\(H\)-space structure on pointed mapping spaces (Q2571362)

Given pointed CW complexes \(X\) and \(Y\), let \(F_*(X,Y;*)\) denote the space of based null-homotopic maps from \(X\) to \(Y\). \textit{Y. Kotani} [Homology Homotopy Appl. 6, No. 1, 341--350 (electronic) (2004; Zbl 1065.55005)] found some conditions that yield the structure of an \(H\)-space on (rationalized) \(F_*(X,Y;*)\). One of the main results of the paper under review generalizes this result. Let \(p_n^Y: G_n(Y) \to Y\) be the \(n\)-th Ganea-Svarz fibration. The authors introduce an interesting concept of \(H(n)\)-space as a pointed space admitting a map \(\mu: G_n(X\times X)\to X\) such that \(\mu\circ i_l=\mu\circ i_r=p_n^X\) where, say \(i_l: G_n(X) \to G_n(X\times X), x\mapsto (x,*)\). It is clear that an \(H(\infty)\)-structure is an \(H\)-structure. The authors prove the following Proposition 1: If \(Y\) is an \(H\)-space and the Lusternik-Schnirelmann category of \(X\) does not exceed \(n\), then \(F_*(X,Y;*)\) is an \(H\)-space. The authors find some conditions (in terms of category, differential length, connectivity) under which the cohomology algebra \(H^*(F_*(X,Y);\mathbb Q)\) is free commutative (Theorem 2). The proof uses the Haefliger model for mapping spaces.