Annals of Mathematics

Determination of the Cobordism Ring

Author(s): C. T. C. Wall
Source: Annals of Mathematics, Second Series, Vol. 72, No. 2 (Sep., 1960), pp. 292-311
Published by: Annals of Mathematics
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ANNALS OF NIATHREIMATICS
Vol. 72,No. 2, September, 1960
Printed in Japan

DETERMINATION OF THE COBORDISM RING

BY C. T. C. WALL

(Received August 21, 1959)

(Revised December 29, 1959)

The cobordismringwas firstdefinedby R. Thom[15],and is sometimes

knownas the Thomalgebra. Considerthe set of closedorientedmanifolds
of dimensionk (here, and throughoutthis paper, all manifoldsare sup-
of what class it does not matter), and if V is an
posed differentiable,
orientedmanifold,denote by - V the same manifoldwiththe opposite
orientation.Introducethe relation V- W (pronounced:V is cobordant
withW) ifthereis a compactorientedmanifoldM withorientedboundary
8,(M) = V + (- W), where + denotes disjoint union. It is easy to see
that - is an equivalence relation, compatible with + and -, so that the
equivalenceclasses forman abelian group, f2,, the cobordismgroup in
dimensionk. Since, if V is closed, &0(Mx V) = &0Mx V, topological
productis compatiblewith -, and induces a product&iQk x i2z-0 >2tQ,
with respectto whichthe directsum {2 = ,k k becomesan associative

and skew-commutative ring. In an informalway we can considerthe

boundaryoperator&0as a nilpotentendomorphism ofthe set of all compact
orientedmanifoldsand define 2 = Ker J0/Im &,;hencethe name 'intrinsic
homology'adopted by Rohlinforcobordism.
If orientationis not requiredin the above, we obtain an equivalence
relationV-2 W (pronounced:V is cobordantwith W mod2) for non-
orientedmanifolds,and a new cobordismringSt = Ek Sk We willdenote
by r : i2 9fthe naturalmap obtainedby ignoringorientation.Q2,T are
-

ringsin the ordinaryalgebraicsense, and r is a homomorphism between

them, and the problemwithwhichwe are concernedis to give a purely
algebraicdescriptionof them.
Now the structureof T was alreadycompletelydeterminedin [15]: 9
is a ring of polynomialsmod2, withone generatorx, in each dimension
i not of the form2' - 1. A necessaryand sufficient conditionthat two
manifoldsbe cobordantmod2 is thattheyhave the same Stiefelnumbers,
whichare definedas follows. Let wI be the ith Stiefelclass mod2 of the
manifoldMk,so wI e HI(Mk, Z2). (For a definitionof the Stiefel classes
of a manifoldsee [5] or [13].) Form any homogeneouspolynomialof
degreek in the wf,f(w, ***.., w) e H(Mk, Z2) and evaluate it on the
fundamentalcycle (mod2) of Mk. It is frequentlyconvenientto regard
the wI as the elementarysymmetricfunctionsof k (or even more) inde-
292

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 COBORDISM RING 293

terminatesto;thenlet sj(w', w') be that polynomialin them equal

*..,

identicallyto Ad to. The corresponding Stiefelnumberhas the property

that Me can be chosenas a k-dimensional generatorof 9f if and only if
sd[Mk] = 1. In Thom
particular, showed that real projectivespaces P2,(R)
can be taken as generatorsin even dimensions,and Dold in [2] gave
generatorsforthe odd dimensionswhichI shall defineand use in ? 3.
Much workhas been done on the structureof Q2. An early theorem
[9], [14] asserts that Stiefel numbersand Pontrjagin numbersare in-
variants of cobordismclass. Pontrjaginnumbersare definedas Stiefel
numbers,but using Pontrjaginclasses pi e H4 (Mk, Z), (as definedin [4]),
evaluated with integralcoefficients, and onlydefinableif ki= 0 (mod4).
&?
The mainresultson are also containedin [15], viz.,
generatedabelian groups.
( i ) The i2,kare finitely
(ii) &20 Q (Q denotesthe fieldof rational numbers)is a polynomial
algebra,whosegeneratorsmay be takenas the complexprojectivespaces
P2n(C).
(iii) Two manifoldsdeterminethe same elementof &? mod torsionif
and onlyif theyhave the same Pontrjaginnumbers.
These results have been extendedby Milnor[7], [16] who has shown,
using a spectralsequence due to Adams [1],
(iv) i2 has no odd torsion.
(v) The torsionfreepart of &2is a polynomial ring,and a manifoldM4k
as
qualifies generator if and onlyif the Pontrjaginnumber
SJPl*..., P%)[M4tJ = + q if 2k + 1 is a powerof the primeq
= + 1 if 2k + 1 is not a primepower.
Thus all that remainsto be evaluated is the 2-torsionof Q?. The most
notable workeron this is Rohlin,whose work is based on a study of
r: &2 > W; in particular he findsin [10] the exact sequence
f2 ) r 9

(where2 denotes the homomorphism x ) 2x) for which an alternative

proof has since been given by Dold [3]. Unfortunately, Rohlin'spapers
containa mereoutlineof proofs,and his evaluationof the 2-torsionof &?
in [11] is incorrect,as this paper will show.
The object of this paper is to provethe followingresults:
(vi) &2containsno elementsof order4.
(vii) Two manifoldsare cobordantif and only if they have the same
Stiefeland Pontrjaginnumbers.
These were conjecturedby Thom. The proofwilloccupythegreaterpart

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294 C. T. C. WALL

of this paper; the last two paragraphsmake various deductions,as my

proofshows rather more than these results, and in particularyieldsa
completealgebraiedescriptionof Q2. In fact, all propertiesof &? are as
simple as they could possiblybe (if myresultsshouldstrikethe reader
as complicated,let himtryand workout cobordismtheoryforthe spinor
group). The main ideas of this paper were announcedin [17].
I should like to express mygratitudeto J. F. Adams for suggesting
this problemto me, and for simplifyingseveral of my proofs,and to
E. C. Zeeman forunfailingencouragementof mywork.
1. The main construction
Let Mnbe a closed manifold,whose firstStiefelclass w1is the restric-
tion mod2 of a class with (simple)integercoefficients, whichmustcor-
respondto a map f: Mn K(Z, 1) = S1 (fordefinitionand propertiesof
-

Eilenberg-MacLanespaces K(r, n) see [12]). Let u generateH1(S', Z2),

thenf *(u)=wl. But thereis a (1-1) correspondencebetween Z2-bundles
over a space X and H1(X, Z2), each corresponding to homotopyclasses of
maps of X into K(Z2, 1). Hence the bundle correspondingto w1, with
groupZ2, and whichI may describeas the orientationbundle,is induced
byf fromthe doublecoveringof S1.
We may now approximateto f by a differentiable map, and thenapply
TheoremI.5 of [15]; we finda map g: Mn S1, homotopicto f, and -

t-regularat 0 (we regard S1 as the interval[0, 1] with0, 1 identified).

The map g is t-regularat 0, and so in some neighbourhood.We choose8
so that (- 8, 8) is containedin the interiorof some such neighbourhood.
Since g is t-regularat 0, g-'(0) V-Vn1 is a differentiablesubmanifold
of Mn. Its normalbundle is induced fromthat of 0 in SI, so is trivial.
The orientationbundleof M- V is inducedfroma bundleover(0, 1) so is
trivial. Hence the manifoldgW[0,8) withboundaryV is orientable,and
its orientationinduces one of V. We may note that if we do the same
for(1 - 8, 1] we inducethe same orientationof V.
Finally,since g inducesw'(M), and V = g-1(0),the homologyclass of
V in M is dual (in M) to w1(M),workingmod2.
LEMMA 1. An oriented manifold V,,- can be obtained by the above
constructionfrom someMnif and onlyif 2 V -- 0.
PROOF. If V can be so obtained,cut M along V to obtain a manifold
M' with boundary.M- V is orientable,so M' is. Sincethenormalbundle
of V in M was trivial,the boundaryof M' consistsof two disjointcopies
of V. The orientationof M- V inducesorientationsof M' and of V, and
by a remarkabove, &)M' = 2V. Hence 2V,- 0.

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 COBORDISM RING 295

Conversely,suppose2 V - 0, and let M' be an orientedmanifoldwith

boundary&0M'= 2 V. Let M be obtainedby identifyingthe two copies
of V in M'; clearlywe can give M a differentiable structureusing that
on M'. Let p be a differentiable metricon M, inductingp' on M', nor-
malised so that the distanceapart of the two copies of V in M', say V1,
V, is > 1. Definef':M' [0,11 by
If p'(x, VI) < 1/2, f'(x) '(X, V1).
If p'(x, V2)< 1/2, f'(x) 1 - p'(x, V2).
Otherwise, f'(x) 1/2.
Let f' inducef: M - S1 on identifyingV1,V2 and 0, 1. Thenf is differ-
entiable in a neighbourhood of V, and f-1(0) = V. The double covering
of S1 inducesthe orientationbundleof M, since the corresponding state-
mentis true forf', bothbundlesbeingtrivial,and remains so for f, as
the local orientationof M induced fromM' changes across V. Thus
wl(M) = f*(u). Since u is the restrictionof an integerclass, so is w1.
We now see that the above construction leads fromM to V.

2. Definition and firstproperties of U and 8,

Let Mn, V,,,-be as above, let i: V - M be the inclusionmap, and let
(,
ri, C be the tangent bundles of M and V and the normal bundle of V in
M. Then ilk =- C @ and so, by the Whitneyproducttheoremfor the
total Whitneyclasses, i*w(4) = w(y)w(C). But X is trivial,so w(C) = 1,
and i*w(e) = w(ry), or i*w(M) = w(V).
If X is a topologicalspace, x e Hr(XyZ2) and y e Hr(X, Z2), let [y,xJ
denotetheir Kroneckerproduct.
Let w=(a, b, *.**, c) be a partitionof n-1, and writew=wawb ...
* we;
thus Fww(V),V] denotesa typicalStiefelnumberof V.
LEMMA2. Iww(V),VI = jww(M)w1(M),Ml.
PROOF. IWw(V), Vj [i*ww(M), V]t
= [WO(M), i* V]

= [WI(M)y Wl(m)-Ml
where - denotesthe cap productofcohomology and homology,
and i* V=
w1(M)--M since the class iQ(V) is dual to wl(M); and
WIw(M)ywl(m)-M] = [wU'(M)w1(M)Y MI
It followsfromthe lemmathatsinceStiefelnumbersdeterminecobord-
ism class mod2, the class, {M}, of M determines{ V}. We shall write
{ V} = &1{M} . We also defineV as the subset of 5JZformedby classes
containinga manifoldsuch as M. Then r(7) c S? c T, and the image of

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296 C. T. C. WALL

8,: U 9f is containedin r(72),since V is orientable,so 08induces maps

fromU to r(&?)and U, which we may also denoteby 01. We note that
clearly01r: -* )l 'Zis zero.
We shall provelater (in ? 8) that {M} determinesthe class in &? of V,
whichwill enable us to define03. U Q .
LEMMA3. U is a subalgebraof 9f,and 8, is a derivation of U.
PROOF. The set of manifoldswithfirstStiefelclass w1(M) the restric-
tionofan integerclass u is closed underaddition. To provethe firstpart
of the lemma,we remarkthat it is also closed undermultiplication.For
the tangentbundleofthe productMx M' is thedirectsumofthe bundles
inducedfromthe tangentbundlesof M, M' by the projectionson these
factors. By the Whitneyproducttheorem,
wO(Mx M') = w'(M) 0 1 + 10 wl(M'),
of the integerclass u 0 1 + 1 0 u'.
the restriction
algebraon generatorsw$,and A: 0 )0025
Now let 53be the polynomial
the homomorphismdefinedby (&w)=Ej+,= i
Wwk. If Xe 5, and Mk is
a manifold,X(M) denotestheappropriatepolynomial in the Stiefelclasses
of M, and X[M] denotes[Xk(M), M], whereXI is the k-dimensional part
of X. Since H'(M x M', Z2) = H*(M, Z2) (0 H*(M', Z2) we may define
X? Y(M, M') = X(M) (0 Y(M'),
X? Y[M, M'] = X[M] * Y[M'].
Since, by Whitney'sproducttheorem,
w(M x M') = (w(M) (0 1)(1 0 W(M')) = W(M) 0 W(M'),
forany elementX of 53,
(1) X(Mx M')= A(X)(M,M') .
In our presentnotation,lemma2 can be writtenas
(2) X[61M] = w'X[M],
and using (1) and (2) we can computeas follows
X[61(M x M')] = w1X[M x M']
= A(wlX)[M, M']
= (wl 0 1)AX[M, M'] + (1 0 wl)AX[M, M'
= AX[&1M,M'] + AX[M, 61M']
= X[61M x M'] + X[M x 61M']

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 COBORDISM RING 297

Thus all StiefelnumbersX agree on 01(MxM') and &1MxM'+ Mx &1M',

whencethesetwomanifoldsare cobordantmod2. Hence 81is a derivation.
(For this streamlinedversionof myproofI am indebtedto J. F. Adams.)
3. The Dold manifoldsP(m, n) and Q(m, n)
In this paragraphwe introducethe study of the manifoldsP(m, n)
(firstused by Dold [21)and Q(m, n). Our main aim is Lemma 6 in the
next section,affirming indecomposability in 5Tof certainelementsof At,
and we referthe readerto the next sectionformotivation.
Let Smdenotethe subset Ox2 - 1 of Rm'+, and P.(C) the complex
projective space with homogeneous coordinates (z,, , Zn). The Dold
manifoldP(m, n) is the orbitspace of the action(x, z) (- x, z) of Z2 on -

Sm x P.(C), wherez denotescomplexconjugates. The projection(x, z) )

x inducesa fibremap a: P(m, n) Pm(R) withfibrePn(C). Let T reflect
Sm in the plane xm O. 0 Then (x, z) , (Tx, z) is compatible with the above
actionof Z2, and inducesan autohomeomorphism A of the orbitspace. In
the case when is odd and even, P(m, n) orientable,and A reverses
m n is
the orientation.All these remarksare due to Dold [2].
We defineQ(m, n) as the manifoldformedfromP(m, n) x [0, 1] by
identifying (p, 0) to (Ap, 1) foreach p e P(m, n). The projection(x,z, t)-t
induces a fibremap f: Q(m, n) S1, withfibreP(m, n). The projection
-

(x, z, t)
- (x, t) induces another fibremap e/:Q(m, n) Q(m, 0) with fibre -

Pn(C), and group Z2. Finally a classifying map Q(m, 0) Pm+i(R) for y -

is coveredby a bundlemap 0: Q(m, n) - P(m + 1, n), whichmay be de-

finedby
(x, z, t) - (X., * **, Xm_1,Xmcos wt, Xm sinwt,z),
fromwhichit followsthat 0 has degree 1.
LEMMA4. H*(Q(m, n), Z2) has threegeneratorsx, c, d in dimensions
1, 1, 2 respectively,whichare boundbythesole relations
X = 0, cm+1- cnx, dn+, = 0

PROOF. The mod 2 cohomologyof P(m, n) was determinedby Dold,

who showed that it was the ringwithtwo generatorsc, d and relations
c+- = dn+1= 0. A acts triviallyon this, so the fibremap a gives rise to
a spectral sequence in which for reasons of dimension,all differentials
are zero. Thus if x is inducedby a fromthe generatoru of H1(S'), and
c, d inducethe classes of the same names in H*(P(m, n)), H*(Q(m, n))
has the additive base {Crdsts 0 < r < m, 0 <s< n, 0 < s < 1}. (The
spectralsequenceargumentcould be circumvented by findingan explicit
cell decomposition.)Also, we have x2= 18*(u2)= 0.

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298 C. T. C. WALL

We defined to be inducedby 0 fromthe class d in H*(P(m + 1, n));

this class does indeedinduced on the submanifoldP(m, n). Then since
dnl --0 in P(m + 1, n), the same holdsin Q(m, n).
It remainsonlyto definec and computecm+1.In the case n = 0, we de-
finec as inducedby 0 fromthe class c in Pmi(R). Now 0 has degree 1,
and so maps the top dimensionalclass cm'+of Pmi(R) ontothat, cmx,of
Q(m, 0). But as 0*<c) = c, 0*(cr+1) = cm+1,so cm+'= cmxin Q(m, 0). The
result in the general case now followsby definingc to be inducedby y,
and since x also is, the equationcmT+1= cmxis preserved.
We note finallythat these relationsdefinean algebra withthe correct
additivebase, whichwouldthus be disturbedif morerelationswere re-
quiredto hold.
LEMMA5. The Stiefel class of Q(m, n) for m > 0 is
(1 + C + x)(1 + c)m-1(1 + c + d)n+l
PROOF. We use the resultsand methodsof [2] and will proceedby in-
ductionon n.
InductionBasis: n = 0. Q(m, 0) has a submanifold Pmi-(R) x SI of co-
dimension1. This has unitintersection numberswiththe cyclesP1(R)x 0
and P0(R) x S', so its dual cohomology
class is c + x. Hence by Thom's
the Whitneyclass of the normalbundleis 1 + c + x. But
definition,
W(Pm-i(R) x S1) = (1 + c)m.
Let j be the inclusionmap of Pmi(R) x SI in Q(m, 0). Then
j*(w(Q(m, 0))) = (1 + c + x)(1 + c)tm
so that if we define
D = w(Q(m, 0)) -(1 + c + x)(1 + c)m,
we have j*D = 0, so D is a multipleof cm.
Q(m, 0) also has a submanifoldP(m, 0) = Pm(R) of codimension1, and
with trivial normalbundle. Since W(Pm(R))= (1 + c)m'+,if i denotes
the inclusionof Pm(R)in Q(m, 0),
i*(w(Q(m,0))) = (1 + c)m4' = i*((l + c + x)(1 + C)")
so i*D = 0, so D is also a multipleof x, thus of cmx. Hence we knowall
the Stiefelclasses except that in the top dimension,which is given by
the Euler class; now using Lemma 4, we see that the Euler numberof
Q(m, 0) is 0, so wm+1- 0, as stated.
InductionStep: assume the resultforn - 1. This is quite similarto
the above: we provethe difference

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 COBORDISM RING 299

D = w(Q(m,n)) - (1 + c + x)(1 + c)"-(1 + c + d)n+l

divisibleby x, by consideringthe submanifoldP(m, n) x 0; by ctm, by
consideringthe submanifoldP(m - 1, n) x SI, and bydn,byconsidering
the submanifoldQ(m, n - 1) and finallycheck the top class in exactly
the same way. The onlysteps needingcommentare the computations of
the Whitneyclasses of the normalbundles. In fact, the firstis trivial,
fromthe case n = 0. The nor-
and the secondis not essentiallydifferent
mal bundleof Q(m, n - 1) in Q(m, n) is induced by 0 fromthe normal
bundleof P(m + 1, n - 1) in P(m + 1, n), and the Whitneyclass of the
latterwas shownby Dold to be 1 + c + d.
4. The polynomial algebra W"
In the case when m is odd and n even, as alreadyremarked,P(m, n)
is orientable,and A reverses the orientation. Also, wl(Q(m,n)) = x,
whichis induced(by 3) fromthe class u on S1. It is now clear that in
this case the passage fromQ(m, n) to P(m, n) is preciselythe construc-
tionof Lemma 1.
Dold definedodd dimensionalgeneratorsof 9 as follows. Let 2k - 1
be an odd number with k not a power of 2. We write k - 2r-1(2s + 1)
with s # 0. Then X2,1 is the class in J of
V2k-l= P(2r - 1, 2rs)
We now define,underthe same conditions,X2kas the class in St of
M2k= Q(2r - 1, 2rs) .

LEMMA6. X2, is an indecomposableelementof W.

bya resultof Thommentionedin the introduc-
PROOF. It is sufficient,
tionto this paper,to prove S2[M2k] = 1.
Write formally1 + c + d - (1 + a)(1 + v). Then since
w(Q(m,n)) = (1 + c + x)(1 + c)m-1(1+ ,u)'+'(1 + zK)n+l
the indeterminates t,, of whichthe w' are elementarysymmetricfunc-
tions, may be taken as c + x, c(m - 1 times), A,v (n + 1 timeseach).
Recall that m is odd, n even and 0 < n, and 2k = m + 2n + 1.
S2k(Q(m, n))
=
(c + X)ml+2n+ + (m - 1)cmt+2n+ + (n +
l)(1aM+2n+1 + Jm1+2n+1)

= pm+2n+1 + ;m+2n+1

Now by inductionon r, using the inductivedefinitionof binomialco-

and the relation
efficients
Sr+1 (U + v)sr + (uv)Sr-I (mod2)

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300 C. T. C. WALL

wheresr = Ur + Vr, we find

sr LO!s<r/2 {s, r - 2s - 1}(u + V)r-2S(UV)s (mod2)
So
S2k(Q(m,n)) = I{s, m + 2n - 2s}cm+2n-2s+lds
{n, m} ,
s2k[M2k]={n, m}cn+1d
{2rs,2T 1} 1 (mod2) -

Let X2j denote the class in T of P2j(R). We note that since we have
definedone Xi in each dimensionnot of the form2i - 1, and theyare all
indecomposable, by Thom's result,T is the polynomialalgebrawiththem
as generators.
LEMMA 7. Pn(C) "2 (Pn(R))2

PROOF. The cohomology and characteristicclasses (mod2) of Pn(C) are

isomorphicto thoseof Pn(R) on doublingall dimensions.Hence the non-
zero Stiefel numbersof Pn(C) are obtainable fromthose of Pn(R) by
doublingall dimensions.Now forany manifoldM, the Stiefel numbers
of M2 can be computedin termsof thoseof M by the methodsofLemma
3. We remarkthat
wk(M2) =
Ow(M) 0 w (M)

and that in computingStiefelnumbersall termswithi + j cancel out by

symmetry.Thus we see that the nonzeroStiefel numbersof M2 are
obtainablefromthoseof M by doublingall dimensions.The lemmanow
follows. It was firstannouncedby Rohlin[11]. The author feels that it
oughtto be provedbyconstructing a manifoldwithappropriateboundary,
but has been unable to findone.
Now X2k-,(sinceit representsan orientableclass) and X2k(by construc-
tion) belongto U. Also, byLemma7, X22 belongsto U. Hence Q contains
the wholepolynomialalgebra U" generatedby these elements. On this
algebra, the derivation&,is determinedby its values on the generators:

ilX2k =X2k-1 (k not a powerof 2)

XlXkj
6,~ =k0
The next two paragraphswillapplyThomtheoryto provethatU"= U-
and whenthis is knownwe shall be able to assembleourresultsand prove
the maintheorems. We defineU3'as the set of classes in 9 such that all
Stiefel numberswith (w1)2 as a factor vanish on them. Since if w1is
inducedfroman integerclass, (w1)2= 0, we have W' c U c U'. How-
everThom'stheorywillenableus to provethatthereare nomoreelements

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 COBORDISM RING 301

in A' thanin $" (Note: Since the firstdraftof this paper was written,
a simplerproofthat $" = $ has been foundby M. F. Atiyah.)

5. Thom theory
We mustnow go rathermoredeeplyintothe methodsof [15]. Thom's
workdependson the followingconstruction: considerthe classifyingspace
B(On) of the orthogonalgroupin n variables,On(fordefinition see [5] or
[13]). Over it thereis a canonicalOn-bundle.Let A(On)be theassociated
bundlewithfibreBE (the n-ballin Rndefinedby E <1) and M(O)J
be the space obtainedfromA(O.) by identifying the boundary to a point.
If a manifold M, is contained in SI' F-/c we find the map f: M, B(On) -

inducingthe normalbundleof M,,in Sn-01, extendto a mapf1: N-A(On)

ofa smalltubularneighbourhood of Mk (we regardB(On) as embeddedin
A(On)by the zero cross-section)sending the boundaryof N to that of
A(On) and thus to a point in M(OA),and finallydefinef2: Sn+7 >M(On)
bymappingthe rest of Sn+" to that point. Thomshowedthat this set up
a (1-1) correspondencebetween cobordismclasses of manifoldsM,, and
homotopyclasses of mapsf2,providedk < n, i.e., set up an isomorphism
Tk
-
7Wn+k(M(On))(k < n). By an analogousprocedurewiththe group of
rotations,he also definedM(SOn) and provedf2k wfn+k(M(SOn)) if k < n.
ThomcomputedSk by showingthat H*(M(On)) was, up to dimension
2n, a freemoduleover the Steenrodalgebra 1A2(see [6]). (Note that all
cohomology is here supposedto have coefficient groupZ2.) Choosea free
-2-basis{as}, and for each element of it a map gi : M(On) >
characteristic
K(Z2, dimas) (see [12]); then the A
productmap g: M(On) II, K(Z2, dimas)
inducesan isomorphism of cohomology up to dimension2n, hencealso of
integerhomology,since for these spaces and in these dimensionsthis
consistsonly of torsionof order2. The two spaces are bothsimply-con-
nectedif 1 < n, and so by a resultof J. H. C. Whitehead[19], g induces
an isomorphism of homotopyup to dimension2n - 1. Thus the known
homotopy of the latterspace gives that of M(On).
We wish to extend these results,so mustinvestigatemoreprecisely.
Let i denotetheinclusionmapofB(On)intoM(On);theni* can be described
as follows. H*(B(On)) is the polynomialalgebra in wI, *.., wn. i* is
monomorphic and its image is the ideal generatedby wn. We followthe
practiceof Thomin regardingthe w' as the elementarysymmetric func-
tionsof t, *..., tn. Then H*(B(On)) is the algebraof symmetric functions
of the t3. Let now

S = tal an

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302 C. T. C. WALL

by any monomial,and considerthe set of all distinctmonomialsformed

by permuting the variables in S; let s(a1, *.., an) be their sum. Clearly
the s(a1, ** , a.) with a1 > ... > an forman additive base for H*(B(On)).
In writingsuch expressionsout in the futurewe shall omitany at which
happento be zero.
We now introducea partialorderingon monomialsS. We say that t,
is dyadic for S if a, has the form21 - 1, and call the submonomialof S
madeup withall othertoits nondyadicfactor. Denotebyu(S) the number
of thesevariables,and by v(S) the degreeof this factor. Then we define
S < T if u(S) < u(T) or if u(S) = u(T) and v(S) > v(T). For any h < n
we formthe classes
S.' = s(a, + 1, ... ar + 1, 1, .@1 = WnS(al, *@ ar)
wherea = (a1, . . ., ar) runsthroughall partitionsof h into integersnot
of the form21-1. Then forany m < n, the classes SqIS' forh < m,S.
varyingas above, and SqI runningthrougha base of (J2)m-h are linearly
independent.For the highesttermsin
SqI (ta11. tar triol tO

are formed by
ta1+1 . . .
tar+lSqI(tr~l . .. t)

since if tj is dyadicforS, it is so also for SqIS. But Thom shows that

for m < n, the SqI(tr+ .. . tn) are linearlyindependent.The resultnow
followsfromthefurtherremark(easilyverified)thatthereare thecorrect
numberof elementsSqIS(h fora base of Hh1l+n(M(On)).
Fromthis proofwe may draw the followingconclusion. If each S' is
replacedby T', whereall terms T' - S. are less than S', then SqITT
has the same top termsas SqIS', and so the T' also forma freebase of
the A2-moduleH*(M(On)) up to dimension2n, by the same argument.
6. Proof of Theorem 1
Note that wnS wn+1Sinducesan isomorphism of Hm+n(M(O)) onto
Hm+n+l(M(On?l)) for m < n, compatiblewiththe operationof Ca2. Thus
wnS S inducesan isomorphism of Hm+n(M(On))ontoOm, (O3still denot-
ingthe algebraofall wi) whichwe can (and do) use to introduceoperations
of 12 on e independentof n. The above resultmay now be paraphrased
by the statement:53is a free A2-module (and we knowa freebase ofit).
Let co = (a1, * *, at) be a partition; we write s(wo) = s(al, ... , a,), and
recall that these forma base for 3. Let (E be the gradeddual of 53,and
let the dual base to {s(wo)}be {a(wo)}. Defineproductsin (Eby =(p)a(4)=
a(pw0),whereq)/ is obtainedbythe juxtapositionof the partitionsqpand

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 COBORDISM RING 303

A. We may verifythat this is dual to the diagonalhomomorphism

A in
Q3of Lemma3. (Eis clearlya polynomial algebra,withgeneratorsthea(i).
Denote multiplicationby (w')2=s(2) in e by 82, and the dual homomor-
phismin (E by 82
LEMMA 8. 82 is thederivationof (E with

826(1) = 0. 826(2) = 1 , 82a(i) = (i-2) (for 2 < i)

PROOF. An analogousargumentto that of Lemma 3, using the primi-
tivityof (w1)2for A, could be used to prove 82 a derivation. We shall
proceedotherwise. Let w be the partitionin whichi occursxi timesas
a part,and write
wO= (l 12A2 ... rAr)

Then
i82S(1"2 12
*... rAr) = (N2 + 1)s(1A12A2+1* r r)

+ E1 (i?+2 + 1)S(l 1 ... i (i + 1)?1+l(i + 2)A?+2+1 ... rXr)

and so, takingthe dual,

'920012 X2 *... rAr) = X20(1Al12 **... r r)

+ { ..* ixi+?(i + 1)Ai+l(i + 2)X+2-1 ... rAr)

and recallingthe definition

of the productin (S, we see thatthisshows02
to be as stated.
We may now determineKer 82 by meansof the followinglemma.
LEMMA9. Ker 02 containsan elementzi of each degreei not a power
of 2, whichis a sum of a(i) and decomposableelementsof &.
PROOF. We may take

72i-1 = a(2i + 1) + a(2)a(2i - 1) + .. + a(2i)a(1)

even if i = 0. For even degrees 2i, we write v = a(2i - 2k)a(4k-2i-2).
Then 801(o)= 0, and so
82(a2(2i - 2k)a(4k - 2i)) = a(2i - 2k)o
= 02(a(2i 2k + 2)u + a(2i - 2k + 4)02u+
-
2..
+ a(2i)D1u)
givingan equationof the form82X=O. wherethe coefficient of a(2i) in Xis
02 u = 02 (a(2i - 2k)a(4k - 2i - 2)) = {i - k, 2k - i - 1}

by Leibniz' theorem. If i = 2r(2s + 1), where r > 0 s > 1, we choose

k = 2r+ls; thenthe coefficient
is 1, and we defineZ2i to be the correspond-
ing X. (For moreabout this methodof proofsee [18].)
Now 82 as multiplicationby (w1)2in the polynomialringA, is a mono-

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304 C. T. C. WALL

morphism,thus 82 is an epimorphism.Ker 82 containsthe ri fori nota

powerof 2, also a(1) and 62(2i) for0 < j, and hence, being itself a sub-
algebra,containsthe polynomialsubalgebra that they generate, which
has one generatorin each dimensionexcept 2. If V is a gradedvector
space, let VT7denote its componentof degree n, and dn(V) = dim Vn.
Since 82 is onto,dn(Ker 02) = dn(C) - dn2(C) = dn(Q),whereQ is a poly-
nomialalgebra withone generatorin each dimensionexcept 2. Hence
the above is the wholeof Ker 82
Let the a(wo)be orderedin the same way as the s(wo).Sincethe product
in (E is definedbyjuxtaposition,the orderingis compatiblewiththe prod-
uct. Now -r = a(i) + greaterterms,forthis is clear forodd i, and holds
foreveni sincez2i is a polynomial in thea(2k). Hencethemonomials in
the above generatorsforKer 82 are equal to the corresponding monomials
in the a(i) fori nota powerof 2, and a(1) and 62(21) for0 < j; added to
greaterterms. I restate this as
LEMMA10. Let m be a monomial in the a(i) in which each a(2i) for
j ?1 occursto an evenpower. Then thereis an elementof Ker 82, which
consistsof m, plus othermonomialsgreaterthan m.
LEMMA11. Let x be an elementof Im 82, and s(w) one of the greatest
termsin it. Then some2i withj > 1 occursan odd numberof timesas
a part in w.
PROOF. We shallobtainLemma11 fromLemma10 bydualising.Proceed
by assumingthat each 2. withj > 1 occursan even numberof times as
a part in wo;we shall establisha contradiction.By Lemma 10, thereis an
elementX,say, of Ker 82, whichconsistsof a(w), plusothergreaterterms.
Thensincethe s(wo)and c(wo)formdual bases, the innerproduct[x, Xl= 1.
But x = 82Y, say, and
[IX, XI [82Y, XI = [Y, 82X] = 0,

givingthe requiredcontradiction.
LEMMA12. Let w be a partition in whichsome 2' with j > 1 occurs
an odd numberof times as a part. Then thereis an elementof Im 82
equal to s(w), plus smaller terms.
PROOF. This followsfromthe previouslemmaby a dimensionalargu-
ment. For dimensionalreasons, dn(Im82) is the same as the numberof
partitionsof n of the above form. If we now considerthe associated
graded algebra G(S13)to 5S3,dn(G(Im 82)) = dn(Im 82). But G,(Im 82) is con-
tainedin the vectorspace spannedby the imagesof the s(wo)with woof
the type in question, which has the same dimensionas its own. Hence

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 COBORDISM RING 305

it is the whole space, fromwhichthe resultfollows.

Now 82, = (w1)23 is an p2-submoduleof 3, forin H*(B(On)),
Sq(CW)2 = (W1)2 + (W1)4

Sq!(x(wl)2) = (Wl)2Sq'x + (W1)4Sq -2x

so the ideal generatedby (w1)2in this is a submodule,as is H*(M(On)),

henceso is theirinterseetion82H*(M(On)),as required.
THEOREM1. (W1)2Q is a free directsummandof thefree a2-moduleB.
PROOF. We know an A2-base of 3, and that each element may be
modified bysmallerterms. Lemma 12 maybe interpretedas sayingthat
manyelementsof this base, suitablymodified,fall in (wl)20, and so gen-
erate a freea2-submoduleof it, a directsummandof 53. We prove the
theoremby showingthe submoduleto be the wholeof (w1)20, bya simple
computationof dimensions,whichmay safelybe leftto the reader.
Withthe proofofthistheorem,the hardtoilingin thispaperis finished,
and we can proceedin a morerelaxed mood.

7. Determination of SB and of Ker 81/Im8,

Let a T denotethe set of elementsof positivedimensionin eA2. Thenby
Thom'sresult,T maybe regardedas the dual vectorspace to /3IL+3. We
defined0' as theannihilator and thusas dual to 23/JA2+(w1)23,
of(w1)253,
so withthe same numberof linearlyindependentelementsin each dimen-
sionas a freea2-base forQ/(W1)2e, since,by Theorem1, thisis a free
u2-module. Now such a base is determinedby nondyadicpartitions,in
whicha powerof 2 occursan even numberof timesas a part, and these
with monomialsin symbolsx,, one in
again are in (1-1) correspondence
each dimensioni not of the form2' - 1, and not 2; i.e., with a vector
space base for 5D". Hence as promised,since QW"c B c B', we can
deduce WV'= U = e'. Moreover,we have in ? 4 a completealgebraic
description of the action of t9.
LEMMA 13.
(i ) Ker 81/Im8, is thepolynomialalgebra on theX2k.
(ii) Every elementof it is uniquely representableas a polynomial
mod2 in the P2ff(C).
(iii) Thedual vectorspace is thespace of Pontrjaginnumbers,reduced
mod2.
PROOF. The 81-module 0 is the tensorproductof algebras
(a) polynomialon X2k,X2,_1 with81X2k = X2k_1, = 0, fork not a
O1X2k-1
powerof 2, and

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306 C. T. C. WALL

(b) polynomialon X22,with81X2> = 0.

The homologyof (a) with respect to the differential operatorAl is the
polynomialalgebra on X2k; that of (b) is (b) itself. Since the coefficient
ringis a field,Z2, we take the tensorproductof these forthe totalhomol-
ogy. This proves(i).
Pontrjaginnumbersreducedmod2 are Stiefelnumbers,so give linear
functionson Ker Al. An elementof Im 81is representablebyan orientable
manifoldwhose class in f2 has order2, so Pontrjaginnumbersvanish on
it. Hence theydeterminelinearfunctionalson Ker 81/Im 81. Productsof
the P2.(C) are oriented, so determine elements of Ker 81/ImO1. Now it
ofvalues ofa base
followsfroma computationin [5] thatthe determinant
for the Pontrjagin numbers on the products of the P2ff(C) is odd, so these
functionalson, and elementsof Ker81/ImO1are linearlyindependent.
Since thereare the rightnumberof each, by (i), the lemmafollows.

8. Proof of main theorems

First, we recall that the naturalrestrictionr: f2 T lies in Rohlin's
exact sequence
( 1) ~~~~~2 r n
THEOREM 2. [2 containsno elementsof order 4.
PROOF. Let c be an element of 72m,of maximal order 2x: suppose if
possible 1 < x. Then as 81r= 0, rc is in Ker 81. But, c beinga torsion
elementof Q2,all Pontrjaginnumbersvanish on it, so by Lemma 13, rc
determinesthe zero elementof Ker 81/Im 8O,and so is in Im 81. Hence,
by Lemma 1, thereis a class c' in Q., with 2c' = 0 and rc' = rc. Thus
since 1 < x, c - c' has order 2x, and r(c - c') 0. By (1), for some d,
c - c' = 2d. But then d has order 2x+1, contrary to the maximality of x.
COROLLARY 1. Two manifoldsare cobordantif and onlyif theyhave
thesame Stiefel and Pontrjagin numbers.
PROOF. The necessityof the conditionis known. Suppose it satisfied.
Since the manifoldshave the same Pontrjaginnumbers,their difference
gives a torsionelement,c, of Q2. Since theyalso have the same Stiefel
numbers,rc = 0, so by (1) thereis an elementd of Q2such that 2d = c.
d is a torsionelementofQ2,whichhas noodd torsionbya resultof Milnor,
hence by Theorem2, 2d = 0, i.e., c = 0, as asserted.
Now recall the constructionof ? 1, leadingfroma manifoldMnto an
orientablemanifoldVn_1 representingthe firstStiefelclass of M.
THEOREM 3. The class of M determinesthe class in [2 of V. Write

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 COBORDISM RING 307

[V] = 8,{M}. Then thereis an exact triangle

2
Q[ -*?i2

PROOF. By Lemma 2, the Stiefelnumbersof M determinethoseof V,

and since by Lemma 1, 2 V - 0, all Pontrjaginnumbersof V vanish.
Fromthe corollaryto Theorem2, we deduce that the class of V in Q is
now determined. The exactness of (2, r) is (1) above, and of (8,, 2) is
Lemma 1. Also, 03r= 0, so it onlyremainsto show Ker 83 c Im r. We
shall give two alternativeproofsof this.
Certainly,Im 81c Im r, since V in ? 1 is orientable. Also each coset
of Im 0, in Ker 01 is represented(by Lemma 13) as a polynomialin the
P2,(C), hence as an orientable manifold. Hence Ker 01 c Im r. But
Ker 83= Ker 81,as sinceall Pontrjaginnumbersof V vanish,it determines
the zero class in f2if and onlyif it does so in W.
Alternatively, suppose M determinesV- 0. Let M' be obtained (as
in Lemma 1) by cuttingM along V, and let N be the orientedmanifold
withboundaryV. FormN' fromM' and two copies of N by identifying
the copiesof V on the boundaryof M' to thoseon the boundariesof the
copiesof N. Clearly,N' is orientable,and we show M- 2N'. For define
W by identifying the two copiesof N x 1 in N' x I, and straightening
the cornersat V x 1 (see [81). Then we see 00W= M x 1 + N' x 0,
thus M -2 N'.
Combinedwithall we alreadyknow,Theorem3 is essentiallya struc-
ture theorem,determining the algebraicstructureof fQ;we shall exploit
this in the next paragraph.
Recentresultsof M. F. Atiyahalreadyreferredto in ? 4 yielda fairly
simpledirectproofof Theorem3, and even extend it to the following,
where80 is not unrelatedto the derivation82 of ? 6:
(2,0)

3 '2)\ r

9. Further results
and thenprovealgebraic
We firstgive some all but trivialpropositions,
of the algebra 2, and the A2-moduleH*(M(SO,)) in stable
descriptions
dimensions.

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308 C. T. C. WALL

PROPOSITION1. f2 is commutative.
PROOF. We knowthat [2 is skew-commutative.
This impliescommuta-
tivityof a productin whichat least one factoris eitherof order 2 or in
even dimension.But everyelementof f2 is ofone of these two forms.
PROPOSITION2. The productofan orientableand a nonorientable class
in T is nonorientable.(The proofof this result given in [111]is incor-
rect.)
PROOF. Let the classes be x, y respectively.It is clear that if y is not
in 0, the product is not even in A, and if it is,
81x = 8a1y#0. so 81(xy)= x81y#0 .
Thus xy is not in Ker 81= Im r.
PROPOSITION3. The square of any manifoldis cobordantwithan ori-
entablemanifold.
PROOF. Since we are workingin T, and so mod2, the square of any
polynomial in the generatorsis equal to thesame polynomial inthesquares
of the generators. Now (P2m(R))2 12 P2n(C), whichis orientable,and V2n1
is alreadyorientable,whencethe result. (Althoughthis proofis simple,
and uses only previouslyknownresults, we should much like to see a
directgeometricalproof.)
PROPOSITION4. Any class in VZ,on which all Stiefel numberswith
wI as factor vanish, containsorientablemanifolds.
PROOF. We note that the corresponding resultfor(w')2is that '=U.
If c is a class of the typeabove, it is in '=S, and by Lemma 2, 81c=0.
Hence by Theorem3, c e Im r.
We now proceedto the long-announced descriptionof Q2.
LEMMA14. Generatorsh4k can be chosenfor the torsion-freepart of
fQ,such thatr(h4k)= X2k.
PROOF. If P2k(C) is expressed in terms of generatorsof the torsion-
freepart of f2 (the quotientof f2 by the ideal of torsionelements)the
generatorof dimension4k has an odd coefficient, by results of Milnor,
as in Lemma 13. Hence we may choose new generatorsH4k such that
r(H4k) = r[P2k(C)I = Now {P2k(R)} equals X2k,plus decompos-
{P2k(R)}2
able elementsof T. Hence {P2k(R)}2 equals X2', plus a sum of products
of squares of elementsof 9, whichcan all (Proposition3) be represented
by orientablemanifolds.Subtractingthe resultingdecomposableclasses
fromH4k (which, we note,leaves it a generator)we obtainthe required
class h4k.
Note: Whenwe speak of a generatorfor the torsion-freepart of fQ,
we referthroughoutto classes in f2 (not taken mod torsion).

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 COBORDISM RING 309

For each partition wo= (a,, ***, a) with unequal parts ah none of which
is a powerof 2, definean elementof &2by
go> '93(X2a.s *1* X2a.) t
and note that
... ...
r(g.) = 1(X2, X2a) = rj X2aj X2a.-1 X2a,

THEOREM4. The g. and h4kforman irredundantsetofgeneratorsfor

Q2.
PROOF. The torsion-freepart of &2is a polynomialring: the h4kare
generatorsof it by definitionand are irredundant.Let x be a torsion
elementof Q2. Then x e Ker 2 = Ima3, say x = 03yt Ye A. y is a sum of
monomials(II X2a)(ll X2b-l)X2a1 ... X2a. so
rx = a1y = E (I X2a)(ll X2b--1)ai(X2a, * X2a,.)

= r[, ([I h4a)(ll gb)gj]

where a1, *.., a, may be taken distinct (letting the first bracket contain
all the squared factors)and thennonecan be powersof 2, since y e U,
so theyforma partitionwtof the type above; and where b denotes the
partitionwithb as sole part.
Since the torsionelementx - E (II h4a)(ll gb)g. of &2restrictsmod2
to zero,it mustalreadybe zero. Hence we have indeeda set ofgenerators.
If any g. is a redundantgenerator,let it be expressedin termsof the
other generatorsby a polynomial, whichmay clearlybe supposedhomo-
geneous, M,= P(g, h4,). Now restrictthe whole equation mod2, and
express in terms of the generatorsXi of W. Equate coefficients of the
leadingterm X2aj-1X2a2 ... X2ar of go. Now each termin each g, has one
Xi withodd suffix as a factor,so no termon the righthand side withtwo
g, as factors can equal the above termon the left. But, norcan any term
withan h4,as a factor,forthese will have repeated factors. Hence the
correspondingterm on the rightis a singleg,. But no otherrg, except
rg0.containsthe above term,hence the above equation is impossible,as
required.
togeneratethe
COROLLARY. OrientableDold manifoldswill notsuffice
torsionof {2.
(Thereare not nearlyenoughof themto go round.)
By similarargumentswe may deduce the relationsbetweenthe gene-
rators. First,of course,we have
(1) 2g = 0.

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310 C. T. C. WALL

Considerthe uniquenessof the expressionin Theorem4 of a torsionele-

mentx in termsof the generators. The elementy was indeterminate by
an elementof Ker-83= Im r, rz, say. Using the expressionforz by the
generators,we findthat the new expressionforx is deducible fromthe
old one by relationsof the followingtype(whichexpressa3ra3= 0). Let
Ot= (al, ..., ar) be a partition into unequal parts, none powers of 2, and
withmorethan two parts,and let sowbe formedby omittingaj. Then
(2) ,9ggaz = 0 .
Finally,everyproductof two generatorscan be put in the standard
form,and this leads to some new relations
(3) gg4 = ([Ih4j1gb1g )
such as
gW= g ..h4a ... h4ar +
*
3') + h4a, . . h4a.
. ga

The proofof the independenceof these relationsis not difficult,

and
we leave it to the reader.
We now investigatethe A2-moduleH*(M(SOn)) in stable dimensions.
This is not free, but is the next simplest possibility.Let SU be an
J12-modulewith one generatorz and one relation Sq1z= O, this agrees
withthe stable part of H*(Z, n, Z2).
THEOREM5. In stable dimensions,H*(M(SOn)) is a direct sum of a
free -2-moduleand modulesof typeW.
PROOF. As when we were consideringthe modulesH*(M(On))in stable
dimensions,we can restrictconsiderationto a single module, which in
the othercase was 53,and is seen here to be 3/w13&.
J is dual to 53/<k5i3, and of finitetype. By Proposition 4, r(f2) is the
annihilator of w153,hence dual to 01IA+53+ w05. Let O3'be the algebra
8/w150; then r(f2)= Ker 03 = Ker 01 is dual to Vl/ak+V,i.e., to a vector
space withbase a minimalset of generatorsof the a2-module53Y.
Amongthese generatorsare the mod2 restrictionsof productsofPon-
trjaginclasses (the linearindependenceofrestrictionsof Pontrjaginnum-
bers,and so of productsof Pontrjaginclasses modulodecomposableele-
ments,was shown in Lemma 13), dual to a base of Ker 01/Im 01,and all
satisfyingSq'z = 0, as the restrictions
of integralclasses. 5' is thus a
quotientof a direct sum of a free module, with generatorsdual to a
base of Im 01,and modulesof typeC, withgeneratorsdual to a base of
Ker 01/Im01. A further computation of dimensions shows O' as big as
this module,hence isomorphicto it.

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 COBORDISM RING 311

It seems that a directproofof this theoremwould be extremelydif-

ficult.
TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE

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