Homotopy decomposition of a group of symplectomorphisms of $S^2 \times S^2$

Abstract

We continue the analysis, started by Abreu, McDuff and Anjos, of the topology of the group of symplectomorphisms of $S^2 \times S^2$ when the ratio of the areas of the two spheres lies in the interval (1,2]. We express the group, up to homotopy, as the amalgam of certain of its compact Lie subgroups. We use this to compute the homotopy type of the classifying space of the group of symplectomorphisms and the corresponding ring of characteristic classes for symplectic fibrations.