Stiefel Whitney classes for real representations of GL2(𝔽q)

We compute the total Stiefel Whitney class for a real representation [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is odd. The obstruction class of [Formula: see text] is defined to be the Stiefel Whitney class of lowest positive degree that does not vanish. We provide an expression for the obstruction class of [Formula: see text] in terms of its character values if [Formula: see text].

Two-dimensional Stiefel-Whitney insulators in liganded Xenes

Two-dimensional (2D) Stiefel-Whitney insulator (SWI), which is characterized by the second Stiefel-Whitney class, is a class of topological phases with zero Berry curvature. As an intriguing topological state, it has been well studied in theory but seldom realized in realistic materials. Here we propose that a large class of liganded Xenes, i.e., hydrogenated and halogenated 2D group-IV honeycomb lattices, are 2D SWIs. The nontrivial topology of liganded Xenes is identified by the bulk topological invariant and the existence of protected corner states. Moreover, the large and tunable bandgap (up to 3.5 eV) of liganded Xenes will facilitate the experimental characterization of the 2D SWI phase. Our findings not only provide abundant realistic material candidates that are experimentally feasible but also draw more fundamental research interest towards the topological physics associated with Stiefel-Whitney class in the absence of Berry curvature.

Subtle characteristic classes for Spin-torsors

Extending (Smirnov and Vishik, Subtle Characteristic Classes, arXiv:1401.6661), we obtain a complete description of the motivic cohomology with $${{\,\mathrm{\mathbb {Z}}\,}}/2$$ Z / 2 -coefficients of the Nisnevich classifying space of the spin group $$Spin_n$$ S p i n n associated to the standard split quadratic form. This provides us with very simple relations among subtle Stiefel–Whitney classes in the motivic cohomology of Čech simplicial schemes associated to quadratic forms from $$I^3$$ I 3 , which are closely related to $$Spin_n$$ S p i n n -torsors over the point. These relations come from the action of the motivic Steenrod algebra on the second subtle Stiefel–Whitney class. Moreover, exploiting the relation between $$Spin_7$$ S p i n 7 and $$G_2$$ G 2 , we describe completely the motivic cohomology ring of the Nisnevich classifying space of $$G_2$$ G 2 . The result in topology was obtained by Quillen (Math Ann 194:197–212, 1971).

Manifolds with Odd Euler Characteristic and Higher Orientability

It is well known that odd-dimensional manifolds have Euler characteristic zero. Furthermore, orientable manifolds have an even Euler characteristic unless the dimension is a multiple of $4$. We prove here a generalisation of these statements: a $k$-orientable manifold (or more generally Poincaré complex) has even Euler characteristic unless the dimension is a multiple of $2^{k+1}$, where we call a manifold $k$-orientable if the i-th Stiefel–Whitney class vanishes for all $0<i< 2^k$ ($k\geq 0$). More generally, we show that for a $k$-orientable manifold the Wu classes $v_l$ vanish for all $l$ that are not a multiple of $2^k$. For $k=0,1,2,3$, $k$-orientable manifolds with odd Euler characteristic exist in all dimensions $2^{k+1}m$, but whether there exists a 4-orientable manifold with an odd Euler characteristic is an open question.

CR regular embeddings and immersions of compact orientable 4-manifolds into ℂ3

We show that a compact orientable 4-manifold M has a CR regular immersion into ℂ3 if and only if both its first Pontryagin class p1(M) and its Euler characteristic χ(M) vanish, and has a CR regular embedding into ℂ3 if and only if in addition the second Stiefel–Whitney class w2(M) vanishes.

SU(2)-Donaldson invariants of the complex projective plane

There are two families of Donaldson invariants for the complex projective plane, corresponding to the SU(2)-gauge theory and the SO(3)-gauge theory with non-trivial Stiefel–Whitney class. In 1997 Moore and Witten conjectured that the regularized