The localization sequence for the algebraic K-theory of topological K-theory

Abstract

We verify a conjecture of Rognes by establishing a localization cofiber sequence of spectra $K(\mathbb{Z})\to K(ku)\to K(KU) \to\Sigma K(\mathbb{Z})$ for the algebraic K-theory of topological K-theory. We deduce the existence of this sequence as a consequence of a dévissage theorem identifying the K-theory of the Waldhausen category of finitely generated finite stage Postnikov towers of modules over a connective $A_\infty$ ring spectrum R with the Quillen K-theory of the abelian category of finitely generated $\pi_{0}R$-modules.