Let $A$ be a graded, commutative Hopf algebra. We study an action of the symmetric group $\sSi_n$ on the tensor product of $n-1$ copies of $A$; this action was introduced by the second author in 1 and is relevant to the study of commutativity conditions on ring spectra in stable homotopy theory 2.
We show that for a certain class of Hopf algebras the cohomology ring $H^*(\sSi_n;A^{\otimes n-1})$ is independent of the coproduct provided $n$ and $(n-2)!$ are invertible in the ground ring. With the simplest coproduct structure, the group action becomes particularly tractable and we discuss the implications this has for computations.
AMS 2000 Mathematics subject classification: Primary 16W30; 57T05; 20C30; 20J06; 55S25
