Operators on symmetric polynomials and applications in computing the cohomology of $BPU_n$

Abstract: This paper studies the integral cohomology ring of the classifying space $BPU_n$ of the projective unitary group $PU_n$. By calculating a Serre spectral sequence, we determine the ring stucture of $H^*(BPU_n;\mathbb{Z})$ in dimensions $\leq 11$. For any odd prime $p$, we also determine the $p$-primary subgroups of $H^i(BPU_n;\mathbb{Z})$ in the range $i\leq 2p+13$ for $i$ odd and $i\leq 4p+8$ for $i$ even. The main technique used in the calculation is applying the theory of Young diagrams and Schur polynomials to certain linear operators on symmetric polynomials.