\zeta _0\epsilon _0:_g_g`$ is an isomorphism, the image of $`\epsilon _0`$ has a trivial intersection with $`\mathrm{ker}\zeta _0=\text{image}\gamma _1`$. Therefore, $`KT_0(A)=\text{image}\epsilon \text{image}\gamma _g_g`$.

Now that all of the groups of $`K^{\mathrm{𝐶𝑅𝑇}}(A)`$ have been established, the behavior of the operations can be computed using the exact sequences and the CRT-relations. ∎

This example shows that the Künneth sequence for united $`K`$-theory does not split in general, even on the level of abelian groups.