Idempotent comultiplications on graded algebras (Q1184072)

The graded cohomology algebra \(A=H^*(X,D)\) over a principal ideal domain \(D\) of a space \(X\) with an idempotent multiplication \((x,y)\mapsto xy\): \(X\times X\to X\), \(x^ 2=x\) supports an idempotent comultiplication \(c\colon A\to A\otimes A\), \(\cup\circ c=\text{id}_ A\) with the multiplication \(\cup\colon A\otimes A\to A\), provided that \(H^*(X,D)\) is torsion free. This is certainly the case if \(D\) is a field. Therefore, one is interested in an algebraic theory of idempotent comultiplications of graded algebras. If \(V\cong D^ n\) and \(A=\bigwedge V\) the authors discuss idempotent comultiplications on \(A\). The cohomology algebras of connected cohomology surfaces are of the form \(A=D\oplus A_ 1\oplus A_ 2\). Comultiplications on such algebras were classified by \textit{K. Strambach} and the reviewer [Rocky Mt. J. Math. 21, 1279-1315 (1991; Zbl 0801.57026)], and the present authors give an alternative proof of one of the main classification theorems. They present new topological applications of which the following is representative: Let \(M^{2p}\), \(p\geq 3\) be a simply connected closed PL-manifold of dimension \(2p\) and with torsion free \(\mathbb{Z}\) cohomology \(H^*(M)\cong H^*(SS^ p\times SS^ p)\). If \(\mu\colon M\times M\to M\) is an idempotent multiplication such that the comultiplication induced on the cohomology level satisfies a certain technical nontriviality condition, then \(M\) is PL-homeomorphic to \(SS^ p\times SS^ p\). For this purpose they use surgery to show that if \(M^{2p}\) is homotopy equivalent to \(SS^ p\times SS^ p\), then it is PL-equivalent to \(SS^ p\times SS^ p\). They find a map \(h\colon SS^ p\times SS^ p\to M^{2p}\) inducing isomorphisms in homology and cohomology. Then they conclude that \(h\) is a homotopy equivalence. The authors also classify idempotent comultiplications on algebras \(A=D\oplus A_ 1\oplus A_ 2\oplus A_ 3\) and apply this to PL-manifolds of dimension \(3p\) whose cohomology is that of \(SS^ p\times SS^ p\times SS^ p\). An example section provides further topological situations to which the algebraic theory applies.