The hit problem for the polynomial algebra in some weight vectors (Q2222111)

The polynomial ring of \(k\)-variables \(P_k\) over the prime field \(\mathbb F_2\) of characteristic \(2\) can be regarded as the mod \(2\) cohomology ring of an elementary abelian \(2\)-group of rank \(t\). Then, one may consider the action of the Steenrod algebra \(\mathcal A\) and regard it as a module over \(\mathcal A\). The problem is to find a minimal set of generators for the \(\mathcal A\)-module \(P_k\). This is known as the classical ``hit problem'' of Franklin Peterson. It is related to the \(E_2\)-page of the Adams spectral sequence for the stable homotopy groups of spheres. Thus, the hit problem is an interesting problem, and many mathematicians study it. When we fix the degree and the number of variables, the hit problem becomes a problem of elementary linear algebra of finding the dimension of the quotient space \(QP_k = \mathbb F_2\otimes_{\mathcal A}P_k,\) considered as a modular representation of the general linear group in \(k\)-dimensions over \(\mathbb F_2.\) Let \(n\) be the degree of the mod \(2\) cohomology of the elementary abelian \(2\)-group and let \((QP_k)_n\) be the quotient of the vector space spanned by monomials of degree \(n\) whose basis is a minimal set of generators. This paper deals with extending the results by \textit{Đặng Võ Phúc} and \textit{Nguyễn Sum} [C. R., Math., Acad. Sci. Paris 353, No. 11, 1035--1040 (2015; Zbl 1337.55022)] on the hit problem in degree \(n_k := n = (k-1)(2^{d}-1)\) to all \(k\geq 7\) and \(d\geq 2.\) More precisely, the authors give a lower bound for \((QP_k)_{n_k}.\) Using this inequality, they explicitly compute the subspaces of \(QP_k\) associated with the weights of degree \(k-1.\) Although the paper does not have a new method for solving the hit problem, the authors have done a lot of surprisingly difficult computation work. I cannot check all the computations, but I trust the authors, and their main results look right to me.