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Kevin Wray
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cohomology of BG, G compact Lie group

It has been stated in several papers that $H^{odd}(BG,\mathbb{R})=0$ for compact Lie group $G$. However, I've still not found a proof of this. I believe that the proof is as follows:

--> $G$ compact $\Rightarrow$ it has a maximal toral subgroup, say $T$

--> the inclusion $T\hookrightarrow G$ induces inclusion $H^k(BG,\mathbb{R})\hookrightarrow H^k(BT,\mathbb{R})$

--> $H^*(BT,\mathbb{R})\cong \mathbb{R}[c_1,...,c_n]$ where the $c_i$'s are Chern classes of degree $\deg(c_k)=2k$

--> Thus, any polys in $\mathbb{R}[c_1,...,c_n]$ are necessarily of even degree. Hence, $H^{odd}(BG,\mathbb{R})=0$

Is this the correct reasoning? Could someone fill in the gaps; i.e., give a formal proof of this statement?

Kevin Wray
  • 1.7k
  • 14
  • 20