In mathematics, Toda–Smith complexes are spectra characterized by having a particularly simple BP-homology, and are useful objects in stable homotopy theory.

Toda–Smith complexes provide examples of periodic self maps. These self maps were originally exploited in order to construct infinite families of elements in the homotopy groups of spheres. Their existence pointed the way towards the nilpotence and periodicity theorems.[1]

Mathematical context

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The story begins with the degree   map on   (as a circle in the complex plane):

 
 

The degree   map is well defined for   in general, where  . If we apply the infinite suspension functor to this map,   and we take the cofiber of the resulting map:

 

We find that   has the remarkable property of coming from a Moore space (i.e., a designer (co)homology space:  , and   is trivial for all  ).

It is also of note that the periodic maps,  ,  , and  , come from degree maps between the Toda–Smith complexes,  ,  , and   respectively.

Formal definition

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The  th Toda–Smith complex,   where  , is a finite spectrum which satisfies the property that its BP-homology,  , is isomorphic to  .

That is, Toda–Smith complexes are completely characterized by their  -local properties, and are defined as any object   satisfying one of the following equations:

 

It may help the reader to recall that  ,   =  .

Examples of Toda–Smith complexes

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  • the sphere spectrum,  , which is  .
  • the mod p Moore spectrum,  , which is  

References

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  1. ^ James, I. M. (1995-07-18). Handbook of Algebraic Topology. Elsevier. ISBN 9780080532981.