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What is the explicit model of BSU(2) in terms of singular complex, up to 5 dimensions, so that one can compute $\pi_5(BSU(2))=\mathbb{Z}_2$ explicitly?

This question is related to another question of $\pi$-cohomology and its computation. (see $\pi$-cohomology class -- a variant of cohomology class )

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    $\begingroup$ I changed 'homotopy' to 'homotopy-theory'; I am not sure this is the most fitting, but in any case there are already nine tags containing homotopy. To create the unspecific 'homotopy' as tenth thus seems not optimal to me. $\endgroup$
    – user9072
    Mar 5, 2013 at 14:15
  • $\begingroup$ Could you be a little more precise on what it means for you, to compute homotopy groups of spaces explicitly, if you do not allow yourself the tool (as Andre did) of the long exact sequence of a fibration? $\endgroup$ Mar 5, 2013 at 15:54
  • $\begingroup$ @Ryan: I would like to know an explicit singular complex (or an explicit simplicial set) that homotopically model $BSU(2)$, so that I can computer other topological properties of $BSU(2)$ in a finite calculation. The model does not have to be complete, since I am only interested in the topological properties at dimensions up to 5 or 6. I mention $\pi_5(BSU(2))$ because I like to model to be complete enough to computer $\pi_5(BSU(2))$. $\endgroup$ Mar 5, 2013 at 16:47
  • $\begingroup$ If I had a singular complex (or an explicit simplicial set) that homotopically model $BSU(2)$, then I list all the homotopically equivalent 5-spheres in $BSU(2)$, which will be a finite list. $\endgroup$ Mar 5, 2013 at 16:52
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    $\begingroup$ @Xiao-Gang Wen. "then I list all the homotopically equivalent 5-spheres": I hope that I'm not being offensive, but to be quite honest your proposal sounds like complete crazyness. Can you name any simplicial set in which you can make a complete list of the 5-spheres that live in it? Let's start with an easier example: the well known $\pi_3(S^2)=\mathbb Z$. It's easy to model $S^2$ by a simplicial complex, for example the boundary of a tetrahedron. Can you use that description to compute $\pi_3(S^2)$? $\endgroup$ Mar 5, 2013 at 21:59

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It seems that a singular complex is not the best option if you are interesting in computing topological properties of $BSU(2) \approx \mathbb HP^\infty$ by a "finite calculation". A singular $n$-simplex is just a continuous map from the standard $n$-simplex to the manifold, there are thus ucountable infinite number of them for any $n$. A simplicial, $\Delta$ or CW complex is a much simpler and more efficient for calculations, CW complex probably being the best one.

I have tried to construct the CW complex concretely (by extending example 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 of Hatcher to the quaternionic case), and if I am right then you have the following CW decomposition

$\mathbb HP^n = e^0 \cup e^4 \cup \cdots \cup e^{4n}$.

For example for $\mathbb HP^1$, you just have one $1$-cell and one $4$-cell. For the classifying space, $\mathbb HP^\infty$, you have a countable number of cells, only one for each $4n$-cell.

Let me briefly go through how it's done (thinking about the $\mathbb RP^n$ case first, might make this much easier to understand).

One way do define $\mathbb HP^n$ is to identify any two points on the unit quaternionic sphere $p,q\in S(\mathbb H^{n+1})\approx S^{4n+3}$ by $p\sim q$ iff $p=\lambda q$, where $\lambda\in S^3 \approx SU(2)$ is a unit quaternion.

This is however equivalent to taking a disk ("upper hemisphere") $D^{4n}_+ = \left\{\left(w,\sqrt{1-|w|^2}\right)\in\mathbb H^n\times\mathbb H | |w|\leq 1\right\}\subset S^{4n+3}$ and identifying the points on the boundary by $a\sim b$ iff $a=\lambda b$. The boundary is just $\partial D^{4n}_+=S^{4n-1} = S^{4(n-1)+3}$ with elements $(w,0)$, where $w\in\mathbb H^n$ and $|w|^2=1$. Therefore this identification on the boundary just leads to $\mathbb HP^{n-1}$, "on the boundary".

In other words, to construct $\mathbb HP^n$, take the disjoint union of a $4n$-disk and $\mathbb HP^{n-1}$, then attach the disk boundary to $\mathbb HP^{n-1}$ by the natural projection

$\pi:\partial D^{4n}_+ = S^{4(n-1)+3}\rightarrow \mathbb HP^{n-1},$ $a\mapsto [a]$.

Thus we can construct a CW complex;

  1. Start with a $0$-skeleton $X^0$ containing only one $0$-cell (one point). Add a $4$-disk and attach its boundary ($S^3$) to the $0$-cell (point) to get the $4$-skeleton $X^4 = S^4 = \mathbb HP^1$ with only one $4$-cell.
  2. Add a $8$-disk to $X^4$ and glue its boundary ($S^7$) to $X^4=\mathbb HP^1$ by the projection map $\pi$, and obtain $X^8=\mathbb HP^2$.
  3. Continue until the $n$-skeleton $X^n = \mathbb HP^n$.

So we have the inclusions $\mathbb HP^0 \subset\mathbb HP^1 \subset\mathbb HP^2 \subset \dots \subset \mathbb HP^n$,

given iteratively

$\mathbb HP^n = \frac{\mathbb HP^{n-1}\sqcup D^{4n}_+}{a \sim \pi(a)} = e^0\cup e^4\cup\cdots\cup e^{4n}$.

This construction contain relatively few cells and might be effectively used to calculate the $\pi$-cohomology. If you prefer a triangulation, the appendix of Hatcher is probably good to read in order to see how one might decompose this cell-decomposition into a triangulation.

(I feel I made this seem more formal and technical than it is.)

Edit:

If you are interested in a simplicial/CW complex of $BSU(2)=\mathbb HP^\infty$ which is just accurate enough to get $\pi_5(BSU(2)) = \mathbb Z_2$ right, then $\mathbb HP^1$ might be a good enough approximation to $BSU(2)$. According to the above construction we have that $\mathbb HP^1 = S^4$, and it is well-known that $\pi_5(S^4)=\mathbb Z_2$ (see wikipedia). If $\mathbb HP^1 = S^4$ is enough to calculate the $\pi$-cohomology, then it is very simple to get a simplicial complex for this without the need of a CW complex.

Edit 2:

By the way, $\mathbb HP^1=S^4$ seems to get everything up to (and including) $\pi_6(BSU(2))$ right but it fails after that. Actually $\pi_{i\geq 7}(S^4)$ has all the right factors from $\pi_{i\geq 7}(BSU(2))$, and some additional factors. I think if you use $\mathbb HP^2$ as an approximation instead, then some of these extra factors vanish and a few more homotopy groups turn out correctly. Thus $\mathbb HP^1 = S^4$ seems to be an okay approximation if you are only interested in homotopy up to $\pi_6(BSU(2))$.

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The infinite quaternionic sphere $S(\mathbb{H}^\infty)=\bigcup_n{S(\mathbb{H}^n)}$ is contractible and carries a free action of the unit quaternions $SU(2)=Sp(1)$. The quotient $\mathbb{H}P^\infty$ is a model for $BSU(2)$, and $\mathbb{H}P^n$ is then an approximation suitable for computing homotopy groups or the cohomology ring in low degrees.

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    $\begingroup$ @Tim: This is something I want, which is in terms of CW complex (?). But what is the singular complex (or the simplicial set) that model $\mathbb{H}P^n$. I like to know how many edges, how many faces, and how are they connected. May be a singular complex (or the simplicial set) that model $\mathbb{H}P^2$ is enough for me. $\endgroup$ Mar 5, 2013 at 16:58
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    $\begingroup$ This description should indeed yield a CW complex, and from that one could I suppose work out a triangulation. But, like André Henriques, I find it hard to believe that triangulation is an effective way to extract information (compare the standard treatments of $BU(1)$ and $B(\mathbb{Z}/2)$). $\endgroup$
    – Tim Perutz
    Mar 5, 2013 at 21:00
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If you care about homotopy groups of classifying spaces, then the relevant general result is $\pi_n(BG)=\pi_{n-1}(G)$.

In your specific case, you are looking at $\pi_4(SU(2))=\pi_4(S^3)=\mathbb Z/2$.

For any $n\ge 3$, one has $\pi_{n+1}(S^n)=\mathbb Z/2$. This is the first stable homotopy group of spheres $\pi_1^{st}(S^0)$, and its generator is one of the three ``Hopf invariant one'' elements.

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    $\begingroup$ @Andre Thank you for the answer. Actually, I do not care about $\pi_n(BSU(2))$. I like to know an explicit singular complex (or an explicit simplicial set) that model the $BSU(2)$ in a homotopically equivalent way. This will allow me to compute homotopical and/or homological properties of $BSU(2)$ in a finite calculation. $\endgroup$ Mar 5, 2013 at 15:10
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    $\begingroup$ "This will allow me to compute homotopical and/or homological properties": there are other way of computing everything you might want to know about BSU(2) that are much better than having an explicit simplicial set. $\endgroup$ Mar 5, 2013 at 17:29

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