Factoring 2\(^{k}\) on stunted projective spectra and the root invariant (Q1878513)

The root invariant or Mahowald invariant is defined because the sequence of spectra \[ \mathbb R P^\infty_{-1} \leftarrow \mathbb R P^\infty_{-2} \leftarrow \cdots \leftarrow \mathbb R P^\infty_{-n} \leftarrow \mathbb R P^\infty_{-n-1} \leftarrow \cdots \] has homotopy inverse limit \(S^{-1}\), localized at 2. A class \(x\in \pi_r^S\otimes {\mathbb Z}_{(2)}\) is represented by a mapping of spectra \(x: S^{r-1} \to S^{-1}\) and the limit gives an index \(t\) for which the composite \(S^{r-1} \to S^{-1} \to \mathbb R P^\infty_{-t+1}\) is null homotopic while the next composite \(S^{r-1} \to S^{-1} \to \mathbb R P^\infty_{-t}\) is essential. Then we can lift the null homotopic composite through the fibre \(S^{-t}\) of \(\mathbb R P^\infty_{-t} \to \mathbb R P^\infty_{-t+1}\) which determines a set of mappings \(S^{r-1} \to S^{-t}\), \(R(x)\), the root invariant. The focus of this paper is the study of the root invariant of \(2^k x\) in terms of the root invariant of \(x\). There is a theorem describing when, for \(x, y \in \pi_*^S\otimes {\mathbb Z}_{(2)}\), \(R(xy) \subset R(x)R(y)\) or when the dimensions of the root invariants satisfy \(| R(xy)| > | R(x)| + | R(y)| \). The main theorem of this paper states that for \(x: S^{r-1} \to S^{-1}\) and \(f\in R(x)\), if \(| R(x)| - | x| \) is odd, then the Toda bracket \(\langle f, 2, \alpha_{4k}\rangle \cap R(2^{4k}) \neq \emptyset\) or \(R(2^{4k} x)\) is in a higher dimension than \(\langle f, 2, \alpha_{4k}\rangle\); and if \(| R(x)| - | x| \) is even, then \(\alpha_{4k}\circ f\in R(2^{4k}x)\) or \(R(2^{4k}x)\) is in a higher dimension than \(\alpha_{4k}\circ f\). The mapping \(\alpha_{4k}\) is in the image of \(J\) in dimension \(4k-1\) and has order 2. The methods are a careful study of the factorizations of \(2^{k + e -1}\) on \(\mathbb R P^{2n + 2k}_{2n+1}\), based on results of \textit{H. Toda} [Ann. Math. 78, 300--325 (1963; Zbl 0146.18901)] on the order of the identity map between stunted projective spaces. These factorizations play a role because they are detected by K-theory and by James Periodicity and Atiyah duality they have interpretations at the spectrum level. The proof also involves some Adams spectral sequence arguments, based on charts of Ext for the stable maps between certain stunted projective spaces.