Lifting to mod 2 Moore spaces (Q1585901)

Let \(p:M^n\to S^n\) be the projection map from the mod 2 Moore space to the top cell. Given a map \(\alpha: S^{n+k}\to S^n\), when does \(\alpha\) have a lift \(\widetilde\alpha: S^{n+k}\to M^n\)? This problem is completely unstable. The answer depends on \(\alpha\). One of the main results of this paper is a negative example for the above problem: the Whitehead square \([\iota_{2n+ 1},\iota_{2n+1}]\) does not have a lift unless \(n=0,1,3\), where \(\iota_n\) is the identity map of \(S^n\). Another result is affirmative: There exists an element \(\delta'\in \pi_{8n-1} (S^{4n-1})\) such that \(\Sigma\delta'= [\iota_{4n}, \eta_{4n}]\). Then it is shown that \(\delta'\) has a lift for all \(n\).