Mod $p$ homology of unordered configuration spaces of surfaces

Abstract

We provide a short proof that the dimensions of the mod $p$ homology groups of the unordered configuration space $B_k(T)$ of $k$ points in a torus are the same as its Betti numbers for $p>2$ and $k\le p$. Hence the integral homology has no $p$-power torsion. The same argument works for the punctured genus $g$ surface with $g>0$, thereby recovering a result of Brantner-Hahn-Knudsen via Lubin-Tate theory.