English

The essential ideal in group cohomology does not square to zero

Group Theory 2015-02-23 v4 Algebraic Topology

Abstract

Let G be the Sylow 2-subgroup of the unitary group SU3(4)SU_3(4). We find two essential classes in the mod-2 cohomology ring of G whose product is nonzero. In fact, the product is the ``last survivor'' of Benson-Carlson duality. Recent work of Pakianathan and Yalcin then implies a result about connected graphs with an action of G. Also, there exist essential classes which cannot be written as sums of transfers from proper subgroups. This phenomenon was first observed on the computer. The argument given here uses the elegant calculation by J. Clark, with minor corrections.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.math/0302336,
  title  = {The essential ideal in group cohomology does not square to zero},
  author = {David J. Green},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:math/0302336},
  year   = {2015}
}

Comments

9 pages; three typos corrected, one was particularly confusing

R2 v1 2026-07-22T16:52:21.652Z