\(K\)-Witt bordism in characteristic 2 (Q1949402): Difference between revisions

A \textit{Witt space} is a \(\mathbb{Z}\)-oriented piecewise linear stratified pseudomanifold such that the lower middle perversity, rational, middle dimensional intersection homology of links of odd-codimensional strata vanishes. The corresponding bordism theory was computed by Paul Siegel in terms of the Witt groups of the rational numbers. More generally, imposing this vanishing condition on intersection homology with coefficients in any field \(k\), one obtains the class of \(k\)-Witt spaces, considered earlier by \textit{G. Friedman} [Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 62, No. 9, 1265--1292 (2009); corrigendum ibid. 65, No. 11, 1639--1640 (2012; Zbl 1175.55005)]. The case of characteristic \(2\) is special because in characteristic \(2\) the notions of skew-symmetric and symmetric forms coincide. This case is treated carefully in the paper under review. Whether or not the map from \(\mathbb{Z}_2\)-Witt bordism in degrees \(4k+2\) to the Witt group of \(\mathbb{Z}_2\), given by the intersection form, is surjective remains open. A complete computation for unoriented bordism is obtained. The latter result has also been established by M. Goresky.