Complex of injective words revisited (Q2364664)

Given a finite set \(A\), an injective word of length \(r\geq 0\) is a sequence \((a_1,\dots,a_r)\) of pairwise distinct elements. The semi-simplicial set \(K(A)\) has injective words of length \(r\) as its \(r-1\) simplices, with face maps \[ d_{i-1}(a_1,\dots,a_r)=(a_1,\dots,\hat a_i,\dots,a_r), \qquad \text{for}\quad i=1,\dots,r. \] Hence if \(A=\{a,b\}\), then the realization of \(K(A)\) is homeomorphic to the circle (decomposed as two 0-cells and two 1-cells), and if \(A=\{a,b,c\}\), then the realization is a 2-dimensional complex homotopy equivalent to the wedge of two 2-spheres. The main goal of this paper is to give a short algebraic proof of a result of \textit{F. D. Farmer} [Math. Japon. 23, 607--613 (1979; Zbl 0416.55003)], that the reduced homology of \(K(A)\) vanishes in dimensions different than \(|A|-1\). More precisely, the author establishes the following result. Theorem 3. Let \(A\) be a finite set, \(\Gamma\) a nonempty set and \(C_r(A)\) the free abelian group generated by \((a_1,\dots,a_r,\gamma_1,\dots,\gamma_r)\), where \(a_i\) are pairwise distinct elements of \(A\) and \(\gamma_j\) are in \(\Gamma\). If \(r<|A|\), the \(H_r(C_*(A))=0\). This is accomplished by applying the spectral sequence of a filtered complex to this situation. As an application, the author is able to extend the stability range by one in a theorem of \textit{A. Hatcher} and \textit{N. Wahl} [Duke Math. J. 155, No. 2, 205--269 (2010; Zbl 1223.57004)], giving the following result: Corollary 6. Let \(G\) be a group and \(G\wr S_{n}\) be the semidirect product \(S_{n}\ltimes G^n\) of the symmetric group and the \(n\)-th power of \(G\). The natural inclusion map \(G\wr S_{n-1} \to G\wr S_{n}\) induces an isomorphism in homology \(H_m(G\wr S_{n-1}) \to H_m(G\wr S_{n})\) if \(n>2m\). The proof is an interesting application of a creative argument of D. Quillen, which the author explains very carefully (and gives a precise reference to the unpublished Quillen's notebook).