If is connective spectrum in the sense of a connective spectrum, , and is -connected with , then . In the homological Atiyah-Hirzebruch spectral sequence, the only nonzero term in total degree is . Incoming differentials have negative coefficient degree, and outgoing differentials have spatial degree below . The Hurewicz theorem identifies this term with .
For a connective spectrum with , an -homology isomorphism of simply connected spaces is a weak homotopy equivalence. Its simply connected homotopy mapping cone is -acyclic. If it had a first nonzero integral homology group, the Hurewicz theorem and the bottom-degree generalized Hurewicz isomorphism would produce a nonzero -homology group. Thus the cone is integrally acyclic and the homological Whitehead theorem applies.
Connective spectrum 2026-10-14
A connective spectrum has for . This makes the homological Atiyah-Hirzebruch spectral sequence first quadrant for a based space, and prevents negative coefficient degrees from affecting its first nonzero represented homology theory.
The skeletal filtration of a CW complex and the cofiber sequences of spectra of its cell attachments produceFor a connective spectrum it is first quadrant and converges in each fixed total degree. Its reduced version has no contribution from the basepoint summand.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2005 iii Paper 22 4 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Take a based CW complex model for . Since it is -connected and , its reduced ordinary homology vanishes below degree , with arbitrary constant coefficients. This also follows from a CW complex model with no non-basepoint cells below degree . The connective spectrum has for .
Filter by its skeleta. The quotients of consecutive stages are wedges of spheres, so the exact sequences in represented homology theory give the homological Atiyah-Hirzebruch spectral sequenceIt is first quadrant because is a connective spectrum. In a fixed total degree it converges with a finite filtration: cells of sufficiently high dimension cannot contribute in that degree or affect it through a boundary, by the same connectivity bound.
In total degree , every term with is zero, and terms with are zero. The only possible term isNo differential can leave it: the target has spatial degree . No differential can enter it: its source would be , whose coefficient degree is negative for every . Thus it survives unchanged and is the only filtration quotient of ; there is no extension problem. The ordinary Hurewicz theorem now yieldsThe isomorphism uses the stated identification and is natural in . This is the bottom-degree generalized Hurewicz isomorphism.