Power maps on quasi-\(p\)-regular \(SU(n)\) (Q2354979)

Recall that in the 1970s McGibbon, Arkowitz and others considered the following problem: Let \(X\) be a connected homotopy associative \(H\)-space which is homotopy equivalent to a finite CW complex. Then, when is the \(k\) power map \(x\mapsto x^k\) an \(H\)-map? From now on, we assume that \(p\geq 5\) is an odd prime and all spaces are localized at \(p\). In this situation, the author considers this problem when \(X\) is a special linear unitary group \(SU(n)\) and it is \(p\)-regular. In particular, in this paper he proves that the \(p^3\) power map on \(SU(p+t-1)\) is an \(H\)-map for \(2\leq t<p\). To prove this result he considers the fibration whose base space is \(SU(p+t-1)\) with the property that there is a section into the total space, and he uses the homotopy decomposition methods to identify the fibre and the maps from it to the total space. In doing so, he also makes use of the recent result of Kishimoto-Theriault together with more classical theorems of Cohen-Neisendorfer, Hilton-Milnow and James.