Universal extension classes for \(GL_2\). (Q484633)

Let \(G\) be a finite group scheme over a field \(k\) of positive characteristic \(p\). In well-known work of \textit{E. Friedlander} and \textit{A. Suslin} [Invent. Math. 127, No. 2, 209-277 (1997; Zbl 0945.14028)], it was shown that the cohomology ring \(\text H^\bullet(G,k)\) is a finitely-generated Noetherian \(k\)-algebra. That argument was first reduced to the case that \(G\) is an infinitesimal group scheme. Any such \(G\) can be embedded in some \((GL_n)_r\), the \(r\)-th Frobenius kernel of the general linear group scheme \(GL_n\), and the key to the infinitesimal case was the construction of certain universal extension classes in \(\text{Ext}^{2p^{r-1}}_{GL_n}(k,\mathfrak{gl}_n^{(r)})\), where \(\mathfrak{gl}_n\) denotes the Lie algebra of \(GL_n\). That construction made use of strict polynomial functors. In the work under review, the author gives a new construction of these universal extensions classes for \(GL_2\). The argument here does not make use of polynomial functors; something also done by \textit{W. van der Kallen} [in: Invariant theory in all characteristics. Proceedings of the workshop on invariant theory, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada, April 8-19, 2002. Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society (AMS). CRM Proceedings \& Lecture Notes 35, 127-138 (2004; Zbl 1080.20039)]. Moreover, the author shows that the Ext-group \(\text{Ext}^{2p^{r-1}}_{GL_2}(k,\mathfrak{gl}_2^{(r)})\) is in fact one-dimensional. The author first shows the existence of such classes (and the dimensionality fact) over \(SL_2\) using a result of \textit{A. Parker} [Adv. Math. 209, No. 1, 381-405 (2007; Zbl 1112.20039)] on the nature of the Lyndon-Hochschild-Serre spectral sequence associated to a Frobenius kernel of \(SL_2\). The author then relates extensions over \(GL_2\) and \(SL_2\) to get the desired result. The finite-generation of \(\text H^\bullet(G,k)\) for an infinitesimal subgroup scheme \(G\) of \(GL_2\) then follows in a manner analogous to the argument given by Friedlander and Suslin.