Realizing certain polynomial algebras as cohomology rings of spaces of finite type fibered over \(\times BU(d)\) (Q1110133)

In the non-modular situation, the theorems of Clark and Ewing, Adams and Wilkerson, essentially determine which polynomial algebras can arise as the \(F_ p\) cohomology of a space. Particularly from the view-point of finite mod p loop space theory, the spaces produced by Clark and Ewing are inconvenient. The author here constructs simple connected spaces of finite type with the requisite cohomology in certain cases. To do this it is necessary that the group generated by pseudo reflections which arises in the earlier construction satisfies a ``weak splitting principle''. The proof employs a convergent tower of fibrations over a product of classifying spaces of unitary groups and uses the fact that \(H^*(BV,F_ p)\) is an injective in the category of unstable modules over the Steenrod algebra when V is an elementary Abelian p-group.