Self-coincidence of mappings between spheres and the strong Kervaire invariant one problem (Q2276576): Difference between revisions

Let \(n>4\) and \(f:S^{4n-2}\to S^{2n}\) be a mapping such that there is a map \(g:S^{4n-2}\to S^{2n}\) homotopic to \(f\) such that \(f\) and \(g\) are coincidence free. The authors prove that \((f,f)\) cannot be homotopy disjoint by small deformation if and only if \([f]\in\pi_{4n-2}(S^{2n})\) has Kervaire invariant one. So mappings satisfying the hypotheses of the theorem would be precisely the solutions to the strong Kervaire invariant one problem. (Here, \((f,f)\) is said to be homotopy disjoint by small deformation if for any \(\epsilon>0\) there is an \(\epsilon\)-homotopy \(h\) from \(f\) to a mapping \(g:S^{4n-2}\to S^{2n}\) such that \(f\) and \(g\) are coincidence free.)