Groebner bases on the cohomology of Grassmann manifolds with application to immersion (Q5938596)

Let \(G_{k,n}\) be the Grassmann manifold of \(k\)-planes in \(\mathbb{R}^{n+k}\). Borel showed that \(H^*(G_{k,n}; \mathbb{Z}_2)= \mathbb{Z}_2[w_1,\dots, w_k]/I_{k,n}\), where \(I_{k,n}\) is the ideal generated by the dual Stiefel-Whitney \(\overline w_{n+1},\dots,\overline w_{n+k}\). The author computes Groebner bases from ideals \(I_{2,2^i-3}\) and \(I_{2,2^i-4}\) and he uses these results along with the theory of modified Postnikov towers to prove immersion results, namely that \(G_{2,2^i-3}\) immerses in \(\mathbb{R}^{2^{i+2}- 15}\). Also, using the Groebner basis theory, the author obtains a simple description of \(H^*(G_{2,2^i- 3};\mathbb{Z}_2)\) and \(H^*(G_{2,2^i- 4};\mathbb{Z}_2)\) and he gives a simple proof of some non-immersion results of \textit{V. Oproiu} [Proc. Edinb. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 20(1976-77), 177-185 (1977; Zbl 0359.57008); Rev. Roum. Math. Pures Appl. 26, 275-286 (1981; Zbl 0465.57011)]. Concretely, the main results are the following: Theorem 2.1. One considers a monomial ordering on the monomials in \(\mathbb{Z}_2[w_1, w_2]\) defined by \(w^b_2 w^a_1\prec w^d_2 w^c_1\) if either \(b< d\) or else \(b=d\) and \(a< c\). Then, for \(i\geq 3\), (1) \(\{\overline w_{2^i- 2},\overline w_{2^i-1}\}\) is the reduced Groebner basis for \(I_{2,2^i- 3}\), (2) \(\{\overline w_{2^i-3},\overline w_{2^i- 2},\overline w_{2^i-1}\}\) is the reduced Groebner basis for \(I_{2,2^i- 4}\). Corollary 2.2. For \(i\geq 3\), (1) A vector space basis for \(H^*(G_{2,2^i- 3};\mathbb{Z}_2)\) is the set of all monomials \(w^b_2 w^a_1\) such that \(a< 2^i- 1\) and \(b< 2^{i-1}- 1\). The product structure is completely determined by the relations \(w^{2^i-1}_1= 0\) and \(w^{2^i-1}_2= \sum^{i-2}_{j=0} w^{2^j- 1}_2 w^{2^i- 2^{j+1}}_1\). (2) A vector space basis for \(H^*(G_{2,2^i- 4}; \mathbb{Z}_2)\) is the set of all monomials \(w^b_2 w^a_1\) such that \(a< 2^i-1\) and \(b< 2^{i-1}- 2\) union with \(\{w^{2^{i-1}-2}_2\}\). The product structure is completely determined by the relations \(w^{2^i- 1}_1= 0\), \(w^{2^{i-1}- 1}_2= \sum^{i-2}_{j=0} w^{2^j-1}_2 w^{2^i- 2^{j+1}}_1\), and \(w^{2^{i-1}- 2}_2 w_1= \sum^{i-2}_{j= 0} w^{2^j-2}_2 w^{2^i- 2^{j+1}+ 1}_1\). Theorem 2.3. For \(i\geq 3\), \(G_{2,2^i-3}\) immerses in \(\mathbb{R}^{2^{i+2}- 15}\). Theorem 2.4 (Oproiu). For \(i\geq 3\), (1) \(G_{2,2^i-3}\) does not immerse in \(\mathbb{R}^{2^{i+1}- 3}\); (2) \(G_{2,2^i- 4}\) does not immerse in \(\mathbb{R}^{2^{i+1}-3}\).