Homotopy nilpotency in localized \(\text{SU}(n)\) (Q1008932)

A group-like space is a topological space equipped with a multiplicative structure which satisfies the axioms of a group up to homotopy. Paralleling terminology of group theory for a group-like space \(X\) one can define the nilpotency class \({\text{nil\,}} X\) to be the smallest integer \(n\) such that the \(n\)-th iteration of the commutator map is homotopically trivial. In particular \({\text{nil\,}} X =1\) iff \(X\) is a homotopy commutative space. The author computes the nilpotency class of \(SU(n)\) localized at a prime \(p>5\) for \(\frac{n}{2} < p < n-2\) and \(p=n+1\). This result extends the work of \textit{C. A. McGibbon} on homotopy commutativity of \(SU(n)_{(p)}\) [Am. J. Math. 106, 665--687 (1984; Zbl 0574.55004)] as well as computations of the author and S. Kaji. As a consequence the author obtains that that the nilpotency class of \(SU(n)_{(p)}\) is not a decreasing function of \(p\).