Chern classes and generators

TL;DR

This paper provides a straightforward proof that the algebra generators of the mod 2 cohomology of classifying spaces of exceptional Lie groups are given by Chern classes and Stiefel-Whitney classes of specific representations.

Contribution

It offers a simple proof establishing the generators of cohomology are precisely Chern and Stiefel-Whitney classes for certain representations.

Findings

Generators are given by Chern and Stiefel-Whitney classes

Proof simplifies previous understanding

Focus on classifying spaces of exceptional Lie groups

Abstract

We give a simple proof for the fact that algebra generators of the mod 2 cohomology of classifying spaces of exceptional Lie groups are given by Chern classes and Stiefel-Whitney classes of certain representations.