arXiv subjects

John Nicholson

Publications and source records attributed to John Nicholson.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2023

Projective modules and the homotopy classification of $(G,n)$-complexes

A $(G,n)$-complex is an $n$-dimensional CW-complex with fundamental group $G$ and whose universal cover is $(n-1)$-connected. If $G$ has periodic cohomology then, for appropriate $n$, we show that there is a one-to-one correspondence between the homotopy types of finite $(G,n)$-complexes and the orbits of the stable class of a certain projective $\mathbb{Z} G$-module under the action of $\text{Aut}(G)$. We develop techniques to compute this action explicitly and use this to give an example where the action is non-trivial.

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arXiv2021

Homotopy classification of 4-manifolds whose fundamental group is dihedral

We show that the homotopy type of a finite oriented Poincaré 4-complex is determined by its quadratic 2-type provided its fundamental group is finite and has a dihedral Sylow 2-subgroup. By combining with results of Hambleton-Kreck and Bauer, this applies in the case of smooth oriented 4-manifolds whose fundamental group is a finite subgroup of SO(3). An important class of examples are elliptic surfaces with finite fundamental group.

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arXiv2021

On CW-complexes over groups with periodic cohomology

If $G$ has $4$-periodic cohomology, then D2 complexes over $G$ are determined up to polarised homotopy by their Euler characteristic if and only if $G$ has at most two one-dimensional quaternionic representations. We use this to solve Wall's D2 problem for several infinite families of non-abelian groups and, in these cases, also show that any finite Poincaré $3$-complex $X$ with $π_1(X)=G$ admits a cell structure with a single $3$-cell. The proof involves cancellation theorems for $\mathbb{Z} G$ modules where $G$ has periodic cohomology.

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arXiv2021

A cancellation theorem for modules over integral group rings

A long standing problem, which has its roots in low-dimensional homotopy theory, is to classify all finite groups $G$ for which the integral group ring $\mathbb{Z}G$ has stably free cancellation (SFC). We extend results of R. G. Swan by giving a condition for SFC and use this to show that $\mathbb{Z}G$ has SFC provided at most one copy of the quaternions $\mathbb{H}$ occurs in the Wedderburn decomposition of the real group ring $\mathbb{R}G$. This generalises the Eichler condition in the case of integral group rings.

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