Periodic points of self-maps of products of lens spaces \(L(3)\times L(3)\) (Q6044513)

The minimal number of periodic points in a homotopy class of continuous maps can differ (in fact be higher) from the minimal number in the homotopy class of smooth maps. For some spaces \(X\) the classification of the homotopy class of continuous self-maps for which these two numbers are the same has been obtained. The author has obtained in another work such a classification for \(X=\mathrm{PSU}(2) \times\mathrm{PSU}(2)\) [\textit{J. Jezierski}, J. Fixed Point Theory Appl. 24, No. 1, Paper No. 9, 19 p. (2022; Zbl 1494.55002)]. The present work provides a criterion for these two numbers to be the same for a given continuous homotopy class of self-maps, for a large class of spaces. As application he obtains the classification of the homotopy class of continuous self-maps for \(X=L(3)\times L(3)\) for which these two numbers are the same, where \(L(3)\) is the lens space with fundamental group \(\mathbb{Z}_3\). To show the results the author uses, among others tools, \textit{the class of rational exterior spaces} introduced by \textit{H. Duan} [Quart. J. Math. Oxford Ser. (2) 44, No. 175, 315--325 (1993; Zbl 0806.55002)]. The basic property of a space \(X\) in this class is the existence of a finite dimensional vector space \(A(X)\) such that for each self map \(f: M \to M\) the Lefschetz number of the \(k\)th iteration of \(f\) is given by \[L(f^k) = \mathrm{det}(I - A(f)^k)\] \noindent where \(A(f): A(M) \to A(M)\) is a homomorphism induced by \(f\). The first main result of the work is: \textbf{Theorem 7.1}: Let \(f : M \to M\) satisfy the standing assumptions. Let all Eigenvalues of \(A(f): A(M) \to A(M)\) have modulus \(\leq 1\). Let \(d = 2^{\alpha_0}p_1^{\alpha_1}\cdots p_s^{\alpha_s}\) denote the least common multiplicity of minimal lengths of roots of unity in the spectrum of \(A(f)\). Then \(\mathcal{GOR}(f)\) is smoothly realizable in dimension (7.1) \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \(m_0 +2u=2[\alpha_0+\cdots +\alpha_s]+(1\vee 2)+2u\) where \(u\) is a number with the property: \(\bullet\) there exist natural numbers \(h_1 ,\dots , h_u\) so that each minimal period of \(f_{\#}\) is equal to \(lcm(d'; h_{i_1},\dots ,h_{i_s})\) for some \(d'|d\) and \(1\leq i_1 < \cdots < i_s \leq u\). As an application, after describing the homotopy class of self-maps of \(M = L(3) \times L(3)\), using the above result the author shows: \textbf{Theorem 9.1}: We consider the product \(M = L(3) \times L(3)\) where \(L(3)\) denotes the lens space \(L(3,1)\) (which is also diffeomorphic to \(L(3,2))\) and its self-map \(f : M \to M\). Then, for each prescribed \(r \in \mathbb{N}\), there exists a smooth map \(h_r\) homotopic to \(f\) so that \[\#\mathrm{Fix}(h_r) = \min\{\mathrm{Fix}(g_r)\mid g \text{ is smooth and homotopic to }f\}\] if and only if all Eigenvalues of the homomorphism \(f_3^{*} : H^3(M;\mathbb{Q}) \to H^3(M;\mathbb{Q})\) have the modulus \(\leq 1\). There are many steps involved to obtain the main two results. The paper is very well written and organized and many details of the several tools used are provided, including a helpful short survey which helps to contextualize the problem studied.