Cohomology of split group extensions and characteristic classes. (Q2390495)

Let \(G\) be a group, \(L\) a finite rank \(\mathbb{Z} G\)-lattice, \(\Gamma=L\rtimes G\) the semidirect product induced by the action of \(G\) on \(L\) and \((E_*,d_*)\) the associated Lyndon-Hochschild-Serre spectral sequence. If \(L\) decomposes into a sum of \(\mathbb{Z} G\)-sublattices, \(L=L'\oplus L''\) and \((E'_*,d'_*)\), \((E''_*,d''_*)\) are the associated Lyndon-Hochschild-Serre spectral sequences to \(L'\rtimes G\), \(L''\rtimes G\) respectively, then the main results of this paper give necessary and sufficient conditions in terms of \((E'_*,d'_*)\), \((E''_*,d''_*)\) such that \((E_*,d_*)\) has no nonzero differentials up to a given page. The conditions are given in terms of certain characteristic classes \(v_r^t(L)\) which lie in the page of the spectral sequence provided that the differentials \(d_i=0\) for all \(i<r\). These characteristic classes were also considered by \textit{L. S. Charlap} and \textit{A. T. Vasquez} [in Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 137, 533-549 (1969; Zbl 0192.34301)] and \textit{C.-H. Sah} [in J. Algebra 29, 255-302 (1974; Zbl 0277.20071)].