Linear stable ranges for integral homotopy groups of configuration spaces

Abstract

We prove explicit linear stable ranges for the $\mathsf{FI}$-modules $\mathrm{Hom}(\pi_p \mathrm{Conf} M, \mathbb Z)$ and $\mathrm{Ext}(\pi_p \mathrm{Conf} M, \mathbb Z)$ with $\mathrm{Conf} M$ being the configuration co$\mathsf{FI}$-space of a $d$-dimensional manifold with $d \geq 3$. The proof of this result uses a homotopy-theoretic approach to representation stability for $\mathsf{FI}$-modules. This allows us to derive representation stability results from homotopy-theoretical statements, in particular the generalized Blakers-Massey theorem. We also generalize to $\mathsf{FI}_G$-modules and orbit configuration spaces.