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It is known (e.g. the Kirby-Siebenmann book) that $\mathrm{TOP}(n)/\mathrm{PL}(n)\simeq K({\mathbb Z}/2,3)$ for $n>4$. I believe it is also known (Freedman-Quinn) that $\mathrm{TOP}(4)/\mathrm{PL}(4)\to K({\mathbb Z}/2,3)$ is 5-connected. Is it known whether $\mathrm{TOP}(4)/\mathrm{PL}(4)$ is not equivalent to $K({\mathbb Z}/2,3)$?

Edit: The following lists the relevant definitions.

• The topological group $\mathrm{TOP}(n)$ is the group of self-homeomorphisms of ${\mathbb R}^n$ with the compact-open topology.

• The topological monoid $\mathrm{PL}(n)=\lvert\mathrm{PL}_S(n)\rvert$ is defined as the geometric realization of the simplicial group $\mathrm{PL}_S(n)$. The $k$-simplices of $\mathrm{PL}_S(n)$ are the piecewise linear homeomorphisms $\Delta^k\times{\mathbb R}^n\to\Delta^k\times{\mathbb R}^n$ which commute with the projection onto $\Delta^k$.

• With the above definitions, there exists a canonical map of topological monoids $\mathrm{PL}(n)\to\mathrm{TOP}(n)$. Then the space $\mathrm{TOP}(n)/\mathrm{PL}(n)$ is defined as the homotopy fibre of the induced map $B\mathrm{PL}(n)\to B\mathrm{TOP}(n)$. It is not actually a quotient of a group by a subgroup.

• Here is a way of recovering the homotopy type of $\mathrm{TOP}(n)/\mathrm{PL}(n)$ as an actual quotient. Let $\mathrm{TOP}_S(n)$ be the singular complex of $\mathrm{TOP}(n)$: $\mathrm{TOP}_S(n)$ is the simplicial set whose $k$-simplices are continuous maps $\Delta^k\to\mathrm{TOP}(n)$; these are in canonical bijection with the homeomorphisms $\Delta^k\times{\mathbb R}^n\to\Delta^k\times{\mathbb R}^n$ commuting with the projection onto $\Delta^k$. Hence we obtain an inclusion of simplicial groups $\mathrm{PL}_S(n)\hookrightarrow\mathrm{TOP}_S(n)$, which induces by adjunction the previous map of topological monoids $\mathrm{PL}(n)\to\mathrm{TOP}(n)$. The space $\mathrm{TOP}(n)/\mathrm{PL}(n)$ is weakly homotopy equivalent to the geometric realization of the simplicial set $\mathrm{TOP}_S(n)/\mathrm{PL}_S(n)$ (which is levelwise given by taking cosets).

It is known (e.g. the Kirby-Siebenmann book) that $\mathrm{TOP}(n)/\mathrm{PL}(n)\simeq K({\mathbb Z}/2,3)$ for $n>4$. I believe it is also known (Freedman-Quinn) that $\mathrm{TOP}(4)/\mathrm{PL}(4)\to K({\mathbb Z}/2,3)$ is 5-connected. Is it known whether $\mathrm{TOP}(4)/\mathrm{PL}(4)$ is not equivalent to $K({\mathbb Z}/2,3)$?

Edit: The following lists the relevant definitions.

• The topological group $\mathrm{TOP}(n)$ is the group of self-homeomorphisms of ${\mathbb R}^n$ with the compact-open topology.

• The topological group $\mathrm{PL}(n)=|\mathrm{PL}_S(n)|$ is defined as the geometric realization of the simplicial group $\mathrm{PL}_S(n)$. The $k$-simplices of $\mathrm{PL}_S(n)$ are the piecewise linear homeomorphisms $\Delta^k\times{\mathbb R}^n\to\Delta^k\times{\mathbb R}^n$ which commute with the projection onto $\Delta^k$.

• With the above definitions, there exists a canonical map of topological groups $\mathrm{PL}(n)\to\mathrm{TOP}(n)$. Then the space $\mathrm{TOP}(n)/\mathrm{PL}(n)$ is defined as the homotopy fibre of the induced map $B\mathrm{PL}(n)\to B\mathrm{TOP}(n)$. It is not actually a quotient of a group by a subgroup.

• Here is a way of recovering the homotopy type of $\mathrm{TOP}(n)/\mathrm{PL}(n)$ as an actual quotient. Let $\mathrm{TOP}_S(n)$ be the singular complex of $\mathrm{TOP}(n)$: $\mathrm{TOP}_S(n)$ is the simplicial set whose $k$-simplices are continuous maps $\Delta^k\to\mathrm{TOP}(n)$; these are in canonical bijection with the homeomorphisms $\Delta^k\times{\mathbb R}^n\to\Delta^k\times{\mathbb R}^n$ commuting with the projection onto $\Delta^k$. Hence we obtain an inclusion of simplicial groups $\mathrm{PL}_S(n)\hookrightarrow\mathrm{TOP}_S(n)$, which induces by adjunction the previous map of topological groups $\mathrm{PL}(n)\to\mathrm{TOP}(n)$. The space $\mathrm{TOP}(n)/\mathrm{PL}(n)$ is weakly homotopy equivalent to the geometric realization of the simplicial set $\mathrm{TOP}_S(n)/\mathrm{PL}_S(n)$ (which is levelwise given by taking cosets).

It is known (e.g. the Kirby-Siebenmann book) that $\mathrm{TOP}(n)/\mathrm{PL}(n)\simeq K({\mathbb Z}/2,3)$ for $n>4$. I believe it is also known (Freedman-Quinn) that $\mathrm{TOP}(4)/\mathrm{PL}(4)\to K({\mathbb Z}/2,3)$ is 5-connected. Is it known whether $\mathrm{TOP}(4)/\mathrm{PL}(4)$ is not equivalent to $K({\mathbb Z}/2,3)$?

It is known (e.g. the Kirby-Siebenmann book) that $\mathrm{TOP}(n)/\mathrm{PL}(n)\simeq K({\mathbb Z}/2,3)$ for $n>4$. I believe it is also known (Freedman-Quinn) that $\mathrm{TOP}(4)/\mathrm{PL}(4)\to K({\mathbb Z}/2,3)$ is 5-connected. Is it known whether $\mathrm{TOP}(4)/\mathrm{PL}(4)$ is not equivalent to $K({\mathbb Z}/2,3)$?

Edit: The following lists the relevant definitions.

• The topological group $\mathrm{TOP}(n)$ is the group of self-homeomorphisms of ${\mathbb R}^n$ with the compact-open topology.

• The topological monoid $\mathrm{PL}(n)=\lvert\mathrm{PL}_S(n)\rvert$ is defined as the geometric realization of the simplicial group $\mathrm{PL}_S(n)$. The $k$-simplices of $\mathrm{PL}_S(n)$ are the piecewise linear homeomorphisms $\Delta^k\times{\mathbb R}^n\to\Delta^k\times{\mathbb R}^n$ which commute with the projection onto $\Delta^k$.

• With the above definitions, there exists a canonical map of topological monoids $\mathrm{PL}(n)\to\mathrm{TOP}(n)$. Then the space $\mathrm{TOP}(n)/\mathrm{PL}(n)$ is defined as the homotopy fibre of the induced map $B\mathrm{PL}(n)\to B\mathrm{TOP}(n)$. It is not actually a quotient of a group by a subgroup.

• Here is a way of recovering the homotopy type of $\mathrm{TOP}(n)/\mathrm{PL}(n)$ as an actual quotient. Let $\mathrm{TOP}_S(n)$ be the singular complex of $\mathrm{TOP}(n)$: $\mathrm{TOP}_S(n)$ is the simplicial set whose $k$-simplices are continuous maps $\Delta^k\to\mathrm{TOP}(n)$; these are in canonical bijection with the homeomorphisms $\Delta^k\times{\mathbb R}^n\to\Delta^k\times{\mathbb R}^n$ commuting with the projection onto $\Delta^k$. Hence we obtain an inclusion of simplicial groups $\mathrm{PL}_S(n)\hookrightarrow\mathrm{TOP}_S(n)$, which induces by adjunction the previous map of topological monoids $\mathrm{PL}(n)\to\mathrm{TOP}(n)$. The space $\mathrm{TOP}(n)/\mathrm{PL}(n)$ is weakly homotopy equivalent to the geometric realization of the simplicial set $\mathrm{TOP}_S(n)/\mathrm{PL}_S(n)$ (which is levelwise given by taking cosets).

It is known (e.g. the Kirby-Siebenmann book) that $\text{TOP}(n)/\text{PL}(n)\simeq K({\mathbb Z}/2,3)$ for $n>4$. I believe it is also known (Freedman-Quinn) that $\text{TOP}(4)/\text{PL}(4)\to K({\mathbb Z}/2,3)$ is 5-connected. Is it known whether $\text{TOP}(4)/\text{PL}(4)$ is not equivalent to $K({\mathbb Z}/2,3)$?

It is known (e.g. the Kirby-Siebenmann book) that $\mathrm{TOP}(n)/\mathrm{PL}(n)\simeq K({\mathbb Z}/2,3)$ for $n>4$. I believe it is also known (Freedman-Quinn) that $\mathrm{TOP}(4)/\mathrm{PL}(4)\to K({\mathbb Z}/2,3)$ is 5-connected. Is it known whether $\mathrm{TOP}(4)/\mathrm{PL}(4)$ is not equivalent to $K({\mathbb Z}/2,3)$?