Whitehead conjecture

Abstract: We study random 2-dimensional complexes in the Linial - Meshulam model and prove that for the probability parameter satisfying $$p\ll n^{-46/47}$$ a random 2-complex $Y$ contains several pairwise disjoint tetrahedra such that the 2-complex $Z$ obtained by removing any face from each of these tetrahedra is aspherical. Moreover, we prove that the obtained complex $Z$ satisfies the Whitehead conjecture, i.e. any subcomplex $Z'\subset Z$ is aspherical. This implies that $Y$ is homotopy equivalent to a wedge $Z\vee S^2\vee...\vee S^2$ where $Z$ is a 2-dimensional aspherical simplicial complex. We also show that under the assumptions $$c/n 3$ and $0<\epsilon<1/47$, the complex $Z$ is genuinely 2-dimensional and in particular, it has sizable 2-dimensional homology; it follows that in the indicated range of the probability parameter $p$ the cohomological dimension of the fundamental group $\pi_1(Y)$ of a random 2-complex equals 2.

Abstract: In the early 1980's the author proved G.W. Whitehead's conjecture about stable homotopy groups and symmetric products. In the mid 1990's, Arone and Mahowald showed that the Goodwillie tower of the identity had remarkably good properties when specialized to odd dimensional spheres. In this paper we prove that these results are linked, as has been long suspected. We give a state-of-the-art proof of the Whitehead conjecture valid for all primes, and simultaneously show that the identity tower specialized to the circle collapses in the expected sense. Key to our work is that Steenrod algebra module maps between the primitives in the mod p homology of certain infinite loopspaces are determined by elements in the mod p Hecke algebras of type A. Certain maps between spaces are shown to be chain homotopy contractions by using identities in these Hecke algebras.

Abstract: In [ W ] J. H. C. Whitehead posed the following question: ‘Is every subcomplex K of a 2-dimensional aspherical complex L itself aspherical ?’ This problem is usually referred to as the ‘Whitehead Conjecture’ though it was only stated in the form of a question. For convenience we treat it also as a conjecture. The Whitehead Conjecture has been proved in special cases: if the subcomplex K has only one 2-cell, and also in the case where π 1 ( K ) is either finite, abelian, of free [C] For more partial results see, for example, the introduction of [ H1 ].

Abstract: We study fundamental groups of clique complexes associated to random graphs. We establish thresholds for their cohomological and geometric dimension and torsion. We also show that in certain regime any aspherical subcomplex of a random clique complex satisfies the Whitehead conjecture, i.e. all irs subcomplexes are also aspherical.