Visualization of \(\mathcal{A}(2)\)

Robert Bruner and Niles Johnson, 2013

The diagram below displays the Steenrod subalgebra \(\mathcal{A}(2)\) by its decomposition into eight left cosets of \(\mathcal{A}(1)\). The left action of \(Sq^1\), \(Sq^2\), and \(Sq^4\) is displayed upon clicking dots.

The "Basis type" options determine whether elements are displayed in the Adem (admissible) basis, Milnor basis, or not displayed. The "Generator" menu selects a subset of the generators to act on the selected dot by left multiplication. Multiplications which result in a sum are shown by highlighting all summands, and multiplications which result in zero are shown in the upper left corner.

New

Click the zebra icon to highlight the nice type-2 spectrum \(\mathcal{Z}\) constructed by Prasit Bhattacharya and Philip Egger. (The remaining copies of \(\mathcal{A}(1)\) form another copy of \(\mathcal{Z}\) suspended 7 times.)

Explanation of the display

It is (just barely) possible to represent \(\mathcal{A}(2)\) by drawing dots representing a basis for it, together with lines representing the left action of \(Sq^1\), \(Sq^2\), and \(Sq^4\) (e.g., this drawing of Bert Guillou).

The representation here does not show all the multiplicative structure simultaneously. We break \(\mathcal{A}(2)\) into the 8 left cosets of \(\mathcal{A}(1)\) and give an interactive display of left multiplication by the generators. This has several useful features:

These cosets are represented by the following elements, which appear along the top of the diagram:

\begin{align} 1 & \\ Sq^4 & \\ Sq^2 Sq^4 & = Sq^6 + Sq^5 Sq^1 \\ Sq^1 Sq^2 Sq^4 = Sq^3 Sq^4 & = Sq^7 \\ Sq^4 Sq^2 Sq^4 & = Sq^{10} + Sq^9 Sq^1 + Sq^8 Sq^2 + Sq^7 Sq^2 Sq^1 \\ Sq^4 Sq^3 Sq^4 = Sq^5 Sq^2 Sq^4 & = Sq^{11} + Sq^9 Sq^2 \\ Sq^2 Sq^4 Sq^3 Sq^4 & = Sq^{13} + Sq^{12} Sq^1 + Sq^{10} Sq^3 \\ Sq^4 Sq^2 Sq^4 Sq^3 Sq^4 & = Sq^{17} + Sq^{16} Sq^1 + Sq^{15} Sq^2 + Sq^{14} Sq^2 Sq^1 + Sq^{12} Sq^5 + Sq^{12} Sq^4 Sq^1 \end{align}

When \(x\) is one of these 8 representatives, the copy of \(\mathcal{A}(1)\) 'hanging' from \(x\) contains all the elements in \(x\mathcal{A}(1)\).

This gives a description of each element in terms of the generators \(Sq^1\), \(Sq^2\), and \(Sq^4\) in the form \(xy\), where \(x\) is one of the 8 coset representatives above and \(y\) is an element of \(\mathcal{A}(1)\). For example, the third element from the top in the third group from the left has the representation \((Sq^2 Sq^4)(Sq^2)\). In the admissable basis, this is \(Sq^6 Sq^2\), which is shown when this dot is selected and the "Adem" menu option is on.

Thus, the cosets are given by left multiplications, while the elements within each coset are given by right multiplications. In this form, the left action of \(\mathcal{A}(2)\) on itself is not completely clear. Some information is visible in the lines connecting cosets of \(\mathcal{A}(1)\), and the rest is displayed by the left action of \(Sq^1\), \(Sq^2\), and \(Sq^4\).

\( 1 \)

\( 1 \)

\( Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(1) \)

\( Sq^2 \)

\( Sq(2) \)

\( Sq^3 \)

\( Sq(3) \)

\( Sq^2 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(3) + Sq(0,1) \)

\( Sq^3 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(1,1) \)

\( Sq^5 + Sq^4 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(2,1) \)

\( Sq^5 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(3,1) \)

\( Sq^4 \)

\( Sq(4) \)

\( Sq^4 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(5) + Sq(2,1) \)

\( Sq^4 Sq^2 \)

\( Sq(6) + Sq(3,1) \)
\( +\ Sq(0,2) \)

\( Sq^5 Sq^2 \)

\( Sq(7) + Sq(1,2) \)

\( Sq^4 Sq^2 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(7) + Sq(4,1) \)
\( +\ Sq(1,2) + Sq(0,0,1) \)

\( Sq^5 Sq^2 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(5,1) + Sq(1,0,1) \)

\( Sq^9 + Sq^8 Sq^1 + Sq^7 Sq^2 \)
\( +\ Sq^6 Sq^2 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(6,1) + Sq(2,0,1) \)
\( +\ Sq(0,3) \)

\( Sq^9 Sq^1 + Sq^7 Sq^2 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(7,1) + Sq(3,0,1) \)
\( +\ Sq(1,3) \)

\( Sq^6 + Sq^5 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(6) + Sq(3,1) \)

\( Sq^6 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(7) + Sq(4,1) \)

\( Sq^6 Sq^2 \)

\( Sq(5,1) + Sq(2,2) \)

\( Sq^6 Sq^3 \)

\( Sq(6,1) + Sq(3,2) \)
\( +\ Sq(0,3) \)

\( Sq^6 Sq^2 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(3,2) + Sq(2,0,1) + Sq(0,3) \)

\( Sq^6 Sq^3 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(7,1) + Sq(3,0,1) \)
\( +\ Sq(0,1,1) \)

\( Sq^9 Sq^2 + Sq^8 Sq^3 \)
\( +\ Sq^7 Sq^3 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(2,3) + Sq(1,1,1) \)

\( Sq^9 Sq^2 Sq^1 + Sq^8 Sq^3 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(3,3) + Sq(2,1,1) \)

\( Sq^7 \)

\( Sq(7) \)

\( Sq^7 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(5,1) \)

\( Sq^7 Sq^2 \)

\( Sq(3,2) \)

\( Sq^7 Sq^3 \)

\( Sq(7,1) + Sq(1,3) \)

\( Sq^7 Sq^2 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(3,0,1) + Sq(1,3) \)

\( Sq^7 Sq^3 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(1,1,1) \)

\( Sq^9 Sq^3 \)

\( Sq(3,3) \)

\( Sq^9 Sq^3 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(3,1,1) \)

\( Sq^{10} + Sq^9 Sq^1 \)
\( +\ Sq^8 Sq^2 + Sq^7 Sq^2 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(4,2) + Sq(3,0,1) \)
\( +\ Sq(1,3) \)

\( Sq^{10} Sq^1 + Sq^8 Sq^2 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(5,2) + Sq(4,0,1) \)
\( +\ Sq(2,3) \)

\( Sq^{10} Sq^2 + Sq^8 Sq^3 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(6,2) + Sq(5,0,1) \)
\( +\ Sq(2,1,1) \)

\( Sq^{10} Sq^3 + Sq^9 Sq^4 \)
\( +\ Sq^8 Sq^4 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(7,2) + Sq(6,0,1) \)
\( +\ Sq(3,1,1) + Sq(0,2,1) \)

\( Sq^{10} Sq^2 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(7,2) + Sq(6,0,1) + Sq(4,3) \)

\( Sq^{10} Sq^3 Sq^1 + Sq^9 Sq^4 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(5,3) + Sq(4,1,1) \)
\( +\ Sq(1,2,1) \)

\( Sq^{10} Sq^5 + Sq^{10} Sq^4 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(6,3) + Sq(5,1,1) \)
\( +\ Sq(2,2,1) \)

\( Sq^{10} Sq^5 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(7,3) + Sq(6,1,1) \)
\( +\ Sq(3,2,1) + Sq(0,3,1) \)

\( Sq^{11} + Sq^9 Sq^2 \)

\( Sq(5,2) \)

\( Sq^{11} Sq^1 + Sq^9 Sq^2 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(5,0,1) + Sq(3,3) \)

\( Sq^{11} Sq^2 + Sq^9 Sq^3 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(7,2) + Sq(3,1,1) \)

\( Sq^{11} Sq^3 + Sq^9 Sq^4 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(7,0,1) + Sq(1,2,1) \)

\( Sq^{11} Sq^2 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(7,0,1) + Sq(5,3) \)

\( Sq^{11} Sq^3 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(5,1,1) \)

\( Sq^{11} Sq^5 + Sq^{11} Sq^4 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(7,3) + Sq(3,2,1) \)

\( Sq^{11} Sq^5 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(7,1,1) + Sq(1,3,1) \)

\( Sq^{13} + Sq^{12} Sq^1 \)
\( +\ Sq^{10} Sq^3 \)

\( Sq(7,2) + Sq(4,3) \)

\( Sq^{13} Sq^1 + Sq^{10} Sq^3 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(7,0,1) + Sq(4,1,1) \)

\( Sq^{13} Sq^2 + Sq^{12} Sq^3 \)

\( Sq(6,3) \)

\( Sq^{13} Sq^3 + Sq^{10} Sq^5 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(6,1,1) + Sq(3,2,1) \)
\( +\ Sq(0,3,1) \)

\( Sq^{13} Sq^2 Sq^1 + Sq^{12} Sq^3 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(7,3) + Sq(6,1,1) \)

\( Sq^{13} Sq^3 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(7,1,1) \)

\( Sq^{13} Sq^5 + Sq^{13} Sq^4 Sq^1 \)
\( +\ Sq^{12} Sq^5 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(2,3,1) \)

\( Sq^{13} Sq^5 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(3,3,1) \)

\( Sq^{17} +\ Sq^{16} Sq^1 \)
\( +\ Sq^{15} Sq^2 +\ Sq^{14} Sq^2 Sq^1 \)
\( +\ Sq^{12} Sq^5 +\ Sq^{12} Sq^4 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(7,1,1) +\ Sq(4,2,1) \)

\( Sq^{17} Sq^1 +\ Sq^{15} Sq^2 Sq^1 \)
\( +\ Sq^{12} Sq^5 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(5,2,1) +\ Sq(2,3,1) \)

\( Sq^{17} Sq^2 +\ Sq^{16} Sq^3 \)
\( +\ Sq^{15} Sq^3 Sq^1 +\ Sq^{14} Sq^5 \)
\( +\ Sq^{14} Sq^4 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(6,2,1) \)

\( Sq^{17} Sq^3 +\ Sq^{15} Sq^5 \)
\( +\ Sq^{15} Sq^4 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(7,2,1) \)

\( Sq^{17} Sq^2 Sq^1 +\ Sq^{16} Sq^3 Sq^1 \)
\( +\ Sq^{14} Sq^5 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(7,2,1) +\ Sq(4,3,1) \)

\( Sq^{17} Sq^3 Sq^1 +\ Sq^{15} Sq^5 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(5,3,1) \)

\( Sq^{17} Sq^5 +\ Sq^{17} Sq^4 Sq^1 \)
\( +\ Sq^{16} Sq^5 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(6,3,1) \)

\( Sq^{17} Sq^5 Sq^1 \)

\( Sq(7,3,1) \)

About this page

Version 1.0, 02/2013. Source code is available in our git repository. The math symbols are rendered with MathJax, and the interactive diagram is drawn with Raphaël.js.

This application is licensed under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 3 or later. For details see README.txt.