On the periodic \(v_2\)-self-map of \(A_1\) (Q518809)

The aim of this paper is to correct a result about certain spectra \(A_1\) that appears as Theorem 1.4(ii) in [\textit{D. M. Davis} and \textit{M. Mahowald}, Am. J. Math. 103, 615--659 (1981; Zbl 0481.55008)]. These spectra arise from the following construction in the \(2\)-local stable homotopy category. Let \(C\eta\) be the cofiber of the stable Hopf map \(\eta : S^1 \to S^0\) and let \(Y\) be the cofiber of \(2 \wedge \mathrm{id}_{C\eta}\). Then \(Y\) is known to admit 8 different \(v_1\)-self maps \(v_1^1 : \Sigma^2 Y \to Y\). The spectra \(A_1\) considered in the paper under review are the cofibers of these minimal \(v_1\)-self maps of \(Y\). There are 4 different homotopy types of such spectra which are distinguishable by the \(\mathrm{Sq}^4\)-action on their cohomology. The main result states that each of these spectra \(A_1\) admits a minimal \(v_2\)-self map \(v_2^{32} : \Sigma^{192}A_1 \to A_1\) of periodicity 32, i.e., a map inducing multiplication with \(v_2^{32}\) on \(K(2)_*(-)\). Here minimal indicates that there is no map that induces multiplication by a smaller power of \(v_2\). It was incorrectly claimed in [loc. cit.] that \(A_1\) admits a minimal \(v_2\)-self map \(v_2^8\) of periodicity 8. For the proof of the non-existence of \(v_2\)-self maps of lower periodicity, the authors argue with a map \(r : \mathrm{tmf} \to k(2)\) from the spectrum of topological modular forms \(\mathrm{tmf}\) to the connective Morava \(K\)-theory spectrum \(k(2)\). The existence proof is based on a good understanding of the Adams spectral sequence for \(\mathrm{tmf}\). Several of the computations carried out along the way are performed using \textit{R. R. Bruner}'s software for Ext-computations [Contemp. Math. 146, 71--90 (1993; Zbl 0788.55001)].