On the mod p Betti numbers of loop spaces (Q1087192)

The author proves the following theorem. Let X be a simply connected, finite CW complex such that, as an algebra, \(H^*(X; {\mathbb{Z}}_ p)\) is generated by at least two generators. Then the mod p Betti numbers of \(_{\Omega}X\) grow unbounded. This extends a theorem of \textit{D. Sullivan} which is proved only for rational coefficients [Manifolds, Proc. int. Conf. Manifolds relat. Top. Topol., Tokyo 1973, 37-49 (1975; Zbl 0319.58005)]. The proof uses the Bockstein spectral sequence and the infinite implications of \textit{W. Browder} [Ann. Math., II. Ser. 74, 24-51 (1961; Zbl 0112.145)]. Several corollaries are drawn. The first that the Betti numbers of the loop space of a simply connected closed manifold are bounded for all dimensions and any field of coefficients if and only if the manifold has the integral homology of a rank one symmetric space. Another corollary states that if the manifold is simply connected and Riemannian and does not have the integral homology of a simply connected rank one symmetric space, then the number of distinct geodesics between two nonconjugate points of length less than \(\lambda\) grows quadratically in \(\lambda\).