Exponents for high-dimensional gamma groups (Q1908013)

Given a 1-connected CW complex \(X\) J. H. C. Whitehead succeeded in embedding the Hurewicz homomorphism \(h_n: \pi_n X\to H_n X\) in an exact sequence by introducing the Gamma groups \(\Gamma_n^{\text{W}}\) which is defined as the image of \(\pi_n X_{n-1}\to \pi_n X_n\) where \(X_n\) denotes the \(n\)-skeleton of \(X\). Since A. Dold and R. Thom had established the isomorphism \(l_n: \pi_n \text{SP}^\infty X\cong H_n X\) where \(\text{SP}^\infty X\) is the infinite symmetric product of \(X\), one may use the \(n\)-dimensional homotopy group of the homotopy fibre \(\Gamma X\) of the natural inclusion \(X \hookrightarrow \text{SP}^\infty X\) as the second definition of the Gamma group \(\Gamma_n^{\text{DT}} X\). In this paper the author proposes the third definition of the Gamma group as follows. Let \(X\{n\}\) denote a space obtained from \(X\) by attaching cells so that \(\pi_2 X, \dots, \pi_n X\) are killed, and let \[ H_{n+1} X\{n\} @<h_{n+1}<< \pi_{n+1} X\{n\} @>j_{n+1}>> \pi_{n+1} (X\{ n\}, X) \] be the Hurewicz homomorphism and induced by the inclusion; then he defines \(\Gamma_n X\) to be \[ \pi_{n+1} (X\{n\}, X)/ j_{n+1} (\text{Ker } h_{n+1}), \qquad n\geq 2. \] After showing that this is well-defined, an isomorphism \(\psi_n\); \(\Gamma_n^X\cong \Gamma_n^{\text{DT}}\) compatible with \(l_n^{-1}\) is established and further the equivalence \(\Gamma_n^{\text{W}} X\cong \Gamma_n X\), \(n\geq 1\), is proved. Finally, as an application of his definition, he shows that, for an \((m-1)\)-connected CW complex \(X\) and for an integer \(n\) with \(1\leq n\leq m-2\), the product of the exponent \(\rho_i\) of the \(i\)th stable homotopy group of spheres \(\pi^S_i\), \(i=1, \dots,n\), annihilates \(\Gamma_{m+n} X\). This generalizes the fact that \(2 \Gamma^{\text{W}}_{n+1} X=0\) if \(n\geq 3\).