The cohomology algebra of polyhedral product spaces (Q290785)

Let \(K\) be a simplicial complex with \(m\) vertices, and let \((\underline{X},\underline{A})= \{ (X_k, A_k)\}_{k=1}^m\) be a family of \(\text{CW}\)-pairs. Assigned to \(K\) and \((\underline{X},\underline{A})\) is a polyhedral product space \({\mathcal{Z}}(K; \underline{X},\underline{A}) \subset X_1\times X_2\times\cdots\times X_m\). If \((X_k,A_k)=(X,A)\) for all \(k\), then the polyhedral product space is denoted by \({\mathcal{Z}}(K; X, A)\). Polyhedral products are a generalization of the moment-angle complex \({\mathcal{Z}}(K; D^2, S^1)\), and they are used in topology and geometry as well as in group theory. A \(\text{CW}\)-pair \((X,A)\) is called homology split if \(H_\ast(A)\), \(H_\ast(X)\) and \(\text{ker}\;i_\ast\) are free groups, where \(i_\ast: H_\ast(A)\to H_\ast(X)\) is induced by the inclusion \(i: A\hookrightarrow X\). A polyhedral product space \({\mathcal{Z}}(K; \underline{X},\underline{A})\) is called homology split if every pair \((X_k,A_k)\) is homology split. In this paper, the author computes the integral singular cohomology ring of homology split polyhedral product spaces and the singular cohomology algebra over a field for polyhedral product spaces. The cohomology ring of a polyhedral product space \({\mathcal{Z}}(K; \underline{X},\underline{A})\) depends not only on the homomorphisms \(i^\ast_k: H^\ast(X_k)\to H^\ast(A_k)\) but also on certain chain homomorphisms called character coproducts of the \((X_k, A_k)\). The author constructs an example of two polyhedral product spaces \({\mathcal{Z}}(K; X_1, A_1)\) and \({\mathcal{Z}}(K; X_2, A_2)\) such that \(A_1\simeq A_2\), \(X_1\simeq X_2\) and the cohomology homomorphisms induced by the inclusions are the same, but \(H^\ast({\mathcal{Z}}(K; X_1, A_1))\) and \({H^\ast(\mathcal{Z}}(K; X_2, A_2))\) are not isomorphic as rings.