For a ring $R$ consider symplectic K-theory defined as follows: let $\operatorname{Sp}(R) = \lim\_n \operatorname{Sp}\_{2n}(R)$, let $\operatorname{ESp}(R)$ be the subgroup generated by elementary matrices, let $\operatorname{BSp}(R)$ be a classifying space, let $\operatorname{BSp}(R)^+$ be the result of applying Quillen's $+$-construction (with respect to $\operatorname{ESp}(R)$) and define $\operatorname{KSp}\_\*(R) := \pi\_\*(\operatorname{BSp}(R)^+)$. [Is this the right definition?]


1. Is the following statement true (and is there a reference)?
Let $\tilde{\operatorname{Sp}}\_{2n}(R)$ be the Steinberg group of $\operatorname{Sp}\_{2n}(R)$. There is an exact sequence 
$$
1 \to \operatorname{KSp}\_2(R) \to \tilde{\operatorname{Sp}}\_{2n}(R) \to \operatorname{Sp}\_{2n}(R) \to 1
$$
for $n$ large enough. [Is the kernel always $\pi\_2(\operatorname{BSp}\_{2n}(R)^+)$?]
2. What is the right analogue of the ``fundamental theorem of K-theory'', i.e. how can $\operatorname{KSp}\_\*(R[t])$ and $\operatorname{KSp}\_\*(R[t,t^{-1}])$ be expressed in terms of $\operatorname{KSp}\_\*(R)$?


So essentially I am wondering what changes if one replaces $\operatorname{GL}(R)$ by $\operatorname{Sp}(R)$ in the definition of algebraic K-theory. I am mostly interested in the case where $R$ is a field. In that case $\operatorname{KSp}\_1(R)$, $\operatorname{KSp}\_1(R[t])$, and $\operatorname{KSp}\_1(R[t,t^{-1}])$ all vanish at least if the characteristic is not $2$.



Symplectic K-theory
**Concerning the definition of symplectic K-theory:** there are various possible definitions, the homotopy groups of the plus-construction of the classifying space of the infinite symplectic group is one such definition. Other definitions can be given using categories of forms (similar to Q-construction or $S^{-1}S$-construction for algebraic K-theory) or a Karoubi-Villamayor style definition (as homotopy of a polynomial resolution $Sp\_\infty(R[\Delta^\bullet])$ of the symplectic group). In the end, as for algebraic K-theory, all these definitions agree for regular rings of characteristic $\neq 2$. Various definitions and results are easier to find by using alternative keywords such as "hermitian K-theory" or "higher Grothendieck-Witt groups".


**Concerning the first question:** the statement is not quite true because the map $\tilde{Sp}\_{2n}(R)\to Sp\_{2n}(R)$ is not surjective. The morphism surjects onto the elementary symplectic subgroup $ESp\_{2n}(R)$. This is normal for $n\geq 2$, and the quotient is $KSp\_1(R)$. If you are interested in fields, this is trivial, but not generally. 


Otherwise, the statement is true. 
For $n\geq 3$, the Steinberg group is a central extension, cf. [this paper of Lavrenov](http://arxiv.org/pdf/1405.4296.pdf) and the historical references in there. In the paper, you also find explained that for $n\geq 4$, the Steinberg group is the universal central extension, which implies that there is an exact sequence
$$
0\to KSp\_{2,n}(R)\to \tilde{Sp}\_{2n}(R)\to Sp\_{2n}(R)\to KSp\_{1,n}(R)\to 0
$$
and $KSp\_{2,n}(R)\cong H\_2(Sp\_{2n}(R))\cong \pi\_2(BSp\_{2n}(R)^+)$. There are also stabilization results for homology of symplectic groups (e.g. Mirzaii-van der Kallen) which imply that $KSp\_{2,n}(R)$ stabilizes to $KSp\_2(R)$ for $n\to \infty$, depending on the Krull dimension of $R$. 


**Concerning the fundamental theorems:** For the symplectic K-theory of polynomial rings, there is the homotopy invariance theorem of Karoubi which implies that for regular rings of characteristic $\neq 2$ there is an isomorphism $KSp\_\ast(R[T])\cong KSp\_\ast(R)$. 


For the Laurent-polynomials, the right keyword here is the fundamental theorem of hermitian K-theory. It was proved by Karoubi for rings, but see also [the recent generalization by Schlichting](http://arxiv.org/abs/1209.0848). The short answer is, there is a version of the fundamental theorem, but the notation or results may not be transparent on first reading. I try to give some rough idea. 


The fundamental theorem of algebraic/hermitian K-theory is closely linked to Bott periodicity. (Ok, I am restricting to regular rings here, characteristic not $2$...) This necessitates viewing algebraic/hermitian K-theory as a cohomology theory on schemes, as it is done in motivic homotopy theory. The fundamental theorem tells us what the cohomology of $X\times\mathbb{G}\_m$ is, where $\mathbb{G}\_m=\operatorname{Spec}\mathbb{Z}[t,t^{-1}]$ is the multiplicative group. In the stable $\mathbb{A}^1$-homotopy, $X\times\mathbb{G}\_m$ splits as $X\vee \Sigma^{1,1}X$, hence its $E$-cohomology splits as direct sum of two things - one is $E$-cohomology of $X$ and the other is $\Omega\_{\mathbb{P}^1}$-cohomology of $X$ shifted by one (because $S^{2,1}\cong\mathbb{P}^1$). Now algebraic K-theory is represented by a spectrum $KGL$ which by Bott periodicity satisfies $\Omega\_{\mathbb{P}^1}KGL\cong KGL$. This gives us the fundamental theorem of algebraic K-theory. 


From this point of view, it should now be clear what changes if we consider symplectic K-theory: Bott periodicity for hermitian K-theory is more complicated and there are four spectra 
related by $\mathbb{P}^1$-loop spaces - symplectic K-theory, orthogonal K-theory and inbetween Karoubi's U- and V-theory. The fundamental theorem for symplectic K-theory expresses symplectic K-theory of $R[t,t^{-1}]$ as a direct sum of symplectic K-theory of $R$ and the $\Omega\_{\mathbb{P}^1}$-loop spectrum of symplectic K-theory. I can never tell if this is U or V. Anyway, as a motivic spectrum, I think it is the spectrum associated to $Sp/GL$. See the [paper of Schlichting and Tripathi](http://arxiv.org/abs/1309.5818) on $\mathbb{A}^1$-representability of higher Grothendieck-Witt groups.


I hope that this is helpful. In a way, the fundamental theorem for hermitian K-theory is not so easy to grasp if one only considers constructions for rings. It is much more natural to approach it from a motivic homotopy point of view. 


