TITLE: Classifying space of the unit circle of a valued field 
QUESTION [10 upvotes]: Let $k$ be a field with absolute value $|\cdot |$ and let $S^1(k) := \lbrace x \in k \mid |x|=1\rbrace \le k^\times$. Since the absolute value definies a metric on $k$, $S^1(k)$ is a topological group. In particular, $S^1(k)$ has a classifying space $BS^1(k)$. 
Question 1: What is known about $BS^1(k)$ ? 
In case $k=\mathbb R$ (with the usual absolute value), $S^1(\mathbb R)=\lbrace \pm 1 \rbrace \cong \mathbb{Z}/2$ and $BS^1(\mathbb R) = P^\infty(\mathbb R)$. 
Similarly, if $k=\mathbb C$ (with the usual absolute value), $S^1(\mathbb C)=S^1$ and $BS^1(\mathbb C) = P^\infty(\mathbb C)$. This motivates:  
Question 2: Is it known under which conditions the relation $BS^1(k) = P^\infty(k)$ holds ?

REPLY [3 votes]: If $k=\mathbb{Q}_{p}^{\hat{}}$, I can say the following: $S^1 (k)$ is totally disconnected, since it is a subspace of the totally disconnected space $k$. Let $S^1 (k)^{\delta}$ be $S^1 (k)$, but equipped with the discrete topology. The natural map $S^1 (k)^{\delta} \to S^1 (k)$ is a weak homotopy equivalence, because a map from a standard sphere to $S^1 (k)$ is constant. It follows that the induced map $K(S^1 (k);1) = BS^1 (k)^{\delta} \to BS^1 (k) $ is a weak homotopy equivalence.
I am reluctant to say that $BS^1 (k) $ is an Eilenberg Mac-Lane space since it is not a CW complex.