The mod 2 Margolis homology of the Dickson algebra (Q784235)

In this note, the author outlines the calculation of the mod \(2\) Margolis homology \(H_* (D_n ; Q_j)\) of the rank \(n\) Dickson algebra, \(D_n\), for all \(j,n \in \mathbb{N}\). Recall that \(D_n\) is the algebra of invariants \(\mathbb{F}_2 [x_1, \ldots, x_n]^{GL_n}\), which is polynomial on generators \(c_{n,i}\) for \(0 \leq i \leq n-1\), where \(|c_{n,i}|=2^n -2^i\), so that \(c_{n,0}\) is the top Dickson invariant. The algebra \(D_n\) admits an action by the mod \(2\) Steenrod algebra; in particular, the Milnor primitives \(Q_j\) act as derivations. The Margolis homology \(H_* (D_n ; Q_j)\) is the homology with respect to the differential \(Q_j\); this action is known. The homology is clearly a module over \(D_n^2\), the subalgebra \(\{ x^2 \mid x \in D_n \}\); the main result identifies this module. The calculation of \(H_* (D_n ; Q_j)\) is straightforward for \(j \leq n-1\) and the cases \(n\leq 2\) are treated directly. For \(j \geq n \geq 3\), a key step is the identification of generators of the Margolis homology over \(D_n^2\). A basis for \(D_n\) as a \(D_n^2\)-module is given by monomials \(c_{n,s_0} c_{n,s_1} \cdots c_{n,s_k}\) indexed by sequences \(0 \leq s_0 < s_1 < \cdots < s_k \leq n-1\). Taking \(s_0=0\), the author observes that the elements \[ h_{s_1,\ldots ,s_k} := \frac{1}{c_{n,0}^2} Q_j (c_{n,0} c_{n,s_1} \cdots c_{n,s_k}) \] lie in \(D_n\); moreover, these are \(Q_j\)-cycles. The main theorem states that, for \(j \geq n \geq 3\), \(H_* (D_n; Q_j)\) is generated as a \(D_n^2\)-module by the classes of \(1\) and of the \(h_{s_1,\ldots ,s_k}\), for \(k >1\), and gives a presentation.