Commutativity in special unitary groups at odd primes (Q977457)

Let \(i^s : SU(s) \to SU(n)\) denote the inclusion for \(s \leq n.\) The subgroups \(SU(s)\) and \(SU(t)\) homotopy commute in \(SU(n)\) if the Samelson product \(\langle i^s, i^t\rangle\) is trivial. \textit{R. Bott} [Comment. Math. Helv. 34, 249--256 (1960; Zbl 0094.01503)] proved that this occurs if and only if \(s+t \leq n.\) The authors consider the corresponding question after \(p\)-localization. They obtain a complete answer for \(n \leq (p-1)^2 + 1\) and \(2 \leq s,t \leq n.\) The calculations of \(\langle i^s_{(p)}, i^t_{(p)}\rangle\) make use of the mod \(p\) decomposition of \(SU(n)\) [\textit{M. Mimura, G. Nishida} and \textit{H. Toda}, Publ. Res. Inst. Math. Sci., Kyoto Univ. 13, 627--680 (1977; Zbl 0383.22007)]. This implies a decomposition of the above Samelson product into subsidiary products. The authors calculate these subsidiary products using the unstable \(K\)-theory of \textit{H. Hamanaka} and \textit{A. Kono} [J. Math. Kyoto Univ. 43, No.~2, 333--348 (2003; Zbl 1070.55007)].