English

Subtle characteristic classes for $Spin$-torsors

Algebraic Geometry 2022-08-08 v3 Algebraic Topology K-Theory and Homology

Abstract

Extending [14], we obtain a complete description of the motivic cohomology with Z/2{\mathbb Z}/2-coefficients of the Nisnevich classifying space of the spin group SpinnSpin_n associated to the standard split quadratic form. This provides us with very simple relations among subtle Stiefel-Whitney classes in the motivic cohomology of \v{C}ech simplicial schemes associated to quadratic forms from I3I^3, which are closely related to SpinnSpin_n-torsors over the point. These relations come from the action of the motivic Steenrod algebra on the second subtle Stiefel-Whitney class. Moreover, exploiting the relation between Spin7Spin_7 and G2G_2, we describe completely the motivic cohomology ring of the Nisnevich classifying space of G2G_2. The result in topology was obtained by Quillen in [13].

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1904.01907,
  title  = {Subtle characteristic classes for $Spin$-torsors},
  author = {Fabio Tanania},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1904.01907},
  year   = {2022}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-23T08:27:55.938Z