On the unstable intersection conjecture (Q1637304)

The unstable intersection conjecture states that compacta \(X\) and \(Y\) do not admit a stable intersection in \({\mathbb R}^n\) if and only if \(\dim X\times Y \leq n-1\). Recall that \(X\) and \(Y\) admit a stable intersection in \({\mathbb R}^n\) if there are maps \(f: X\to {\mathbb R}^n\) and \(g: X\to {\mathbb R}^n\) such that for all sufficiently close continuous approximations \(f^\prime: X\to {\mathbb R}^n\) and \(g^\prime: X\to {\mathbb R}^n\) of \(f\) and \(g\), \(f^\prime(X) \cap g^\prime(X) \neq \emptyset\). The main result of the paper is to show that if \(X\) and \(Y\) are compacta such that \(\dim X \leq n-1\), \(\dim Y \leq n-2\), and \(\dim X\times Y \leq n-1\) for \(n\geq 6\), then \(X\) and \(Y\) do not admit a stable intersection in \({\mathbb R}^n\). This result together with the results in [\textit{A. N. Dranishnikov} and \textit{J. West}, Topology Appl. 43, No. 2, 181--187 (1992; Zbl 0791.54048) and \textit{A. N. Dranishnikov} et al., Tsukuba J. Math. 17, No. 2, 549--564 (1993; Zbl 0830.54017)] implies that the conjecture holds in all the cases except the case where \(\dim X = \dim Y = 3\), \(\dim X\times Y = 4\), and \(n=5\).