[Math] Constructing a space with prescribed cohomology ring

ac.commutative-algebraat.algebraic-topology

The most general way I can formulate my question is the following:

Question 1: Given a Gorenstein quotient ring $S$ of a polynomial ring over a field $K$, can one construct a (topological) space $X$ such that the (even degree part of the) singular cohomology ring of $X$ with coefficients in $K$ is isomorphic to $S$?

Edit: as mentioned in the comments, the answer depends on the grading of the variables. I would be most interested in a uniform grading (i.e all variables have the same degree d, without restriction on the value of d).

For the specific cases I have in mind, $S$ is a quotient of a polynomial ring over $\mathbb{C}$ by an ideal generated by monomials and binomials. Below is an example of such a ring $S$ that I would like to realize as the cohomology ring of some space:

$$ S = \mathbb{C}[x_1,\ldots,x_7]/(x_7^2, x_3x_7-x_4x_7, x_2x_7-x_5x_7, x_1x_7-x_6x_7, x_6^2, x_3x_6-x_5x_6, x_2x_6-x_4x_6, x_1x_6-x_6x_7, x_5^2, x_3x_5-x_5x_6, x_2x_5-x_5x_7, x_1x_5-x_4x_5, x_4^2, x_3x_4-x_4x_7, x_2x_4-x_4x_6, x_1x_4-x_4x_5, x_3^2, x_1x_3-x_2x_3, x_2^2, x_1x_2-x_2x_3, x_1^2).$$

The ring $S$ above is Gorenstein and all rings that I am considering for my question are also Gorenstein (i.e satisfy Poincare duality).

Edit 2: I will put this here rather than leaving the additional question in the comments because it goes deeper into what I was really interested in.

Question 2: Since the answer to Question 1 seems to be affirmative, can the space X be chosen to be "nice" (e.g. compact manifold) under the assumption that $S$ (the cohomology ring of $X$) satisfies Poincare duality?

Best Answer

I did not understand exactly your question. What is important here, is the ring $k$. If $k=\mathbf{Z}$ then the problem you are asking for is hard, if $k$ is any commutative ring then the problem is very hard. If $k$ is a field of characteristic 0 or $\mathbf{F}_{p}$ then there is always a solution. When the characteristic is 0, the problem is solved by Sullivan (under finiteness condition + simply connected+ condition on generalized Steenrod 0-operation cf comments). I will try to explain the situation over $\mathbf{F}_{p}$. Detnote by $\mathsf{E}_{\overline{\mathbf{F}}_{p}}$ the model category of $E_{\infty}$- differential graded $\overline{\mathbf{F}}_{p}$-algebras (in positive degree). Mandell's theorem says the following Quillen adjunction : $$C^{\ast}(-,\overline{\mathbf{F}}_{p}):\mathsf{sSet}^{op} \longrightarrow \mathsf{E}_{\overline{\mathbf{F}}_{p}}: Map_{\mathsf{E}_{\overline{\mathbf{F}}_{p}}}(-,\overline{\mathbf{F}}_{p})$$ which induces an equivalence between $\infty$-subcategories (I will not go to the details here). Suppose $S$ is graded commutative $\mathbf{F}_{p}$-algebra, such that in each degree $S_{n}$ is finite dimensional $\mathbf{F}_{p}$-module, and $S_{0}=\mathbf{F}_{p}$ and $S_{1}=0$. In particular $S\otimes\overline{\mathbf{F}}_{p} $ is an object of $\mathsf{E}_{\overline{\mathbf{F}}_{p}}$. The space you are looking for is given by the derived $\mathbb{R}Map_{\mathsf{E}_{\overline{\mathbf{F}}_{p}}}(S\otimes\overline{\mathbf{F}}_{p} ,\overline{\mathbf{F}}_{p})\simeq \mathbb{R}Map_{\mathsf{E}_{\mathbf{F}_{p}}}(S ,\overline{\mathbf{F}}_{p}):=X$. Applying Mendell's Theorem, we obtain that $$C^{\ast}(X,\overline{\mathbf{F}}_{p})\simeq S\otimes\overline{\mathbf{F}}_{p}. $$ By definition, the cohomology of $X$ with coefficients in $\overline{\mathbf{F}}_{p}$ is $S\otimes \overline{\mathbf{F}}_{p}$ since $S$ is formal by definition. Then you conclude for $\mathbf{F}_{p}$ coefficients.

PS: the functor $C^{\ast}(-,k)$ is the functor of cochain complex.

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