On the mod 2 cohomology algebra of oriented Grassmannians

Abstract

For $n\in\{2^t-3,2^t-2,2^t-1\}$ ($t\ge3$) we study the cohomology algebra $H^*(\widetilde G_{n,3};\mathbb Z_2)$ of the Grassmann manifold $\widetilde G_{n,3}$ of oriented $3$-dimensional subspaces of $\mathbb R^n$. A complete description of $H^*(\widetilde G_{n,3};\mathbb Z_2)$ is given in the cases $n=2^t-3$ and $n=2^t-2$, while in the case $n=2^t-1$ we obtain a description complete up to a coefficient from $\mathbb Z_2$.