Homology of non-\(k\)-overlapping discs (Q5963052)

The authors determine the homology and cohomology of the spaces \(\mathcal B_d^{(k)}(n)\) of configurations of \(n\) embedded discs in the unit \(d\)-disc, subject to the condition that any \(k\) of them have empty intersection. The novelty in their approach is to use the fact that, collectively, these spaces form a bimodule \(\mathcal B_d^{(k)}\) over the little \(d\)-discs operad \(\mathcal B_d^{(2)}\), and in fact they calculate \(H_*(\mathcal B_d^{(k)})\) as a bimodule over the well-known homology operad \(H_*(\mathcal B_d^{(2)})\). This provides a new geometric description of the homology and cohomology, including the multiplicative structure. The last section of the paper gives applications to the study of non-\(k\)-equal immersions with compact support.