Torsion and abelianization in equivariant cohomology (Q1024605)

Let \(G\) be a compact connected Lie group and let \(X\) be a \(G\)-space. Then \(X\) is also a \(T\)-space where \(T\) is a maximal torus of \(G\). There is a canonical fibre bundle \(p_X : X_T \to X_G\) with fibre \(G/T\). A classical result is that \(p_X\) induces an isomorphism from the Borel cohomology \(H_G^*(X; \mathbb{Q})\) to the subalgebra of Weil group invariants of \(H_T^*(X;\mathbb{Q})\). In this paper, the authors investigate the behavior of \(p_X^*\) for coefficient rings other than \(\mathbb{Q}\). In particular, they show that the action of the Weil group on \(H_T^*(X;\mathbf{k})\) extends to an action of Demazure's algebra \(\mathcal{D}_{\mathbf{k}}\). The authors then show that if the torsion index \(t(G)\) is invertible in \(\mathbf{k}\), then \(p_X^*\) is an isomorphism from \(H_G^*(X; \mathbf{k})\) to the set of \(\mathcal{D}_{\mathbf{k}}\)-invariants of \(H_T^*(X; \mathbf{k})\). In addition, natural conditions on the discriminant of \(G\) are given for which the \(\mathcal{D}_{\mathbf{k}}\)-invariants coincide with the Weil group invariants. The paper closes with numerous examples illustrating the theorems as well as the consequences of the results in the case of homogeneous spaces.