Torsion primes for spaces of commuting elements in Lie groups

Abstract: Let $G$ be a complex reductive group and $C_m(G)_1$ the identity component of the space of $m$-tuples of commuting elements in $G$. We prove that for every $m\geq 2$, the integral singular cohomology of $C_m(G)_1$ has torsion precisely at those primes which divide the order of the Weyl group of $G$. We deduce the analogous statement for compact Lie groups, settling a conjecture of Kishimoto and Takeda, and prove the corresponding result for compact Lie algebras. We prove these results using Smith theory for the conjugation action by semisimple elements of prime power order.