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

TL;DR

This paper solves the Peterson hit problem for five variables in specific degrees, providing explicit bases and implications for the Singer algebraic transfer, advancing understanding of the Steenrod algebra and related cohomological problems.

Contribution

The work offers an explicit solution to the Peterson hit problem for five variables in certain degrees, and analyzes the Singer transfer's isomorphism properties in these cases.

Findings

Explicit bases for the hit problem in degree forms r(2^t -1) + 2^s for d=5.

Confirmation of the Singer transfer as an isomorphism in specific bidegrees for t=0 and t=1.

Discussion of the transfer's behavior for t ≥ 2.

Abstract

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 $\mathbb Z/2[x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_d]$ 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 also a 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 of rank $5$ 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.