The $S^1$-Equivariant Cohomology of Spaces of Long Exact Sequences

Abstract

Let $S$ denote the graded polynomial ring $\C[x_1,...,x_m]$. We interpret a chain complex of free $S$-modules having finite length homology modules as an $S^1$-equivariant map $\C^m\sm\{0\} \to X$, where $X$ is a moduli space of exact sequences. By computing the cohomology of such spaces $X$ we obtain obstructions to such maps, including a slight generalization of the Herzog-K\"uhl equations.