Questions tagged [eilenberg-maclane-spaces]

A topological space with a single nonzero homotopy group. Use in conjunction with (algebraic-topology), (homotopy-theory), (homology-cohomology) or (classifying-spaces).

Given an integer $n \ge 1$ and a group $A$ (which has to be abelian if $n \ge 2$), the Eilenberg–MacLane space $K(A,n)$ (sometimes also denoted $B^nA$ to emphasize that it is an $n$-fold delooping of the group $A$) is a path-connected topological space whose homotopy groups satisfy: $$\pi_k\bigl( K(A,n) \bigr) = \begin{cases} A, & k = n; \\ 0, & k \neq n. \end{cases}$$ Such a space always exists, and it is unique up to homotopy.

A fundamental property of these spaces is that they classify cohomology: given a CW-complex $X$, the set of homotopy classes of maps $X \to K(A,n)$ is naturally in bijection with the $n$-th cohomology group of $X$ with coefficients in $A$: $$H^n(X;A) \cong [X, K(A,n)].$$ These spaces also occur as the fiber of the maps in a Postnikov tower.

119 questions
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Why is the cohomology of a $K(G,1)$ group cohomology?

Let $G$ be a (finite?) group. By definition, the Eilenberg-MacLane space $K(G,1)$ is a CW complex such that $\pi_1(K(G,1)) = G$ while the higher homotopy groups are zero. One can consider the singular cohomology of $K(G,1)$, and it is a theorem that…
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What functor does $K(G, 1)$ represent for nonabelian $G$?

For $G$ an abelian group, the Eilenberg-Maclane space $K(G, n)$ represents singular cohomology $H^n(-; G)$ with coefficients in $G$ on the homotopy category of CW-complexes. If $n > 1$, then $G$ must be abelian, but for $n = 1$ there are also…
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Is there a non-contractible simply-connected 4-manifold which is an Eilenberg-Mac Lane space?

Let $M$ be a simply-connected non-contractible 4-manifold without boundary. Note that I am not assuming $M$ is closed. Can it be the case that $M$ is a $K(G, n)$ for some abelian group $G$ and $n > 0$? I suspect the answer is "no," but haven't been…
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Finite dimensional Eilenberg-Maclane spaces

Given a positive integer $n\geq 2$ and an abelian group $G$, is it possible to find a finite dimensional $K(G,n)$? In case it does, which are some examples? Thanks...
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Group structure on Eilenberg-MacLane spaces

How do we put a group structure on $K(G,n)$ that makes it a topological group? I know that $\Omega K(G,n+1)=K(G,n)$ and since we have a product of loops this makes $K(G,n)$ into a H-space. But what about being a topological group?
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Specific examples of Eilenberg-Maclane spaces?

Given an integer $n$ and a group $G$ (abelian if $n \geq 2$), it's always possible to construct a $K(G,n)$ as a cell complex. The standard procedure is to choose a presentation $\langle S | R \rangle$ of $G$, construct a wedge sum of $n$-spheres…
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Is the classifying space $B^nG$ the Eilenberg-MacLane space $K(G, n)$?

Question: How should we interpret and understand the classifying space $B^nG$? Is that Eilenberg-MacLane space $K(G,n)$? What one can learn about $BG$ follows the basic: A classifying space $BG$ of a topological group $G$ is the quotient of a…
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Homology and the reduced A-linearization of a space.

On page 16 of his book on symmetric spectra, Stefan Schwede defines the $n$-th Eilenberg-Mac Lane space $(HA)_n$ of an abelian group $A$ by means of a construction called the reduced $A$-linearization. Given a pointed space $K$, the reduced…
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Is there an analogue of Eilenberg-Maclane spaces for homology?

Let $G$ be a group and $n$ a positive integer. A connected topological space $Y$ is called an Eilenberg–MacLane space of type $K(G, n)$, if $\pi_n(Y) \cong G$ and all other homotopy groups of $Y$ are trivial; as such as spaces are unique up to weak…
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$\pi_n(X^n)$ free Abelian?

I have encountered a problem which states that denote $X$ as an Eilenberg-MacLane space $K(G,1)$ and is a CW complex, show that $\pi_n(X^n)$ is free Abelian for $n \geqslant 2$. However, I think I have a conceptual misunderstanding in this problem.…
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Eilenberg-Maclane space $K(G\rtimes H, 1)$ for a semi-direct product.

We know that $K(G\times H, 1)=K(G,1)\times K(H,1)$. Do we know something like this for a semi-direct product, where $K(G,1)$ denotes the Eilenberg-Maclane space.
user114539
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Maps between Eilenberg–MacLane spaces

I was re-reading an algebraic topology book the other day, and I came across the following problem: Suppose that $\pi$ and $\rho$ are abelian groups and $n\geq 1$. Determine $[K(\pi,n),K(\rho,n)]$, the set of (based) homotopy classes of maps…
Aaron
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Concluding $\Bbb Z$-cohomology from $\Bbb Z_2$-cohomology using Bocksteins

According to a theorem of Serre, the cohomology algebra $H^*(K(\Bbb Z,3); \Bbb Z_2)$ is a polynomial ring on elements $\iota_3, \,\operatorname{Sq}^2(\iota_3), \,\operatorname{Sq}^4\operatorname{Sq}^2(\iota_3), \, \cdots$, where $\iota_3$ is a…
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Is $K(G,1) = BG$?

Is an Eilenberg-MacLane space $K(G,1)$ the same as the classifying space $BG$ for a group $G$ ?
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How to construct $K(\mathbb{Z}/5\mathbb{Z},1)$?

From the Wikipedia article on Eilenberg-MacLane spaces: A $K(G, n)$ can be constructed stage-by-stage, as a CW complex, starting with a wedge of n-spheres, one for each generator of the group $G$, and adding cells in (possibly infinite number…
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