English

Normalized Derivations for Milnor's Primitive Operations on the Dickson Algebra and Applications

Algebraic Topology 2026-04-21 v5

Abstract

We study the action of the Steenrod--Milnor operation St,Δi\mathrm{St}^{\emptyset,\Delta_i} on the Dickson algebra DnD_n over Fp\mathbb{F}_p. Our main observation is that normalizing by the Dickson invariant Qn,0Q_{n,0} yields a genuine derivation on the localization Dn[Qn,01]D_n[Q_{n,0}^{-1}]. This viewpoint provides a transparent framework to derive a closed formula for all higher iterates of St,Δi\mathrm{St}^{\emptyset,\Delta_i} on the Dickson generators. Consequently, we establish the vanishing condition (St,Δi)m=0(\mathrm{St}^{\emptyset,\Delta_i})^m=0 on the generators for mpm\ge p, and the stronger global operator identity (St,Δi)p=0(\mathrm{St}^{\emptyset,\Delta_i})^p=0 on all of DnD_n. Furthermore, upon localizing by Rn,ipR_{n,i}^p, the normalized action becomes Euler-type. This allows us to exactly determine the kernel and image of the derivation in the classical range 2i<n2\le i<n, and describe them via an auxiliary grading when i=ni=n. As an application, our general formalism recovers several known first-order formulas and upgrades them to closed expressions for all higher iterates. Finally, we present an ordinary Koszul-type construction attached to normalized-ratio coefficients, providing a structural analogy to Margolis homology for operations on the ξ\xi-side that do not necessarily square to zero.

Cite

@article{arxiv.2509.08861,
  title  = {Normalized Derivations for Milnor's Primitive Operations on the Dickson Algebra and Applications},
  author = {Dang Vo Phuc},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2509.08861},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

26 pages. In this updated version, further references and new computational results have been incorporated. Constructive comments and discussions are always appreciated

R2 v1 2026-07-01T05:30:40.911Z