On the hit problem for the Steenrod algebra in some generic degrees and applications

TL;DR

This paper advances the understanding of the hit problem for the Steenrod algebra in specific degrees, providing new dimension results and analyzing the Singer transfer, especially for the case n=5.

Contribution

It develops new results for the Peterson hit problem in generic degrees for n=5 and applies these to compute dimensions and analyze the Singer transfer in these degrees.

Findings

Dimension results for polynomial algebra in specific degrees for n=6.

Analysis of the fifth Singer algebraic transfer in certain degrees.

Extension of previous studies to more general degrees and applications.

Abstract

Let $\mathcal P_{n}:=H^{*}((\mathbb{R}P^{\infty})^{n}) \cong \mathbb F_2[x_{1},x_{2},\ldots,x_{n}]$ be the polynomial algebra over the prime field of two elements, $\mathbb F_2.$ We investigate the Peterson hit problem for the polynomial algebra $\mathcal P_{n},$ viewed as a graded left module over the mod-$2$ Steenrod algebra, $\mathcal{A}.$ For $n>4,$ this problem is still unsolved, even in the case of $n=5$ with the help of computers. The purpose of this paper is to continue our study of the hit problem by developing a result in \cite{ph31} for $\mathcal P_n$ in the generic degree $r(2^s-1)+m.2^s$ where $r=n=5,\ m=13,$ and $s$ is an arbitrary non-negative integer. Note that for $s=0,$ and $s=1,$ this problem has been studied by Phuc \cite{ph20ta}, and \cite{ph31}, respectively. As an application of these results, we get the dimension result for the polynomial algebra in the generic degree $d=(n-1).(2^{n+u-1}-1)+\ell.2^{n+u-1}$ where $u$ is an arbitrary non-negative integer, $\ell \in \{23, 67 \},$ and $n=6.$ One of the major applications of hit problem is in surveying a homomorphism introduced by Singer, which is a homomorphism $$Tr_n :\text{Tor}^{\mathcal A}_{n, n+d} (\mathbb F_2,\mathbb F_2) \longrightarrow (\mathbb{F}_{2}{\otimes}_{\mathcal{A}}\mathcal P_{n})_d^{GL(n; \mathbb F_2)}$$ from the homology of the Steenrod algebra to the subspace of $(\mathbb{F}_{2}{\otimes}_{\mathcal{A}}\mathcal P_{n})_d$ consisting of all the $GL(n; \mathbb F_2)$-invariant classes. It is a useful tool in describing the homology groups of the Steenrod algebra, $\text{Tor}^{\mathcal A}_{n, n+d}(\mathbb F_2,\mathbb F_2).$ The behavior of the fifth Singer algebraic transfer in degree $5(2^s-1)+13.2^s$ was also discussed at the end of this paper.