The ``hit'' problem of five variables in the generic degree and its application (Q2215649)

The author pursues the investigation of the indecomposables \[ QP_s := \mathbb{F}_2 \otimes_{\mathcal{A}} \mathbb{F}_2 [x_1, \ldots , x_s] \] for the action of the mod-\(2\) Steenrod algebra \(\mathcal{A}\) on \(H^* (B (\mathbb{Z}/2)^s; \mathbb{F}_2) \cong \mathbb{F}_2 [x_1, \ldots , x_s]\), working at the research frontier \(s=5\). This problem reduces to considering certain generic degrees. For the generic degrees of the form \(d = 3 (2^t-1) + 2^t\), \(0 < t \in \mathbb{N}\), the author calculates \[ \dim (QP_5)_d, \] which is shown to stabilize to \(1116\) for \(t\geq 6\). This uses methods developed by \textit{N. Sum} [Adv. Math. 274, 432--489 (2015; Zbl 1367.55010)], the author and others, together with significant calculational input. The action of the general linear group \(GL_5\) on \(H^* (B (\mathbb{Z}/2)^5; \mathbb{F}_2)\) passes to \(QP_5\). Using the explicit information obtained on \((QP_5)_d\), the author shows that the invariants \[ (QP_5)_d^{GL_5} =0 \] are trivial in the above degrees, by first considering the invariants for the action of the symmetric group \(\Sigma_5 \subset GL_5\). This is motivated by the study of the Singer algebraic transfer [\textit{W. M. Singer}, Math. Z. 202, No. 4, 493--523 (1989; Zbl 0687.55014)].