Associated with an augmented differential graded algebra $R= R^{ \geq 0}$ is a homotopy invariant ${ \mathcal T}(R)$. This is a graded vector space, and if $H^0(R)$ is the ground field and $H^{ >N}(R)= 0$ then dim$\, { \mathcal T}(R)= 1$ if and only if $H(R)$ is a Poincar\'e duality algebra. In the case of Sullivan extensions $\land W\to \land W\otimes \land Z\to \land Z$ in which dim$\, H(\land Z)<\infty$ we show that $${ \mathcal T}(\land W\otimes \land Z)= { \mathcal T}(\land W)\otimes { \mathcal T}(\land Z).$$ This is applied to finite dimensional CW complexes $X$ where the fundamental group $G$ acts nilpotently in the cohomology $H(\widetilde{ X};\mathbb Q)$ of the universal covering space. If $H(X;\mathbb Q)$ is a Poincar\'e duality algebra and $H(\widetilde{ X};\mathbb Q)$ and $H(BG;\mathbb Q)$ are finite dimensional then they are also Poincar\'e duality algebras.
Categories: math.AT