On the cohomology ring of the moduli space of rank 2 vector bundles on a curve (Q1378003)

Let \(N_g\) be the moduli space of rank 2 stable vector bundles with fixed determinant of odd degree over a smooth complex projective curve of genus \(g\). \(N_g\) is a smooth projective variety with \(\dim_\mathbb{C} (N_g)=3g-3\). The Betti numbers of \(N_g\) were computed by P. Newstead in 1967, but the multiplicative structure of \(H^*(N_g,\mathbb{Q})\) had attracted much work and it was computed independently by F. Kirwan and M. Thaddeus. Here it is given a complete and very simple description of the rational cohomology ring \(H^*(N_g, \mathbb{Q})\) (in particular giving a natural monomial basis for \(H^*(N_g, \mathbb{Q}))\). For the complete history of the subject up to 1995, see the nice introduction.