Detecting $\eta^3$ in stunted projective spaces.

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Consider the stunted complex projective space $\mathbb{C}P^{n+2}_n:=\mathbb{C}P^{n+2}/\mathbb{C}P^{n-1}$ which is a three-cell complex of the form

$$\mathbb{C}P^{n+2}_n\simeq S^{2n}\cup_{\alpha_n} e^{2n+2}\cup_{\beta_n} e^{2n+4}.$$

I am interested in knowing the attaching maps $\alpha_n$ and $\beta_n$.

To begin we note that the cohomology $H^*\mathbb{C}P^{n+2}_n=\mathbb{Z}\{x^n,x^{n+1},x^{n+2}\}$ is free on three classes which correspond via the collapse map $\mathbb{C}P^{n+2}\rightarrow \mathbb{C}P^{n+2}_n$ with the top three powers of the canonical generator $x\in H^2\mathbb{C}P^{n+2}$. This makes it easy to calculate Steenrod squares in $H^*\mathbb{C}P^{n+2}_n$, and in particular we find that $Sq^2x^n=n\cdot x^{n+1}$, which tells us that

$$\alpha_n\simeq\begin{cases}\ast&n\equiv 0\mod 2\\\eta_{2n}&n\equiv 1\mod2\end{cases}$$

since the Hopf map $\eta_{2n}$ is detected by $Sq^2$.

It is now the even case that really interests me so I will assume from here on out that $n$ is even and also that $n>2$, so that we will be working in the stable range. Moreover I happen to only be interested in $2$-local data, and for this reason all spaces and groups will be localised at the prime $2$ in the following.

Then under these assumptions we have

$$\mathbb{C}P^{n+2}_n\simeq (S^{2n}\vee S^{2n+2})\cup_{\beta_n} e^{2n+4}$$

and $\beta_n$ identifies as an element of $\pi_{2n+3}S^{2n}\oplus\pi_{2n+3}S^{2n+2}$ since there are no Whitehead products in these dimensions. We know from the previous calculation that $\beta_n$ attaches non-trivially to $S^{2n+2}$ by the Hopf map $\eta_{2n+2}$, so recalling that $\pi_{2n+3}S^{2n}\cong\mathbb{Z}_8$ is stable and generated by the element $\nu_{2n}$ it must be that

$$\beta_n=a\cdot \nu_{2n}+\eta_{2n+2}:S^{2n+3}\rightarrow S^{2n}\vee S^{2n+2}$$

for some mod $8$ integer $a$.

Now $Sq^4$ detects $\nu_{2n}$, and with a little work we can calculate the action of $Sq^4$ on $H^*\mathbb{C}P^{n+2}_n$, finding that

$$Sq^4x^n=\begin{cases}0&n\equiv 0,1\mod 4\\ x^{2n+2}&n\equiv {2,3}\mod 4\end{cases}.$$

It follows from this that $a$ is odd when $n\equiv2\mod 4$, and this sorts out $\beta_n$ completely in these cases (we already have that $n$ is even). Therefore let us add the assumption that $n\equiv 0\mod 4$. Then there are essentially three choices for $a$. Namely $a=0,2$ or $4$.

For which even values of $n>2$ does $a=0,2,4$?

Now Adams has constructed stable secondary cohomology operations $\varphi_{0,2}$ based on the Adem relation $Sq^4Sq^1+(Sq^2Sq^1)Sq^2+Sq^1Sq^4=0$ and proved that these operations detect $2\cdot\nu$. For instance $\varphi_{0,2}(x^4)=x^6$ with no intederminacy, and this sorts out $\beta_4=2\cdot\nu+\eta$. However I am not sure of exactly how to evaluate these operations on the higher classes in $H^*\mathbb{C}P^{n+2}$. I have constructed a rudimentary Cartan formula for the operation, but am struggling to deal with the indeterminancy. Moreover, this operation will still leave undecided the cases when it vanishes, since it cannot distinguish $a=0$ and $a=4$.

I am aware of a tertiary cohomology operation capable of detecting $\eta^3=4\cdot\nu$, but I have no idea how to evaluate it on $\mathbb{C}P^{n+2}_n$ for large $n$.

I believe all this must be well known and must appear in a textbook or paper somewhere, but if it does I am not sure where. Any help tracking down reliable references would be very welcome.

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This is calculated in

Mosher, Robert E. Some stable homotopy of complex projective space. Topology 7, 1968, 179–193.

Specifically, in Proposition 5.2 (proved in section 9), Mosher shows in particular when $n$ is even that the attaching map of the top cell in $\mathbb{C}P^{n+2}/\mathbb{C}P^{n-1}$ is $$\eta + \lambda \nu \in \pi_{2n+3}(S^{2n+2}) \oplus \pi_{2n+3}(S^{2n})$$ where $$\lambda = \begin{cases} 0, & n \equiv 0 \pmod{8}, \\ 1, & n \equiv 2 \pmod{4}, \\ 2, & n \equiv 4 \pmod{8}. \end{cases}$$