A stable splitting for the mapping class group (Q1120846)

Let \(\Gamma^ s_{g,r}\) denote the mapping class group of a surface of genus g with r boundary components and s punctures. According to \textit{J. L. Harer} [Ann. Math., II. Ser. 121, 215-249 (1985; Zbl 0579.57005)], the groups \(\Gamma^ 0_{g,1}\) form a direct system where g runs through the natural numbers and, for \(q\ll g\), the qth cohomology group of the so-called stable mapping class group \(\Gamma =\lim \Gamma^ 0_{g,1}\) is isomorphic to \(H^ q(\Gamma^ 0_{g,r})\) for any r. Moreover, \(\Gamma\) is a perfect group. Hence the plus construction \(B\Gamma^+\) can be carried out, and \(B\Gamma^+\) has the same homology as \(\Gamma\) (for appropriate coefficients). The space \(B\Gamma^+\) has a natural H- space structure and there is a natural H-map \(B\Gamma^+\to BGL({\mathbb{Z}})^+\). Further, for a prime q, reduction mod q induces an obvious map \(BGL({\mathbb{Z}})^+\to BGL({\mathbb{F}}_ q)^+\) where \({\mathbb{F}}_ q\) is the finite field with q elements. It is known that this map splits when localized at appropriate primes p, i.e. that \(BGL({\mathbb{Z}})^+\simeq Im J_{}\times ?\) where \[ Im J_{}\quad \simeq \prod_{p odd}BGL({\mathbb{F}}_ q)^+_{(p)}. \] In the paper under review it is proved that the composite \(B\Gamma^+\to Im J_{}\) splits stably in the sense that there is a splitting of spaces \(\Omega^{\infty}\Sigma^{\infty}B\Gamma \simeq \Omega^{\infty}\Sigma^{\infty}Im J_{}\times ?\). This splitting has already been established on the homology level by the first named author and \textit{R. Lee} [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 44, 127-135 (1987; Zbl 0617.57006)]. The splitting has since been used by Benson to do calculations in the cohomology of \(\Gamma^ 0_{2,0}.\) \{Reviewer's remark: An explicit description of the cohomology of Im J in terms of generators and relations has been given by the reviewer [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 45, 73-91 (1987; Zbl 0626.55013)]; the cohomology of BJ is due to \textit{J. D. Stasheff} [Conf. algebraic topology, Chicago 1968, 276- 287 (1969; Zbl 0213.500)].\}