Single Loop Space Decompositions (Q4032484)

For a family \(\mathcal C\) of pointed spaces let \(\Pi\mathcal C\) be the class of all spaces having the weak homotopy type of a finite or weakly infinite product of spaces in \(\mathcal C\). Let \({\mathcal S} = \{ S^{2m-1},\Omega S^{2m+1} : m\geq 1\}\). \textit{F. R. Cohen}, \textit{J. C. Moore} and \textit{J. A. Neisendorfer} [Torsion in homotopy groups, Ann. Math., II. Ser. 109, 121-- 168 (1979; Zbl 0405.55018)] constructed a family \(\mathcal T\) of \(p\)-local atomic H- spaces such that \(\Omega\left(\bigvee_ i P^{m_ i}(p^{r_ i})\right) \in\mathcal T\), where the \(P^{m_ i}(p^{r_ i})\) are Moore spaces. It is conjectured that for a finite CW-complex \(X\) one has \(\Omega X\in \Pi\left({\mathcal S}\cup {\mathcal T}\right)\) at all but a finite set (depending on \(X\)) of primes \(p\). The main result of the paper is the following criterion: \medskip Theorem: The following are equivalent: (a) \(\Omega X\in \Pi\left({\mathcal S}\cup {\mathcal T}\right)\) (b) \(\Sigma\Omega X\) is has the weak \(p\)-local homotopy type of a wedge of Moore spaces. (c) For each \(r\) with \(1\leq r\leq\infty\) the \(E^ r\)-term of the homology Bockstein spectral sequence of \(\Omega X\) is, as an algebra, generated by the image of the Hurewicz map originating in the homotopy Bockstein spectral sequence of \(\Omega X\). \medskip The paper gives a survey of some theorems relevant to loop space decomposition. It contains also explicit calculations of the Bockstein spectral sequence of \(\Omega K\) for some interesting 3-cell space \(K\).