Complex K-theory of 4-complexes

Abstract

This short note summarizes a number of facts about the ring $K^0(X)$ for $X$ a $4$-dimensional CW-complex. Unusual features of this dimension are that every complex vector bundle is determined up to stable isomorphism by its Chern classes, that every even cohomology class arises as a Chern class of a vector bundle, and that $K^0(X)$ is completely determined as a ring by knowledge of the even-dimensional cohomology ring $H^{\text{even}}(X;\mathbb{Z})$. (All of these fail in high dimensions.)

5 pages. minor corrections. This version to appear in Indiana University Mathematical Journal