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The real and unitary topological $K$-theories are cohomology theories defined by the $\Omega$-spectra $KO$ and $K$ respectively. These are multiplicative theories with products deriving from the infinite loop structures on the spaces that comprise the ring spectra. On the level of vector bundles these products derive from the tensor product $(-)\otimes_{\mathbb{K}}(-)$ over the relevant field. Given a space $X$ and classes $\xi=[f]\in K^p(X)$, $\eta=[g] \in \widetilde{K}^q(X)$, we can either regard $\widetilde{K}^*(X)$ as the homotopy set $\left[X,\Omega^{-*} BU\right]$ and form the product $\xi\cdot\eta$ as the composition $X\wedge X\xrightarrow{f\wedge g}\Omega^{-p}BU\wedge\Omega^{-q}BU\xrightarrow{\theta_{p,q}}\Omega^{-(p+q)}BU$ for suitable maps $\theta_{p,q}$ or, alternatively, we can regard $\tilde{K}^*(X)$ as the Grothiendieck group of vector bundles over $\Sigma^{-*}X$ and form the product $\xi\cdot\eta$ as the class represented by the vector bundle $\xi\otimes\eta$.

Does symplectic $KSp$-theory have products? And how does one make sense of them?

Bott periodicity gives $\Omega^4BSp\simeq \mathbb{Z}\times BO$, so $KSp$ is a ring spectrum and up to canonical isomorphism the groups $KSp$ and $KO$ are the same. Products exist in the groups. But how does one make sense of them as there is no quaternionic tensor product? Do you treat the quaternionic bundles as real bundles, take the tensor product and then obtain the (unrelated) class of the real tensor product in the symplectic group?

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Symplectic K-theory does not have a (graded) product; as a graded abelian group, it's shifted by $4$ from real K-theory, and the grading shift of a graded ring isn't a graded ring (since the multiplication has the wrong degree). As you say, the conceptual problem is that there is no quaternionic tensor product.

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  • $\begingroup$ Thanks! As I understand it, the tensor product over $\mathbb{R}$ of a quaternionic bundle $\xi$ with a real bundle $\eta$ is again a quaternionic bundle. And this product is compatible with the grading shift as it occurs only in the one variable. Does this mean that one can furnish $KSp^*(X)$ with the structure of a graded $KO^*$-module, and that this is an appropriate way to present the information? Does this make sense on the homotopic, geometric and algebraic levels? $\endgroup$
    – Tyrone
    Aug 8, 2015 at 15:18
  • $\begingroup$ @Tyrone: yes, that's correct. $\endgroup$ Aug 8, 2015 at 18:14

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