Localizations of unstable \(A\)-modules and equivariant mod \(p\) cohomology (Q1345933)

This paper generalizes the result of [\textit{D. Quillen}, Ann Math, II. Ser. 94, 549-572, 573-602 (1971; Zbl 0247.57013)] which states that the kernel and cokernel of \(H^*BG\to\lim H^*BE\) are, in some sense, nilpotent. Here \(G\) is a compact Lie group, cohomology is mod \(p\), and \(E\) ranges over the elementary abelian subgroups of \(G\). Let \(\text{Nil}_n\) denote the smallest subcategory of unstable \(A\)-modules which contains all \(n\)-fold suspensions and is closed with respect to forming extensions and taking filtered colimits. There exist a localization functor \(L_n\) and a natural transformation \(\lambda_n:1\to L_n\), the localization away from \(\text{Nil}_n\). Quillen's map can be interpreted as the case \(n=1\). Let \(C_G(E)\) denote the centralizer of \(E\) in \(G\) and \((H^*BC_G(E))^{<n}\) the quotient of \(H^*BC_G(E)\) obtained by dividing out the ideal of all elements of degree at least \(n\). Then the kernel of the map \[ \tilde\lambda_n:H^*BG\to\prod_E H^*BE\otimes(H^*BC_G(E))^{<n} \] is the largest \(A\)-invariant submodule of \(H^*BG\) which is in \(\text{Nil}_n\), and the image of \(\tilde\lambda_n\) is closely related to \(L_nH^*BG\). Using earlier work of the first author, they note that for \(n\) sufficiently large, \(\tilde\lambda_n\) is monic. They define invariants of an unstable \(A\)-module \(M\) by \(d_0M\) (resp. \(D_1M\)) is the smallest \(n\) such that \(\lambda_{n+1}M\) is monic (resp. iso). One result states that if \(G\) is a unitary group in which \(G\) embeds, then \(d_0H^*BG\leq\dim U-\dim G\), while \(d_1H^*BG\leq2\dim U-\dim G\).