Universal phantom maps (Q2367234)

Let \(X\) be a connected CW-complex with finite skeletons \(X_ n\). A map on \(X\) is called a phantom map if its restriction to each \(X_ n\) is null-homotopic. The authors construct a phantom map \(\Theta:X\to{\overset\infty\bigvee}\Sigma X_ n\) which is universal, in the sense that every phantom map on \(X\) factors through \(\Theta\) up to homotopy. As a corollary, if \(\Sigma X\) is equivalent to a wedge of finite complexes, then every phantom map on \(X\) is null-homotopic. After localisation at a prime \(p\) there is a stronger result: for all phantom maps from \(X\) to \(p\)-local spaces to be null-homotopic it is necessary and sufficient that \(\Sigma X_{(p)}\) should be equivalent to a wedge of finite-dimensional complexes. The paper also contains several other examples and results. In particular, if \(g\) is a nontrivial phantom map from \(X\) to a space \(Y\) with finitely generated homotopy groups, and if \(f\) is a rational homology isomorhism from \(X\) to a CW-complex \(Z\) with finite skeletons, then there is a nontrivial phantom map from \(Z\) to \(Y\).