Actions of automorphism groups of free groups on homology spheres and acyclic manifolds. (Q620539)

From the authors' summary: ``For \(n\geq 3\), let \(\text{SAut}(F_n)\) denote the unique subgroup of index two in the automorphism group of a free group. The standard linear action of \(\text{SL}(n,\mathbb Z)\) on \(\mathbb R^n\) induces non-trivial actions of \(\text{SAut}(F_n)\) on \(\mathbb R^n\) and on \(\mathbb S^{n-1}\). We prove that \(\text{SAut}(F_n)\) admits no non-trivial actions by homeomorphisms on acyclic manifolds or spheres of smaller dimension. Indeed, \(\text{SAut}(F_n)\) cannot act non-trivially on any generalized \(\mathbb Z_2\)-homology manifold of dimension less than \(n\). It follows that \(\text{SL}(n,\mathbb Z)\) cannot act non-trivially on such spaces either. When \(n\) is even, we obtain similar results with \(\mathbb Z_3\) coefficients.'' To overcome difficulties which lie at the heart of the theory of transformation groups the authors use (local and global) Smith theory, working with generalized manifolds rather than classical manifolds. The authors give the necessary elements from Smith Theory and the definition of the generalized manifolds. To give a taste of their main results it is enough to state without further comments two of them: If \(n\geq 3\) and \(d<n-1\), then any action of \(\text{SAut}(F_n)\) by homeomorphisms on a generalized \(d\)-sphere over \(\mathbb Z_2\) is trivial, and hence \(\Aut(F_n)\) can act only via the determinant map. and If \(n>3\) is even and \(d<n-1\), then any action of \(\text{SAut}(F_n)\) by homeomorphisms on a generalized \(d\)-sphere over \(\mathbb Z_3\) is trivial.