The \textit{ER}(2)-cohomology of \(\prod^n \mathbb{CP}^\infty\) and \(BU (n)\) (Q2291598)

The complex conjugation action on the complex cobordism spectrum \(MU\) induces involutions on the Johnson-Wilson spectra \(E(n)\) for every given prime \(p\). The interesting prime here of course is \(p=2\). The corresponding homotopy fixed point spectrum \(ER(1)\) of the involutive \(E(1)\) is the \(2\)-localized \(KO\)-spectrum, which is well-known. The homotopy fixed point spectrum \(ER(2)\) of the involutive spectrum \(E(2)\), however, first was extensively studied in [\textit{P. Hu} and \textit{I. Kriz}, Topology 40, No. 2, 317--399 (2001; Zbl 0967.55010)]. In [\textit{N. Kitchloo} and \textit{W. S. Wilson}, Geom. Topol. Monogr. 10, 237--244 (2007; Zbl 1117.55001)] the authors introduce a selfmap \(x_n: ER(n) \to ER(n)\) of degree \(2^{2n+1}-2^{n+2}+1\) whose cofiber is \(E(n)\). Thus using the selfmap \(x_n\) one can compute \(ER(n)^*(X)\) for a space or a spectrum \(X\) via the \(x_n\)-Bockstein spectral sequence. In [\textit{V. Lorman}, Topology Appl. 209, 367--388 (2016; 1348.55007)] the second author used this approach to determine \(ER(n)^*(CP^\infty)\) for every \(n\). In the paper at hand the authors now investigate the \(ER(2)\)-cohomology of \(\prod^n CP^\infty\) and \(BU(n)\) respectively. Using stable splittings this effectively amounts to concentrating on the \(ER(2)\)-cohomology of \(\wedge^n CP^\infty\) and \(MU(n)\), and they calculate the full \(x_2\)-Bockstein spectral sequence for these cases. In the case at hand the selfmap \(x_2\) satisfies \(2x_2=0=(x_2)^7\), and the actual computation of the \(x_2\)-Bockstein spectral sequence requires calculating three differentials, a \(d_1\), a \(d_3\) and a \(d_7\). The most difficult part is determining the first differential, and the authors introduce a secondary spectral sequence to get at the desired \(E_2\)-term. One interesting feature of the overall result is that all the final statements can be expressed in terms of a modified family of \(E(2)\)-Pontryagin classes constructued from the \(E(2)\)-Chern classes of \(BU\) arising from the complex orientation of \(E(2)\).