On generators of the unstable $\mathscr A$-module $H^{*}((K(\mathbb F_2, 1))^{\times 5})$ in a generic degree and applications

Let us consider the prime field of two elements, $\mathbb F_2.$ It is well-known that the classical "hit problem" for a module over the mod 2 Steenrod algebra $\mathscr A$ is an interesting and important open problem of Algebraic topology, which asks a minimal set of generators for the polynomial algebra $\mathcal P_m:=\mathbb F_2[x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_m]$, regarded as a connected unstable $\mathscr A$-module on $m$ variables $x_1, \ldots, x_m,$ each of degree 1. The algebra $\mathcal P_m$ is the $\mathbb F_2$-cohomology of the product of $m$ copies of the Eilenberg-MacLan complex $K(\mathbb F_2, 1).$ Although the hit problem has been thoroughly studied for more than 3 decades, solving it remains a mystery for $m\geq 5.$ The aim of this work is of studying the hit problem of five variables. More precisely, we develop our previous work \cite{D.P3} on the hit problem for $\mathscr A$-module $\mathcal P_5$ in a degree of the generic form $n_t:=5(2^t-1) + 18.2^t,$ for any non-negative integer $t.$ An efficient approach to solve this problem had been presented. Moreover, we provide an algorithm in MAGMA for verifying the results and studying the hit problem in general. As an consequence, the calculations confirmed Sum's conjecture \cite{N.S2} for the relationship between the minimal sets of $\mathscr A$-generators of the polynomial algebras $\mathcal P_{m-1}$ and $\mathcal P_{m}$ in the case $m=5$ and degree $n_t.$ Two applications of this study are to determine the dimension of $\mathcal P_6$ in the generic degree $5(2^{t+4}-1) + n_1.2^{t+4}$ for all $t > 0$ and describe the modular representations of the general linear group of rank 5 over $\mathbb F_2.$ As a corollary, the cohomological "transfer", defined by W. Singer \cite{W.S1}, is an isomorphism at the bidegree $(5, 5+n_0).$ Singer's transfer is one of the relatively efficient tools to approach the structure of mod-2 cohomology of the Steenrod algebra.

On the dimension of the "cohits" space $\mathbb Z_2\otimes_{\mathcal A_2} H^{*}((\mathbb RP(\infty))^{\times t}, \mathbb Z_2)$ and some applications

We denote by $\mathbb Z_2$ the prime field of two elements and by $P_t = \mathbb Z_2[x_1, \ldots, x_t]$ the polynomial algebra of $t$ generators $x_1, \ldots, x_t$ with the degree of each $x_i$ being one. Let $\mathcal A_2$ be the Steenrod algebra over $\mathbb Z_2.$ A central problem of homotopy theory is to determine a minimal set of generators for the $\mathbb Z_2$-graded vector space $\mathbb Z_2\otimes_{\mathcal A_2} P_t.$ This problem, which is called the "hit" problem for Steenrod algebra, has been systematically studied for $t\leq 4.$ The present paper is devoted to the investigation of the structure of the "cohits" space $\mathbb Z_2\otimes_{\mathcal A_2} P_t$ in some certain "generic" degrees. More specifically, we explicitly determine a monomial basis of $\mathbb Z_2\otimes_{\mathcal A_2} P_5$ in degree \mbox{$n_s=5(2^{s}-1) + 42.2^{s}$} for every non-negative integer $s.$ As a result, it confirms Sum's conjecture \cite{N.S2} for a relation between the minimal sets of $\mathcal A_2$-generators of the algebras $P_{t-1}$ and $P_{t}$ in the case $t=5$ and degree $n_s$. Based on Kameko's map \cite{M.K} and a previous result by Sum \cite{N.S1}, we obtain a inductive formula for the dimension of $\mathbb Z_2\otimes_{\mathcal A_2} P_t$ in a generic degree given. As an application, we obtain the dimension of $\mathbb Z_2\otimes_{\mathcal A_2} P_6$ in the generic degree $5(2^{s+5}-1) + n_0.2^{s+5}$ for all $s\geq 0,$ and show that the Singer's cohomological transfer \cite{W.S1} is an isomorphism in bidegree $(5, 5+n_s)$.

The "hit" problem of five variables in the generic degree and its application

Let $P_s:= \mathbb F_2[x_1,x_2,\ldots ,x_s]$ be the graded polynomial algebra over the prime field of two elements, $\mathbb F_2$, in $s$ variables $x_1, x_2, \ldots , x_s$, each of degree one. This algebra is considered as a graded module over the mod-2 Steenrod algebra, $\mathscr {A}$. We are interested in the "hit" problem of finding a minimal set of generators for $\mathscr A$-module $P_s.$ This problem is unresolved for every $s\geqslant 5.$ In this paper, we study the hit problem of five variables in a generic degree, from which we investigate Singer's conjecture [Math. Z. 202 (1989), 493-523] for the transfer homomorphism of rank $5$ in degrees given. This gives an efficient method to study the algebraic transfer and it is different from the ones of Singer.

On Peterson's open problem and representations of the general linear groups

Fix $\mathbb Z/2$ is the prime field of two elements and write $\mathcal A_2$ for the mod $2$ Steenrod algebra. Denote by $GL_d:= GL(d, \mathbb Z/2)$ the general linear group of rank $d$ over $\mathbb Z/2$ and by $\mathscr P_d$ the polynomial algebra $\mathbb Z/2[x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_d],$ which is viewed as a connected unstable $\mathcal A_2$-module on $d$ generators of degree one. We study the Peterson "hit problem" of finding the minimal set of $\mathcal A_2$-generators for $\mathscr P_d.$ It is equivalent to determining a $\mathbb Z/2$-basis for the space of "cohits"$$Q\mathscr P_d := \mathbb Z/2\otimes_{\mathcal A_2} \mathscr P_d \cong \mathscr P_d/\mathcal A_2^+\mathscr P_d.$$ This $Q\mathscr P_d$ is considered as a form modular representation of $GL_d$ over $\mathbb Z/2.$ The problem for $d= 5$ is not yet completely solved, and unknown in general. In this work, we give an explicit solution to the hit problem of five variables in the generic degree $n = r(2^t -1) + 2^ts$ with $r = d = 5,\ s =8$ and $t$ an arbitrary non-negative integer. An application of this study to the cases $t = 0$ and $t = 1$ shows that the Singer algebraic transfer is an isomorphism in the bidegrees $(5, 5+(13.2^{0} - 5))$ and $(5, 5+(13.2^{1} - 5)).$ Moreover, the result when $t\geq 2$ was also discussed. Here, the Singer transfer of rank $d$ is a $\mathbb Z/2$-algebra homomorphism from $GL_d$-coinvariants of certain subspaces of $Q\mathscr P_d$ to the cohomology groups of the Steenrod algebra, ${\rm Ext}_{\mathcal A_2}^{d, d+*}(\mathbb Z/2, \mathbb Z/2).$ It is one of the useful tools for studying mysterious Ext groups and the Kervaire invariant one problem.

Structure of the space of $GL_4(\mathbb Z_2)$-coinvariants $\mathbb Z_2\otimes_{GL_4(\mathbb Z_2)} PH_*(\mathbb Z_2^4, \mathbb Z_2)$ in some generic degrees and its application

Let $A$ denote the Steenrod algebra at the prime 2 and let $k = \mathbb Z_2.$ An open problem of homotopy theory is to determine a minimal set of $A$-generators for the polynomial ring $P_q = k[x_1, \ldots, x_q] = H^{*}(k^{q}, k)$ on $q$ generators $x_1, \ldots, x_q$ with $|x_i|= 1.$ Equivalently, one can write down explicitly a basis for the graded vector space $Q^{\otimes q} := k\otimes_{A} P_q$ in each non-negative degree $n.$ This is the content of the classical "hit problem" of Frank Peterson. Based on this problem, we are interested in the $q$-th algebraic transfer $Tr_q^{A}$ of W. Singer \cite{W.S1}, which is one of the useful tools for describing mod-2 cohomology of the algebra $A.$ This transfer is a linear map from the space of $GL_q(k)$-coinvariant $k\otimes _{GL_q(k)} P((P_q)_n^{*})$ of $Q^{\otimes q}$ to the $k$-cohomology group of the Steenrod algebra, ${\rm Ext}_{A}^{q, q+n}(k, k).$ Here $GL_q(k)$ is the general linear group of degree $q$ over the field $k,$ and $P((P_q)_n^{*})$ is the primitive part of $(P_q)^{*}_n$ under the action of $A.$ The present paper is to investigate this algebraic transfer for the cohomological degree $q = 4.$ More specifically, basing the techniques of the hit problem of four variables, we explicitly determine the structure of $k\otimes _{GL_4(k)} P((P_4)_{n}^{*})$ in some generic degrees $n.$ Applying these results and a representation of the rank 4 transfer over the lambda algebra, we show that $Tr_4^{A}$ is an isomorphism in respective degrees. Also, we give some conjectures on the dimensions of $k\otimes_{GL_q(k)} ((P_4)_n^{*})$ for the remaining degrees $n.$ As a consequence, Singer's conjecture for the algebraic transfer is true in the rank 4 case. This study and our previous results \cite{D.P11, D.P12} have been provided a panorama of the behavior of $Tr_4^{A}.$

The hit problem of five variables in the generic degree $5(2^{s}-1) + 42.2^{s}$ and its application

We denote by $\mathbb Z_2$ the prime field of two elements and by $P_t = \mathbb Z_2[x_1, \ldots, x_t]$ the polynomial algebra of $t$ generators $x_1, \ldots, x_t$ with $\deg(x_j) = 1.$ Let $\mathcal A_2$ be the Steenrod algebra over $\mathbb Z_2.$ A central problem of homotopy theory is to determine a minimal set of generators for the $\mathbb Z_2$-graded vector space $\{(\mathbb Z_2\otimes_{\mathcal A_2} P_t)_n\}_{n\geq 0}.$ It is called \textit{the "hit" problem} for Steenrod algebra and has been completely solved for $t\leq 4.$ In this article, we explicitly solve the hit problem of five variables in the "generic" degree $n=5(2^{s}-1) + 42.2^{s}$ for every non-negative integer $s.$ The result confirms Sum's conjecture [15] for the relation between the minimal sets of $\mathcal A_2$-generators of the algebras $P_{t-1}$ and $P_{t}$ in the case $t=5$ and degree $n$ above. An efficient approach for surveying the hit problem of five variables has been presented. As an application, we obtain the dimension of $(\mathbb Z_2\otimes_{\mathcal A_2} P_t)_n$ for $t = 6$ and degree $5(2^{s+5}-1) + 42.2^{s+5}$ for all $s\geq 0.$ At the same time, we show that the Singer transfer homomorphism is an isomorphism in bidegree $(5, 5+n)$.

Structure of the space of $GL_4(\mathbb Z_2)$-coinvariants $\mathbb Z_2\otimes_{GL_4(\mathbb Z_2)} PH_*(\mathbb Z_2^4, \mathbb Z_2)$ in some generic degrees and its application to Singer's cohomological transfer

Let $A$ denote the Steenrod algebra at the prime 2 and let $k = \mathbb Z_2.$ An open problem of homotopy theory is to determine a minimal set of $A$-generators for the polynomial ring $P_q = k[x_1, \ldots, x_q] = H^{*}(k^{q}, k)$ on $q$ generators $x_1, \ldots, x_q$ with $|x_i|= 1.$ Equivalently, one can write down explicitly a basis for the graded vector space $Q^{\otimes q} := k\otimes_{A} P_q$ in each non-negative degree $n.$ This problem is the content of "hit problem" of Frank Peterson. We study the $q$-th Singer algebraic transfer $Tr_q^{A}$, which is a homomorphism from the space of $GL_q(k)$-coinvariant $k\otimes _{GL_q(k)} P((P_q)_n^{*})$ of $Q^{\otimes q}$ to the Adams $E_2$-term, ${\rm Ext}_{A}^{q, q+n}(k, k).$ Here $GL_q(k)$ is the general linear group of degree $q$ over the field $k,$ and $P((P_q)_n^{*})$ is the primitive part of $(P_q)^{*}_n$ under the action of $A.$ The Singer transfer is one of the useful tools for describing mysterious Ext groups. In the present study, by using techniques of the hit problem of four variables, we explicitly determine the structure of the spaces $k\otimes _{GL_4(k)} P((P_4)_{n}^{*})$ in some generic degrees $n.$ Applying these results and the representation of the fourth transfer over the lambda algebra, we show that $Tr_4^{A}$ is an isomorphism in respective degrees. These new results confirmed Singer's conjecture for the monomorphism of the rank $4$ transfer. Our approach is different from that of Singer.

The structure of the space of $GL_4(\mathbb Z_2)$-coinvariants $\mathbb Z_2\otimes_{GL_4(\mathbb Z_2)} PH_*(\mathbb Z_2^4, \mathbb Z_2)$ in some generic degrees and its application, I

Let $A$ denote the Steenrod algebra at the prime 2 and let $k = \mathbb Z_2.$ An open problem of homotopy theory is to determine a minimal set of $A$-generators for the polynomial ring $P_q = k[x_1, \ldots, x_q] = H^{*}(k^{q}, k)$ on $q$ generators $x_1, \ldots, x_q$ with $|x_i|= 1.$ Equivalently, can one write down a basis for the graded vector space $Q^{\otimes q} := k\otimes_{A} P_q$ in each non-negative degree $n.$ This problem is the content of "hit problem" of Frank Peterson. We study the $q$-th Singer algebraic transfer $Tr_q^{A}$, which is a homomorphism from the space of $GL_q(k)$-coinvariants $k\otimes _{GL_q(k)} P((P_q)_n^{*})$ of $Q^{\otimes q}$ to the Adams $E_2$-terms, ${\rm Ext}_{A}^{q, q+n}(k, k).$ Here $GL_q(k)$ is the general linear group of degree $q$ over the field $k,$ and $P((P_q)_n^{*})$ is the primitive part of $(P_q)^{*}_n$ under the action of $A.$ The Singer transfer is one of the useful tools for describing mysterious Ext groups. In the present study, by using techniques of the hit problem of four variables, we explicitly determine the structure of the spaces $k\otimes _{GL_4(k)} P((P_4)_{n_j}^{*})$ in some generic degrees. Applying these results and the representation of the transfer $Tr_4^{A}$ over the lambda algebra, we show that $Tr_4^{A}$ is an isomorphism in respective degrees. Our approach is different from that of Singer.

Hit problem for the polynomial algebra as a module over the Steenrod algebra in some degrees

Let [Formula: see text] be the polynomial algebra in [Formula: see text] variables with the degree of each [Formula: see text] being [Formula: see text] regarded as a module over the mod-[Formula: see text] Steenrod algebra [Formula: see text] and let [Formula: see text] be the general linear group over the prime field [Formula: see text] which acts naturally on [Formula: see text]. We study the hit problem, set up by Frank Peterson, of finding a minimal set of generators for the polynomial algebra [Formula: see text] as a module over the mod-2 Steenrod algebra, [Formula: see text]. These results are used to study the Singer algebraic transfer which is a homomorphism from the homology of the mod-[Formula: see text] Steenrod algebra, [Formula: see text] to the subspace of [Formula: see text] consisting of all the [Formula: see text]-invariant classes of degree [Formula: see text] In this paper, we explicitly compute the hit problem for [Formula: see text] and the degree [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] an arbitrary positive integer. Using this result, we show that Singer’s conjecture for the algebraic transfer is true in the case [Formula: see text] and the above degree.