Rings of Invariants and Inseparable Forms of Algebras over the Steenrod Algebra By Clarence W. Wilkerson Purdue University
Dedicated to the memory of J.F. Adams
The concept of the maximal torus plays a key role in the classifica- tion of compact Lie groups. Likewise the role of the cohomology of the classifying space BT n of the n-torus in the study of characteristic classes has been long understood via the splitting theorems. With the work of Adams-Wilkerson (1) it was realized that the cohomology rings ∗ n H (BT ,Fp) as algebras over the Steenrod algebra Ap were universal in a strong technical sense. This feature was presaged by Serre (13), Quillen (11), and Wilkerson (14), and is greatly extended by later work of Carlsson, Miller, Lannes, Zarati, Schwartz, and Dwyer-Wilkerson. The Adams-Wilkerson work provides an algebraic analogue of the ex- istence of a maximal torus, in a suitable category of algebras with an action of the Steenrod algebra. More precisely, it provides for each ∗ graded Fp-algebraR which is an integral domain of finite transcen- dence degree n over Fp and equipped with an “unstable” action of the mod p Steenrod algebra Ap, an embedding
∗ ∗ n tR∗ : R −→ H (BT ,Fp)
∗ which is an Ap-map of algebras and is an invariant of R and its Ap- ∗ n ∗ action. Furthermore, H (BT ,Fp) is algebraic and normal over R ,via the morphism tR∗ . ∗ n In this paper, we denote H (BT ,Fp) together with its Ap-action as S[V ], the symmetric algebra on a n−dimensional Fp−vector space V, for V concentrated in degree 2 (or degree 1 for p =2). The embedding tR∗ has additional properties, depending on the prop- erties of R∗ as an algebra over the Steenrod algebra:
The author was supported in part by the National Science Foundation, the Wayne State Fund, and the Institute for Advanced Studies of Hebrew University. 2 Clarence W. Wilkerson
∗ ∗ a) S[V ] is integral over R via tR∗ if and only R is a finitely generated Fp−algebra. b) tR∗ is a separable extension on the fraction field level if and only if ∆i the Milnor primitives {P } in Ap give n linearly independent deriva- tions on the graded fraction field FR∗ of R∗ (as they do on S[V ]). Equiv- alently, (FS[V ])p ∩ FR∗ =(FR∗)p, if and only if the field extension is separable. ∗ c) There is a subgroup W (R∗) of GL(V ) such that R∗ = S[V ]W (R ), if and only if both conditions a) and b) hold, and, in addition, R∗ is integrally closed in its field of fractions. That is, under some general conditions, R∗ is a ring of invariants. Conversely, any ring of invariants has the properties properties a)-c).1 The three conditions required to ensure that R∗ is a ring of invariants may seem to lack topological motivation. However, the noetherian and integral closure requirements together have an intrinsic meaning in terms of the Steenrod algebra action: Theorem I. If R∗ is a graded integral domain of finite transcendence ∗ degree with an unstable Ap-action, then R is integrally closed and finitely generated if and only if R∗ = Un(FR∗), the set of unstable elements in the graded field of fractions of R∗.IfweconsiderR∗ as a ∗ ∗ subring of S[V ] via tR∗ ,thenUn(FR )=S[V ] ∩ FR . Interpretation of the separability condition is harder, but algebraic examples at all primes and topological examples at the prime 2 show that it is a necessary complication. The inseparable forms portion of the title refers to a construction given here by which inseparable examples are made from separable examples. The goal is an algebraic reformulation of the separability condition so that it can be used more readily with topological techniques such as “mod p Hopf invariant one”, for odd primes. Roughly stated, our aim in Theorem II below is to show that any R∗ with R∗ = Un(FR∗) is a ring of invariants, not necessarily of S[V ] itself, but of a certain “diagonal” subalgebra D∗(R∗)ofS[V ]. The definition of this D∗(R∗) is motivated by an analogy to elementary field theory. Recall that if K → L is a finite normal field extension, then there are two ways of decomposing this into sub-extensions. First, one could find the maximal inseparable extension J of K in L,soK → J →
1We ask the reader to note that in (1), the statement of Theorem 1.2 should include the hypothesis that H∗ is noetherian. This hypothesis was used but was inadvertently omitted. There is also an oversight in the statement of Theorem 1.9 – in order to prove that condition 1.2.2 is necessary, H∗ should be assumed also to be integrally closed. An alternate formulation is to assume that condition 1.2.2 holds for all elements of the fraction field of H∗, as stated above in part b). Rings of Invariants and Inseparable Forms 3
L. Then J → L is Galois, with Galois group W = AutK (L)=AutJ (L), so that J = LW . This is roughly the procedure in (1), with allowances made there for ambient Steenrod actions. A second method is more important for this paper – form the maximal separable extension I of K in L ,whereK → I → L. Here K → I is separable, and J → L is purely inseparable. Notice that K is the intersection of LW with I,or K = IW , see for example (8),Chapter VII, Section 7, Prop. 12. Our Theorem II provides a ring level description of this process of tak- ing a maximal separable extension. Somewhat surprisingly, the analogue of the maximal separable field extension I above is greatly restricted by the existence of the Steenrod algebra action. This restricted structure of D∗(R∗) is important for applications, (2),(10):. ∗ ∗ Theorem II. Let R be a sub−Ap-algebra of S[V ] such that FR → ∗ FS[V ] is algebraic. Define a filtration {Ui(R )} of V bytherulethatv ∗ pi ∗ ∗ ∗ is in Ui(R ) if and only if v is separable over FR . Let D (R ) be the ∗ pi ∗ “diagonal ” subalgebra of S[V ] generated by {Ui(R ) }.LetI be the maximal separable graded field extension of FR∗ in FS[V ].Then 1) R∗ → D∗(R∗) is separable and D∗(R∗) → S[V ] is purely insepara- ble. ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ pi ∗ 2) D (R )=Un(I ) and Ui(R )={v|v ∈ I }. ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ pi 3) D (R ) ≈⊗i(S[Ui(R )/Ui−1(R )]) as Ap−algebras. ∗ ∗ 4) AutR∗ (S[V ]) = AutR∗ (D (R )) = AutFR∗ (FS[V ]) ∗ ∗ 5) For W (R)=AutR∗ (S[V ]),W(R)(Ui(R )) ⊆ Ui(R ). ∗ ∗ 6) D∗(R∗)W (R ) = Un(FR ). ∗ ∗ 7) D (R ) is the smallest Ap−sub-Hopf algebra of S[V ] containing R∗. Note that although V has a filtration by the W (R∗)−vector spaces ∗ ∗ {Ui(R )}, the filtration need not split as W (R )−modules. That is, V ∗ need not be isomorphic to ⊕Ui+1/Ui as W (R ) vector spaces. In summary, Un(FR∗) is explicitly determined by two pieces of data: 1) The subgroup W (R∗)ofGL(V ) ∗ ∗ 2) The W (R ) filtration {Ui(R )} of V, together with the implicit exponents pi. This leads to a constructive classification of all noetherian integrally closed unstable domains. In Section Five we give some applications of this classification. These methods also answer a question of Mitchell and Stong: ∗ Theorem III. If the polynomial algebra R = Fp[y1,... ,yn] has an unstable action of Ap, then the [A-W] embedding tR∗ factors through ∗ ∗ N ∗ ∗ ∗ D (R ) ≈ Fp[z1,... ,zn] where |zi| =2p i . Since R → D (R ) is 4 Clarence W. Wilkerson
separable, the Jacobian | ∂yi/∂zj | is nonzero for homogeneous algebra ∗ ∗ ∗ bases {zi} of D (R ) and {yj} of R . Theorem II does not directly answer the problem of realizing these rings as the cohomology rings of topological spaces, but it does ex- press the maximum algebraic content obtainable from the Ap-action. Dwyer-Miller-Wilkerson (2) have used Theorem II together with appli- cations of the Sullivan Conjecture technology of Miller and Lannes to prove very strong uniqueness and non-realizability results for classifying spaces. Theorem IV below from (2)isasamplerthatpointsoutthat separability is forced by topological considerations. Theorem IV. (2) If X is a simply connected CW complex such that ∗ ∗ R = H (X, Fp) is a integrally closed finitely generated graded integral domain, then for p>2
∗ W (R∗) H (X, Fp) ≈ S[V ] .
Furthermore, the homotopy type of X determines a lift of the inclusion of W (R∗) → GL(V ) up to the general linear group of rank n over the p−adic integers. The proof of Theorem IV is beyond the scope of this paper, but we give here just a brief hint as to the role that Theorem II plays in (2). If R∗ = H∗(X), then by a fundamental result of Lannes, the embedding ∗ ∗ tR∗ : R → S[V ] → H (BV ) can be topologically realized by a con- tinuous function f : BV → X. The component of the function space V ∗ ∗ ∗ V Map(BV,X)f has cohomology Tf ∗ (R )=D (R ), where Tf ∗ ( )isa summand of the T −functor of Lannes. Accepting this, “mod p Hopf in- variant one” shows that the exponents in the definition of D∗(R∗) are all n zero, since it is the cohomology of a space. Thus Map(BV,X)f ≈ BT . That is, (2) carries out the Adams-Wilkerson program on the space level and obtains new information about separability and lifting of automor- phism groups to characteristic zero. There is another approach to the ”inseparability” questions treated in this paper. In [Quillen, (11)], the concept of an F −isomorphism pro- vided a convenient treatment of p−th powers. Quillen’s main theorems have been treated more abstractly (for unstable algebras rather than just equivariant cohomology) in work of [Rector , (12)] and [Lam, (7). We recall the principal technical result of (7), and reinterpret it in terms of Theorem II. ∗ Theorem V. 1) (7)LetR be a sub-Ap−algebra of S[V ] such that S[V ] is algebraic over R∗. Suppose in addition R∗ is p-closed, that is Rings of Invariants and Inseparable Forms 5
p ∩ ∗ ∗ p Q(S[V ]) R =(R ) . Then the top Dickson invariant element c0 = ∗ V −{0} v lies in R . 2) If R∗ → S[V ] is algebraic but not necessarily p-closed, then there pN ∗ exists N ≥ 0 such that (c0) ∈ R . N p −1 ∗ ∗ −1 ∗ 3) If z = c0 is inverted to form Sz R ,thenUn(FR )=Un(Sz R ). Part 3) of Theorem V combined with the ”localization” invariance properties of the Lannes T −functor established in (2), gives the com- putation that each component of Lannes T −functor corresponding to a monomorphism ψ : R∗ → H∗(BV )isD∗(R∗), even in the absence of the noetherian or integrally closed requirements on R∗. Of course, if we add the topological input that R∗ = H∗(X) for some space X,thenby (2), in fact D∗(R∗)=H∗(BT n)forsomen. The author would like to thank S. Mitchell and R. Stong for their interest and correspondence on this problem. The statement of Theorem III is due to them, and their questions led to the formulation of Theorem II from an earlier version of the results of Section Two. The author would also like to thank J.F. Adams for helpful comments on the organization of the proofs.
§1. The Maximal Separable Extension
Our technique is to apply field level arguments, and then use the Un−functor of taking the subalgebra of unstable elements to recover ring level results. A form of Un−functor appeared in [(15),Wilkerson]. It has also found use in (1), (3), and (4). ∗ Proposition 1.1. Let M be an evenly graded module over Ap. Define the graded vector space Un(M ∗) as
∗ j Un(M )2i = {m ∈ M2i|P m =0, ∀j>i}.
Then ∗ ∗ a) Un(M ) is closed under the Ap− action on M , and is an unstable Ap−module. ∗ ∗ b) If M is a localization of some unstable Ap−algebra R ,then ∗ Un(M ) is an unstable Ap−algebra. c) Un(FS[V ]) = S[V ] d) If R∗ is an unstable integral domain, then u ∈ FR∗ and u integral over R∗ implies that u ∈ Un(FR∗). Proposition 1.2. If R∗ is a graded unstable integral domain of finite ∗ transcendence degree with an unstable Ap-action, then R is integrally 6 Clarence W. Wilkerson
closed and finitely generated as an algebra if and only if R∗ = Un(FR∗), the set of unstable elements in the graded field of fractions of R∗. ∗ Proposition 1.3. Let R be an Ap−sub-algebra of S[V ] such that S[V] ∗ ∗ is algebraic over R . Define SR as the set of elements in S[V] which are ∗ ∗ − separable over R .ThenSR is a Ap sub-algebra of S[V] which contains R∗. In addition, ∗ ∗ ∗ 1) The fraction field FSR of SR is the maximal subfield I of the fraction field of S[V] which is separable over R∗. ∗ → ∗ ∗ 2) R SR is separable, and SR is maximal for this property. ∗ ∗ ∗ 3) SR = Un(FSR)=Un(I ) and hence is integrally closed and noetherian. ∗ → 4) SR S[V ] is purely inseparable ( for each x in S[V] there exists ps ∈ ∗ an s such that x SR ). Proof of Prop. 1.3.
Let I∗ be the maximal separable extension of FR∗ in FS[V ]. Then ∗ ∗ ∗ SR = Un(I ), since Un(FS[V ]) = S[V ]. It follows that SR is maximal ∗ ∗ among subalgebras of S[V ] separable over R .ByI.1,SR is integrally ∗ ∗ ∈ closed and noetherian, since SR = Un(FSR). Now if u S[V ], there N exists N ≥ 0sothatup ∈ I∗. Since this power of u is unstable, it is ∗ actually in SR. ∗ ∗ It remains to show that FSR = I . Let u in FS[V ] be separable over ∗ N R , with minimal separable equation g(u)=0=a0u +...+aN with ai ∗ N−1 in R . Multiply by a0 to obtain an integral equation for a0u = x over R∗. Then x is in S[V ], since it is integral over R∗.Also,x is separable ∗ ∈ ∗ ∗ over R . Hence x Un(I )=SR. Thus putting y = a0,weobtain ∗ ∗ ∗ u = x/y, with x and y in SR.Thatis,FSR = I . Proof of Lemma 1.2.
The favor of these arguments is similar to those in (15). From (1), ∗ ∗ R is noetherian if and only if S[V ] is integral over R via tR .Also, since Un(FS[V ]) = S[V ], for any subfield L∗, Un(L∗)=L∗ ∩ S[V ]. Now assume R∗ = Un(FR∗). If u ∈ FR∗ is integral over R∗,then u ∈ Un(FR∗)=R∗.Thatis,R∗ is integrally closed. Next if v ∈ V has N x = vp separable over FR∗, x satisfies a minimal equation of the form
r r−1 X + c1X ...+ cr =0
∗ with the coefficients {cj} in FR . But since the extension is normal, and has one root x in S[V ] , it factors completely, with all roots in S[V ]. Hence the coefficients {ci} are unstable, since they are polynomials in Rings of Invariants and Inseparable Forms 7
the roots. Thus x is integral over Un(FR∗)=R∗, V is integral over R∗,andsoisS[V ]. From property a) of the introduction, R∗ is finitely generated. Conversely, assume that R∗ is noetherian and integrally closed. We need to show that R∗ = Un(FR∗). Let u ∈ Un(FR∗). Then u ∈ S[V ], and hence is integral over R∗ since R∗ is noetherian. Hence u is in the integral closure of R∗ in its field of fractions. But we assumed that R∗ is integrally closed, so u ∈ R∗.Thatis,Un(R∗) ⊆ R∗. Proof of Proposition 1.1. If the action of the Bockstein were non-zero, the appropriate definition of an “unstable” element would be more complicated. The concept of “unstable” involves recursion, since if u is unstable, one also wants θu to be unstable, for any θ ∈ Ap. However, Lemma 2.6 from (1), shows that this recursion is automatic if only the reduced power Steenrod operations ∗ ∗ are considered. If M is an algebra over Ap,thenUn(M ) is also, and of course, Un(M ∗) is also an unstable module. However, it need not be i p an unstable algebra, since this requires also the condition P m2i = m for each m. Although this is true for case b) by (15), it is not true in general. Finally, let u = x/y in FR∗.Let
N N−1 u + c1u ...c0 =0
∗ be the monic equation of integrality, so that ci ∈ R . Apply the total N Steenrod operation PT to the equation. Multiply through by PT (y) , and compare coefficients of powers of T . One sees that the coefficients for PT (u) vanish above half the dimension of u. A form of this argument appears in (15). §2. Jacobson Differential Correspondence The proof of Theorem II requires a study of the subfields intermediate between the fraction field FS[V ]ofS[V ]andsomeps-th ower of this field. The setting of inseparable field extensions has has a rich algebraic structure, and there is a large established theory, see [(16), Chapters 5 and 6] for a survey. Let K → L be an inseparable extension – the theory revolves around the correspondence between the subfield K and the subring EndK (L) of additive functions from L into itself which are K-linear. In the case of our interest L = FS[V ], the L−span of the Steenrod operations form a large part of the endomorphism ring. One in principle could work through the general theory, and prove Theorem II by characterizing the endomorphisms of S[V ] which are linear over R∗ 8 Clarence W. Wilkerson
as those which are linear over the diagonal algebra D∗(R∗). This would be in the spirit of (1), section 5, and, indeed was the original intent. However, we can apply a simpler theory. The general approach to inseparable Galois theory sketched above was designed to generalize to larger exponents the exponent 1 correspondence of Jacobson, [(5), Vol- ume III, Chapter 4, page 186]: Jacobson Differential Correspondence. Let L be a field of char- acteristic p. There is a 1-1 correspondence between 1) subfields K of L which contain Lp and which have finite codimension in L ( dimK (L) < ∞ ), and 2) finite dimensional L-subspaces of Der(L) which are closed under commutators and p-th powers (L-restricted Lie subalgebras of Der(L)). The correspondence is
K DerK (L) and
B LB, dim Der (L) the constant field of B. Here dimK (L)=p L K The present proof of Theorem II uses an induction step provided by the treatment of p-th powers by the Steenrod algebra, together with a version of the results of section 5 of (1), interpreted by the Jacobson Differential Correspondence. Recall that the Milnor primitive {P ∆(i)} i from Ap acts as a derivation of degree 2(p − 1) on any algebra over Ap e.g. (1).
N Proposition 2.1. Suppose S[V ]p → R∗ → S[V ], are monomorphisms ∗ ∗ of unstable Ap−algebras, for some N ≥ 0,andthatR = Un(FR ). Define M ∗ = R∗ ∩ (S[V ])p,so(FR∗)p → FM∗ → FR∗.Then 1) The Milnor primitives {P ∆(i)} span the graded derivations of FR∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ into FR which vanish on FM , DerFM∗ (FR ). ∗ ∗ ∗ { ∆(i)} ∩ 2) RankFR SpanFR P = rankFp (V R )=nR. ∗ n 3) dimFM∗ (FR )=p R
The Ap–action is crucial at this point. For example, consider the 2 2 ∗ elements x = t1,y = t2,u= t1t2 in F2[t1,t2]. Let R be the sub-algebra generated by these elements. Then R∗ is not closed under the Steenrod operations, but it is finitely generated and integrally closed. However, ∗ ∗ V ∩ R = 0 even though rankFR∗ DerFM∗ (FR ) = 1. In general, there are many more intermediate rings between S[V ]p and S[V ] than those predicted by Proposition 2.1. The Steenrod action forces a more “linear” structure than the general theory can see. Rings of Invariants and Inseparable Forms 9
Lemma 2.2. If p =2or we restrict to evenly graded objects, then given an Fp−restricted graded Lie algebra L andanactionofL on a ⊗ commutative graded field K, the tensor product K Fp L is a graded K−Lie algebra closed under brackets and p−th powers, and it inherits an action on K. Proof of Prop. 2.1.1. By 2.2, the FR∗-span of {P ∆(i)} in Der(FR∗)isaFR∗-restricted Lie subalgebra. Since by (1) the Milnor primitives span the derivations of FS[V ], an element of FS[V ]isap−th power in FS[V ] if and only if it is annihilated by each P ∆(i). That is, the constant field of the FR∗-span of {P ∆(i)} acting on FR∗ is FM∗, the intersection of FR∗ with the p−th powers from FS[V ]. By the Jacobson Correspondence, the Milnor ∗ primitives span DerFM∗ (FR ). Proof of Proprositions 2.1.2 and 2.1.3. ∗ By 5.1 of (1), there exists for R an nR such that any distinct nR of the {P ∆(i)} are linearly independent over FR∗ in Der(FR∗), and any nR + 1 are linearly dependent. This holds even if the “grading” 0 0 derivation P˜ is included. Here P˜ x2n = nx. Hence
∆(i) RankFR∗ SpanFR∗ {P } = nR.
For any non-trivial equation of linear dependence with nR +1terms
0 ∆(nR) δ = c0P˜ + ...+ crP
all of the coefficients {ci} are non-zero, since otherwise the choice of nR ∗ pr would be contradicted. If v ∈ V0 = V ∩R ,thenδv =0=c0v+...+crv ≤ for r = nR. Hence dimFp V0 nR. However, by 5.2.(i-ii) of [A-W], all { pr } solutions of c0X +...+crX are in S[V]. Hence dimFp V0 = nR,since the equation has no repeated roots. Proof of 2.2. One takes the natural bracket definition :
[aD, bδ]=ab[D, δ]+aD(b)δ − bδ(a)D and extends by bilinearity, keeping the action of L on K in mind. The p−th power operation requires more work. In fact there are two non- trivial formulas which are needed: 1) Given a ∈ K and D ∈ L, there exist b, c ∈ K so that (aD)p = bD + cDp. 10 Clarence W. Wilkerson
This is attributed to Hochshild in exercise E.5.10, page 125 of (16). This allows us to define the p−th power on monomials from K ⊗ L. 2) If a, b ∈ K and D, δ ∈ L, we need a formula for (aD + bδ)p in terms of brackets and p−th powers. Then induction on the number of summands in ΣaiDi provides a general definition of the p−th power map on K ⊗ L. The needed formula is provided in [ Jacobson, (6), page 187] : In the free associative algebra Fp
Xp−1 p p p (X + Y ) = X + Y + Si(X, Y ) 1
where the Si are (non-commutative) polynomials expressible in terms of iterated commutators in X and Y . Notice that even if the original Lie algebra L had zero p−th powers and zero Lie brackets ( as in the case of application to the Lie algebra spanned by the {P ∆(i)}, the same is not necessarily true for the semi- tensor product Lie algebra constructed via these formulas. Comment. If the reader prefers an absolutely minimal path to the proof of The- orem B, the crucial fact established in this section is that
∗ ∗ dimF (V ∩R ) dimFM∗ (FR )=p p .
This can be deduced in the case above from a result of Gersten- haber and Zaromp quoted in exercise E.5.9 of (16), using the derivations ∆(i) {P } for their {Di}. The critical property needed is closure under the p−th power map, and this is clear for the {P ∆(i)}. Note that there is an slight error of the statement of the result of Gertenhaber and Zaromp in both their paper and in (16). We now give a more precise statement of what should be the outcome of working through the Hopf-algebra treatment of modern Galois theory for this case:
Conjecture 2.3. Let Ω be the left FS[V ]− span of Ap.ThenΩ is a Hopf-algebra in the sense of [Winter, Chapter 6 ]. There is a natural representation into End(FS[V ]), with image Ω¯.LetΩ¯ R∗ denote the subset of elements which are R∗−linear. Then 1) Ω¯ R∗ is a Hopf-algebra in the sense of (16). ∗ ∗ 2) FD (R ) is the field of constants for Ω¯ R∗ ,and
¯ ∗ ΩR = EndFD∗(R∗)(FS[V ]). Rings of Invariants and Inseparable Forms 11
§3 Proof of Theorem II in the purely inseparable case By the results of Section One, we can replace the arbitrary R∗ by its maximal separable closure SR∗ . This leaves some details about the automorphism groups to be sorted out in Section Four, but the harder work is here, to show that if the extension R∗ → S[V ] is purely insepa- rable and R∗ = Un(FR∗), then R∗ = D∗(R∗). The method of proof is an induction using the results of Section Two. Recall that the exponent of an inseparable extension is the smallest e integer e such that for any x in FS[V ], xp is in FR∗. The induction will be on the exponent e(R) of the inseparable exten- sion FR∗ → FS[V ]. The exponent 0 case is covered by the hypothesis R∗ = Un(FR∗), while the exponent 1 case is essentially Proposition 2.1. Exponent 1 Case: (FS[V ])p → FR∗ → FS[V ]. The filtration is ∗ ∗ ∗ U0(R )=V ∩ R and U1(R )=V .Wehave
(S[V ])p → D∗(R∗) → R∗ → S[V ].
But by Proposition 2.1, the dimension of F ∗R∗ and that of FD∗(R∗) over FS[V ]p are each pnR . Hence the two fields coincide. ∗ ∗ Special Case: If R is entirely contained√ in S[V ]p,√ we can replace R p ∗ p ∗ by the√ algebra of√ its p-th roots in S[V ], R .e( R )=e(√R) − 1 p ∗ p ∗0 p ∗ and pR = UnF √R so the induction hypothesis gives that√ R = ∗ p ∗ p ∗ p ∗ ∗ ∗ p ∗ p D ( R ) . Since ( R ) = R as Ap−algebras, R =(D ( R )) = D∗(R∗). ∗ ∗00 ∗ p Induction Step: If V0 = V ∩R =06 , then we use R = R ∩S[V ] . We 00 need to show first that R∗ → D∗(R∗). Now 1 ≤ e(R00) ≤ max(e(R), 1). If it is strictly less than e(R), we appeal to the induction hypothesis to 00 00 conclude that R∗ = D∗(R∗ ) If the exponent is still e(R), we obtain the same isomorphism from the special case conclusion. Thus we obtain 00 R∗ → D∗(R∗). Then we have
p 00 R∗ → R∗ → D∗(R∗) → R∗,
and we must show that D∗(R∗)=R∗. ∗ ∗ ∗ We again appeal to Proposition 2.1. Since U0 = V ∩R = V ∩D (R ) by definition of D∗(R∗), we have
∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ 00 00 dimFR∗ (FD (R )) = dimFR∗ (FD (R )).
Thus FD∗(R∗)=FR∗ and R∗ = D∗(R∗). 12 Clarence W. Wilkerson
Comments. The use of the Jacobson Correspondence in Proposition 2.1 to compute ∗ 00 the relative derivations DerFR∗ (FR ) is very helpful. If the full Lie algebra of derivations Der(FR∗) were known, one could seek to explicitly ∗ ∗ 00 compute DerFR∗ (FR ). However, while it is true that Der(FR )can be spanned by linear combinations of Steenrod operations, more than just the Milnor primitives may be required in general. For example, if ∗ 2 R = F2[t1,t2]=F2[x, y] then the standard partial derivative basis for Der(FR∗)isgivenby ∂/∂x x−2Sq1 = . ∂/∂y (y4 + x4y2)−1(Sq(0,2) − x4Sq2) in terms of Steenrod operations. In this case, the constant field is ∗ p ∗00 2 (FR ) ,R = F2[x ,y], and
∗ ∗ ∗ 00 { 1} { } DerFR∗ (FR )=FR Sq = FR ∂/∂x ,
by direct computation. However, by Proposition 2.1 one achieves the same result by observing that with V ∩ R∗ = {0,x}, any single Milnor primitive spans the relative derivations, since it is non-zero on x. Such direct computation has drawbacks for more complicated examples. §4 Proofs of Theorems II, III and V We are left to provide proofs for those statements in Theorem II involving the automorphism groups and the Hopf-algebra structure of D∗(R∗). It is not obvious that the automorphisms computed in various possible ambient categories should agree. The essential point is that these are relative automorphisms that do preserve all structures on a large sub- object. Again these arguments are similar to those in (15). ∗ Proposition 4.1. Let R be a sub-Ap-algebra of S[V ] such that S[V ] is algebraic over R∗.LetL∗ be a graded field in FS[V ].Then 1) If i : FR∗ → L is a separable extension of graded fields, then L has a unique Ap action respecting the Cartan formula and such that i ∗ is a map of Ap-algebras. Thus any automorphism of L which is the ∗ identity on R respects this Ap-structure. 2) If j : FR∗ → FS[V ] is purely inseparable, then any graded field ∗ automorphism of FS[V ] which restricts to an Ap-automorphism of FR is itself already an Ap-automorphism of FS[V ]. Rings of Invariants and Inseparable Forms 13
∗ ∗ Hence, for SR∗ = D (R ) as in Section Three ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ 3) AutR∗ (D (R )) = AutFR∗ (FD (R )). 4) AutD∗(R∗)(S[V ]) = AutFD∗(R∗)(FS[V ]) = Id and ∗ ∗ 5) AutR∗ (S[V ]) = AutFR∗ (FS[V ]) = AutR∗ (D (R )) and these pre- serve Steenrod operations.
Proposition 4.2. Let U0 ⊆ U1 ... ⊆ V be an increasing filtration of V ,andD∗ the associated diagonal algebra. Then the following groups coincide: 1) G1 : the subgroup of GL(V ) which respects the filtration. 2) G2 : the gradation respecting, Steenrod action preserving algebra automorphisms of D∗. 3) G3 : the gradation respecting, Steenrod action preserving field automorphisms of FD∗. We remark that for S[V ] itself the automorphism groups in several different plausible categories coincide. However this property is not in- herited for the “diagonal” subalgebras D∗: Example 4.3. A gradation preserving algebra automorphism of D∗ need not respect the Steenrod algebra action. Details of 4.3.
∗ 2 2 Let D = F2[t1,t2,t3], and define ψ(t1)=t1,ψ(t2)=t2, but ψ(t3)= 2 ∗ 1 t3 + t1t2. Extend this to all of D .Thenψ does not commute with Sq 2 on t3. Thus Theorem 4.1.1 has non-trivial content. Theorem II.7 observes that D∗(R∗) is also a Hopf-algebra. The correct version of 4.3 is that Hopf-algebra automorphisms of D∗(R∗) respect the Steenrod algebra action. Proof of Theorem II.
We first observe that if R∗ is replaced by its maximal separable ex- ∗ tension in S[V ], SR∗ , then Section II proves Theorem II in this special ∗ { } case, with W (SR∗ )= Id . However, it is clear that the filtrations ∗ ∗ and diagonal subalgebras defined by R and SR∗ agree. It remains to check that the action of W (R∗) preserves the filtration on V .Butif i vp is separable over R∗, then any Galois conjugate of it is also separa- ble over R∗. The identification of the various possible definitions of the automorphism groups is done in 4.1. For II.7, the Hopf-algebra structure of D∗(R∗) is clear. It remains to ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ show that if H is an Ap−sub-Hopf-algebra of S[V ], then H = D (H ). 14 Clarence W. Wilkerson
From the Borel decomposition theorem, as an algebra, H∗ is a finitely generated polynomial algebra, and hence integrally closed. By II.6,
∗ H∗ =(D∗(H∗))W (H ).
However, the Hopf algebra quotient S[V ]//H∗ is a finite evenly graded abelian Hopf-algebra, so each algebra generator of the quotient has height a power of p. By induction, one sees that S[V ] is purely in- separable over H∗. Hence W (H∗)={id} and H∗ = D∗(H∗). Proof of Theorem III. ∗ ∗ ∗ Let R = Fp[y1,... ,yn] be the polynomial algebra, and D (R )its maximal separable extension in S[V ]. Any derivation of R∗ or its fraction field FR∗ into FD∗(R∗) extends uniquely to a derivation on FD∗(R∗), since the extension is separable. More explicitly, if δ ∈ Der(FR∗)and α ∈ FD∗(R∗) has minimal separable equation over FR∗ of
N N−1 f(α)=α + b1α + ...+ b0
then X N−i 0 δα = −( α δbi)/f (α). Since f is separable, there are no repeated roots and f(α) =0.6 In the case at hand of polynomial algebras, the partial derivatives in {yi} ∗ ∗ ∗ and {zj} form bases respectively for Der(FR )andDer(FD (R )). But ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ from the above {∂/∂yi} is also a basis for Der(FD (R )) over FD (R ). The Jacobian |∂yi/∂zj| is the determinant of the change of basis matrix forthesetwobasesofDer(FD∗(R∗)) over FD∗(R∗), and hence must be non-zero. Proof of Prop.4.2. ∗ ∗ Certainly, G1 ⊆ G2 ⊆ G3 We know that D = Un(FR ). Since G3 ∗ induces an automorphism of D , evidently G3 ≈ G2. But the induced N automorphism on D∗ extends uniquely to S[V ],bytherulethatifvp ∈ N N D∗,thenψ(v)=(ψvp )1/p .Sincep−th roots are unique if they exist, this extension is well defined, since the question of whether an element is a p−th power is detectable by the Steenrod action. Hence G1 ≈ G2. ∗ ∗ Since Un(FD )=D , one has G2 = G3 immediately. Proof of Theorem V. Statement 1) is directly from [Lam, (7)]. For2)considerthep−th root closure of (R∗)00 in S[V ]. That is, N y ∈ (R∗)00 if and only if there exists some N ≥ 0 with yp ∈ R∗. Rings of Invariants and Inseparable Forms 15
Then by definition, (S[V ])p ∩ (R∗)00 ⊆ ((R∗)00)p and 1) applies. That is, ∈ ∗ 00 ≥ pN ∈ ∗ c0 (R ) , and there exists N 0 with c0 R . This argument holds for any non-zero ideal of R∗ which is closed under the Steenrod algebra action also. To prove 3), let R∗ = Un(FR∗). Ify ∈ R∗ consider the conductor ideal C(y,R∗) ⊆ R∗ consisting of those elements r ∈ R∗ for which ry ∈ R∗.LetS(y,R∗) be the radical of this ideal, that is, the set of all elements which have a power in C(y,R∗). Finally, define \ S(R∗,R∗)= S(y,R∗). y∈R∗
Then we claim that S(R∗,R∗) is a non-zero ideal in R∗ which is closed under the action of the Steenrod algebra. If so, then by part 2) of this ∗ ∗ theorem, some power of c0 falls in S(R ,R ). That is,
−1 ∗ −1 ∗ Sz R = Sz R .
It remains to check that S(R∗,R∗) is closed under the Steenrod alge- bra action. It suffices to check this for each S(y,R∗). (this need not be true for each C(y,R∗)). Let |y| =2M,andr ∈ C(y,R∗). Now use the Cartan formula to compute X M M M M M M M M P ip rp y =(P ip rp )y + P jp rp P (i−j)p y =(P ir)p y. j>0
The sparseness of the first expansion is due to the treatment of p−th powers by the Steenrod algebra. But moreover, since y is unstable of dimension 2M, each term on the right hand side except the first vanishes, since (i − j)pM >M. This demonstrates that if r ∈ C(y,R∗), then P ir ∈ S(y,R∗), and by replacing r by a suitable p−th power, that P iS(y,R∗) ⊆ S(y,R∗). Finally, to show that S(R∗,R∗) =0,since6 R∗ is notherian, we can ∗ choose a finite set {yk} of algebra generators for R .Thenforeachk, ∗ there exist wk,xk ∈ R such that yk = xk/wk. Then the element Y ∗ ∗ ∆= wk ∈ S(R ,R ).
§5 Discussion and Examples In this section, we make some comments on the algebraic classifica- tion of unstable domains, and give some illustrations of the filtration structure pointed out by Theorem II. 16 Clarence W. Wilkerson
The special case of polynomial algebras has great historical interest. The application of Theorem II to this case is a success, since Theorem IV from (2) gives very strong restrictions on such algebras to be topo- logically realizable. In particular, the filtration produced in Theorem II ∗ must degenerate to U0(R )=V for odd primes p. However from a strictly algebraic viewpoint, there is still a nagging question as to whether the property of the W -action having a polynomial algebra as its ring of invariants is inherited by the action on the diagonal algebras D∗(R∗), and vice versa. More precisely, Conjecture 5.1. Let W be a subgroup of GL(V ) such that W restricts to an action on D∗, a diagonal subalgebra of S[V ].Then(D∗)W is a polynomial algebra if and only if S[V ]W is a polynomial algebra. This conjecture is easily verified if the order of W is prime to p,since in that case the ring of invariants is a polynomial algebra if and only if W is generated by generalized reflections. Without attempting to restrict to just polynomial algebras, Theorem II provides give a construction and classification of all Ap - integral domains which are noetherian and integrally closed. One can view this in two steps: 1) Choose a particular subgroup W ⊆ GL(V ). This generates the separable example as S[V ]W . 2) The inseparable forms of this algebra W are then parameterized by W -invariant filtrations of V and choices of exponents, or equivalently, a “diagonal” algebra D∗ such that the action of W on S[V ] restricts to D∗. So the inseparable form is R∗ =(D∗)W . Notice that if the representation of W has no proper invariant sub- N spaces, then there are always only the “standard” copies ((S[V ])p )W associated with W. Therefore, non-trivial examples of Theorem II must use non-trivial W − filtrations on V . Example 5.2.
Our first example is the Weyl group of the simple Lie group G2.For p = 3, this Weyl group provides an example of proper invariant sub- spaces. The Weyl group of G2 is the dihedral group D12 of order 12. The mod 3 cohomology of BG2 provides a good illustration of two pos- sible viewpoints of the Steenrod algebra action. One is the internal view provided by the explicit Steenrod algebra action, and the other is the external view provided by the (1) embedding and associated Weyl group action. The filtration is easiest to see in terms of the W − action, but is also visible indirectly in the formulas detailing the Steenrod algebra action. Rings of Invariants and Inseparable Forms 17
We take the repesentation of D12 to be determined by the two elements −11 10 α = ,β= 01 0 −1
of GL(Z, 2). So over F3, there are generators for the invariants
2 x4 = t1,
and 2
There is only one nontrivial stable subspace for D12, {0,t1, −t1}, and it has no D12 complement. This filtration corresponds to the family of A3-polynomial algebras parametrized by N,M ≥ 0
3N 3M (F3[x4,y12 ])
in ∗ F3[x4,y12]=H (BG2,F3).
Here the A3 -actions can be specified as
N N N N N+1 N N N+1 N P 1x = −x2,P3 y3 = x3 y3 ,P3 y3 = y3 (x3 − y3 )
and analogues for M>0. On the other hand one sees from these for- M mulas that one can not introduce a x3 instead of x without also sub- M stituting y3 for y. That is,
3M 3N F3[x ,y ]
is not closed under the A3 -action if N
Example 5.3. We now sketch the classification of noetherian integrally closed unsta- ble domains of rank 2 in F2[t1,t2]. We define some useful classes in this ambient polynomial ring in order to ease the notation later.
w1 = t1 + t2,w2 = t1t2 are the Steifel-Whitney classes, and the Dickson invariants are 2 2 c0 = t1t2(t1 + t2),c1 = t1 + t2 + t1t2 Finally 3 3 2 u = t1 + t2 + t1t2. We now provide the classification by listing the Weyl groups, filtra- tions, and exponents that are possible for a given group. 1) W =(id). All subspaces are invariant. The algebras contructed by 2i 2j choices of filtrations and exponents are isomorphic to F2[t1 ,t2 ]. 2) W = Z/2Z . Up to conjugation, we can use the representation 01 τ = . 10
There is one non-trivial subspace, spanned by w1 . Hence the examples corresponding to 0 ⊂ V0 ⊂ V and a choice of exponents N and M give rise to algebras isomorphic to 2N 2M ⊆ F2[w1 ,w2 ] F2[w1,w2] with M ≥ N. 3) W = Z/3Z. Up to conjugation, we can use the representation 01 ρ = . 11 There are no non-trivial W −invariant subspaces. In this case the invari- ants are not polynomial. In fact, ∗ W 2 2 3 R = S[V ] = F2[c0,c1,u]/(u + c0u + c0 + c1). N Any inseparable examples have the form (R∗)2 . 4) W = GL(V ) and we can use as generators for the representation the matrices for ρ and τ in 2) and 3) above. Again, there are no proper 2N invariant subspaces, so the only inseparable forms are F2[c0,c1] . From the inseparability viewpoint, only 1) and 2) are interesting. The reader might wish to attempt this classification of rank 2 unstable poly- nomial algebras over F2 by direct computation instead of this contruc- tion suggested by Theorem II. One special case of 1) and 2) that arises in the classification of the equivariant cohomology rings associated to involutions on cohomology projective planes is Rings of Invariants and Inseparable Forms 19
Proposition 5.4. If the polynomial algebra F2[x1,ym] with |x1| = N 1, |ym| = m has an unstable A2−action then m =2 and either a) 2N F [x1,y2N ] ≈ F2[t1, (t2) ], |tj| =1 or b) 2N−1 ∗ F2[x1,y2N ] ≈ F2[w1, (w2) ] ⊆ H (BO(2)). In case a) Sqky =0, 0 (1) Adams, J.F., Wilkerson, C.W., Finite H-spaces and Algebras over the Steenrod Algebra, Annals of Mathematics 111 (1980), 95–143. (2) Dwyer, W.G., Miller,H., Wilkerson, C.W., The Homotopical Uniqueness of Classifying Spaces, to appear in LMS memorial volume for J.F. Adams, see also talk by Wilkerson at BCAT 1986. (3) Dwyer, W.G., Wilkerson, C.W., Smith Theory revisited, Annals of Mathemat- ics (1988). (4) Dwyer, W. G., Wilkerson, C. W., Smith Theory and the Functor T,preprint (1988). (5) Jacobson, N., “Lectures in Abstract Algebra, Vol. III.,” Van Nostrand, Prince- ton, 1964. (6) Jacobson, N., “Lie Algebras,” Wiley (Interscience), New York, 1962.. (7) Lam, S.P., Thesis, Trinity College, Cambridge, 1982.. (8) Lang, S., “Algebra,” Addison-Wesley, Reading, 1965. (9) J. Lannes, Sur la cohomologie modulo p des p-groupes Ab´eliens ´el´ementaires, in “Homotopy Theory, Proc. Durham Symp. 1985,” edited by E. Rees and J.D.S. Jones, Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, 1987. (10) Mitchell, S., Stong, R. E., An adjoint representation for polynomial algebras, Proceedings of the American Mathematics Society 101(1) (1987), 161–167. (11) Quillen, D., The spectrum of an equivalent cohomology ring I, II, Annals of Mathematics 94 (1971), 573–602. (12) Rector, D. L., Journal of Pure and Applied Algebra (1984). (13) Serre, J.-P., Sur la dimension cohomologique des groupes profinis, Topology 3 (1965), 413–420. (14) Wilkerson, C.W., Classifying Spaces, Steenrod Operations and Algebraic Clo- sure, Topology 16 (1977), 227–237. (15) Wilkerson, C. W., Integral closure for algebras over the Steenrod Algebra,J. of Pure and Applied Algebra (1979). (16) Winter, D., “The Structure of Fields,” Graduate Texts in Mathematics. Vol- ume 16, Springer-Verlag, New York, 1974. Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907