On certain problems in homotopy theory
<p>John Milnor has given a construction [J. Milnor. Construction of Universal Bundles, II. Ann. Math. 63 (1956) 430-436] which associates with each topological group G a sequence of spaces GP(i) [our notation] which can be regarded as generalizations of the classical projective spaces RP(i) =...
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1960
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author | Stasheff, J |
author_facet | Stasheff, J |
author_sort | Stasheff, J |
collection | OXFORD |
description | <p>John Milnor has given a construction [J. Milnor. Construction of Universal Bundles, II. Ann. Math. 63 (1956) 430-436] which associates with each topological group G a sequence of spaces GP(i) [our notation] which can be regarded as generalizations of the classical projective spaces RP(i) = S<sup>0</sup>P(i), CP(i) = S<sup>1</sup>P(i) and QP(i) = S<sup>3</sup>P(i). If one considers H-spaces instead of topological groups, one finds that additional homotopy structure is necessary to imitate this construction. Intuitively, an A<sub>n</sub>-space X is an H-space with sufficient additional structure to permit the construction for i ≤ n of spaces XP(i) with properties similar to those of the spaces GP(i). An A<sub>n</sub>-map can be thought of as a map from one A<sub>n</sub>-space to another which up to homotopy respects the A<sub>n</sub>-structure.</p> <p>The principal goals of this study are 1) to investigate the multiplication on an A<sub>n</sub>-space in terms of the geometry of the projective spaces and 2) to analyse the algebra of the homology of an A<sub>n</sub>-space. In the first direction we observe that in the classical case there exist maps RP(r) × RP(s) → RP(r+s) and CP(r) × CP(s) → CP(r+s) which restricted to either factor are the usual imbeddings RP(r) ⊂ RP(r+s) and CP(r) ⊂ CP(r+s). Working with A<sub>n</sub>-spaces we find that the existence of such maps is implied by the multiplication's being itself an A<sub>r+s</sub>-map. In particular, an H-space (X,m) is homotopy abelian if and only if there is a map of SX × SX → XP(2) which is the inclusion on either factor.</p> <p>The second direction is guided by William Massey's definition of cohomology products. The essential properties of the singular chain complex on an A<sub>n</sub>-space are embodied in the concept of an A(n)-algebra. Other algebraic objects called <em>stacks</em> are defined which give rise to spectral sequences of topological significance. Applied to A<sub>n</sub>-spaces, these spectral sequences yield homology operations which serve as criteria for A<sub>n</sub>-maps, and are related to the homology of the protective spaces.</p> <p>The two paths of study are re-united in application to ΩCP(3) the loop space on complex projective 3-space. We find that ΩCP(3 is homotopy abelian and that there exists a homotopy equivalence f : S<sup>1</sup> × ΩS<sup>7</sup> → ΩCP(3) which is an H-map but not an A<sub>4</sub>-map.</p> |
first_indexed | 2024-03-06T23:55:37Z |
format | Thesis |
id | oxford-uuid:741ca223-c784-483c-a2d1-952d7ce1e98a |
institution | University of Oxford |
last_indexed | 2024-03-06T23:55:37Z |
publishDate | 1960 |
record_format | dspace |
spelling | oxford-uuid:741ca223-c784-483c-a2d1-952d7ce1e98a2022-03-26T20:00:42ZOn certain problems in homotopy theoryThesishttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_db06uuid:741ca223-c784-483c-a2d1-952d7ce1e98aPolonsky Theses Digitisation Project1960Stasheff, J<p>John Milnor has given a construction [J. Milnor. Construction of Universal Bundles, II. Ann. Math. 63 (1956) 430-436] which associates with each topological group G a sequence of spaces GP(i) [our notation] which can be regarded as generalizations of the classical projective spaces RP(i) = S<sup>0</sup>P(i), CP(i) = S<sup>1</sup>P(i) and QP(i) = S<sup>3</sup>P(i). If one considers H-spaces instead of topological groups, one finds that additional homotopy structure is necessary to imitate this construction. Intuitively, an A<sub>n</sub>-space X is an H-space with sufficient additional structure to permit the construction for i ≤ n of spaces XP(i) with properties similar to those of the spaces GP(i). An A<sub>n</sub>-map can be thought of as a map from one A<sub>n</sub>-space to another which up to homotopy respects the A<sub>n</sub>-structure.</p> <p>The principal goals of this study are 1) to investigate the multiplication on an A<sub>n</sub>-space in terms of the geometry of the projective spaces and 2) to analyse the algebra of the homology of an A<sub>n</sub>-space. In the first direction we observe that in the classical case there exist maps RP(r) × RP(s) → RP(r+s) and CP(r) × CP(s) → CP(r+s) which restricted to either factor are the usual imbeddings RP(r) ⊂ RP(r+s) and CP(r) ⊂ CP(r+s). Working with A<sub>n</sub>-spaces we find that the existence of such maps is implied by the multiplication's being itself an A<sub>r+s</sub>-map. In particular, an H-space (X,m) is homotopy abelian if and only if there is a map of SX × SX → XP(2) which is the inclusion on either factor.</p> <p>The second direction is guided by William Massey's definition of cohomology products. The essential properties of the singular chain complex on an A<sub>n</sub>-space are embodied in the concept of an A(n)-algebra. Other algebraic objects called <em>stacks</em> are defined which give rise to spectral sequences of topological significance. Applied to A<sub>n</sub>-spaces, these spectral sequences yield homology operations which serve as criteria for A<sub>n</sub>-maps, and are related to the homology of the protective spaces.</p> <p>The two paths of study are re-united in application to ΩCP(3) the loop space on complex projective 3-space. We find that ΩCP(3 is homotopy abelian and that there exists a homotopy equivalence f : S<sup>1</sup> × ΩS<sup>7</sup> → ΩCP(3) which is an H-map but not an A<sub>4</sub>-map.</p> |
spellingShingle | Stasheff, J On certain problems in homotopy theory |
title | On certain problems in homotopy theory |
title_full | On certain problems in homotopy theory |
title_fullStr | On certain problems in homotopy theory |
title_full_unstemmed | On certain problems in homotopy theory |
title_short | On certain problems in homotopy theory |
title_sort | on certain problems in homotopy theory |
work_keys_str_mv | AT stasheffj oncertainproblemsinhomotopytheory |