Homological stability for diffeomorphism groups of high-dimensional handlebodies (Q1673637)

Let \(M\) be a smooth, compact \(m\)-manifold with non-empty boundary. Let \(\text{Diff}(M, D^{m-1})\) denote the topological group of diffeomorphisms of \(M\) that restrict to the identity on a neighborhood of an embedded disk \(D^{m-1}\hookrightarrow \partial M\), and let \(B\text{Diff}(M, D^{m-1})\) denote the classifying space of \(\text{Diff}(M, D^{m-1})\). For another smooth, compact \(m\)-manifold \(V\) with non-empty boundary, let \(M\natural V\) denote the boundary connected sum. The canonical homomorphism \(\text{Diff}(M, D^{m-1})\to \text{Diff}(M\natural V, D^{m-1})\) induces a map between the classifying spaces. Iterating this map yields the direct system \[ B\text{Diff}(M, D^{m-1})\to B\text{Diff}(M\natural V, D^{m-1})\to \cdots \to B\text{Diff}(M\natural V^{\natural g}, D^{m-1})\to\cdots \] The author studies the homological properties of this direct system in the case when \(V\) is a high-dimensional handlebody \(D^{p+1}\times S^q\). In particular, he shows that the homology of the direct system stabilizes. In [J. Topol. 10, No. 1, 101--163 (2017; Zbl 1421.57044)] the author and \textit{B. Botvinnik} proved that there is an isomorphism \[ \text{colim}_{g\to\infty}H_\ast(B\text{Diff}(( D^{n+1}\times S^n)^{\natural g}, D^{2n}); {\mathbb{Z}})\cong H_\ast(Q_0BO(2n+1)\langle n\rangle_+;{\mathbb{Z}}), \] when \(n\geq 4\). Here \(BO(2n+1)\langle n\rangle\) denotes the \(n\)-connective cover of \(BO(2n+1)\) and \(Q_0X\langle k\rangle_+\) denotes the path component of the infinite loop space \(QX\langle k\rangle_+\) that contains the constant loop. Combining this theorem with the homological stability result yields an isomorphism \[ H_k(B\text{Diff}(( D^{n+1}\times S^n)^{\natural g}, D^{2n}); {\mathbb{Z}})\cong H_k(Q_0BO(2n+1)\langle n\rangle_+;{\mathbb{Z}}), \] in the case \(k\leq {{1}\over{2}}(g-4)\).