On the mod p cohomology of the spaces of free loops on the Grassmann and Stiefel manifolds (Q806100)

Let \(\Omega\) X be a space of loops on X and \(\Lambda\) X the space of free loops on X. The problem is to know when \(\Omega\) X is totally non- homologous to zero in \(\Lambda\) X with respect to a field \(K_ p.\) In Am. J. Math. 103, 887-910 (1981; Zbl 0475.55004), \textit{L. Smith} partially solved the problem over \({\mathbb{Q}}:\) if \(H^*(X;{\mathbb{Q}})\) is a graded complete intersection, then \(\Omega\) X is totally non-homologous to zero if and only if \(H^*(X;{\mathbb{Q}})\) is a free commutative algebra. In Math. Z. 181, 537-542 (1982; Zbl 0505.55006), \textit{M. Vigué- Poirrier} extended the result and proved that the assumption \(``H^*(X;{\mathbb{Q}})\) is a graded complete intersection'' is unnecessary. The author determines those primes p such that \(\Omega\) X is totally non- homologous to zero in \(\Lambda\) X with respect to \(K_ p\) for cases when \(X=U(m+n)/U(m)\times U(n),\) \(Sp(m+n)/Sp(m)\times Sp(n),\) Sp(n)/U(n), \(SO(m+n)/SO(n),\) \(SU(m+n)/SU(n),\) \(Sp(m+n)/Sp(n)\) and \({\mathbb{C}}P(2)\).