Some examples of free actions on products of spheres (Q2498022)

The main result of the paper states that if \(G_1\) and \(G_2\) are finite groups with periodic Tate cohomology, then \(G_1\times G_2\) acts freely and smoothly on some product \(S^n\times S^n\). The proof goes along the following lines. First, for each \(G\) with periodic cohomology there exists an \(n\)-dimensional, finitely dominated Poincaré complex \(X(G)\) with fundamental group \(G\) such that its universal covering is a homotopy sphere. This complex admits a smooth degree one normal map with zero quadratic signature if and only if \(G\) contains no generalized dihedral group. Secondly, the author shows that the quadratic signature for the product \(X(G_1)\times X(G_2)\) is zero and applies surgery theory to find a smooth closed manifold \(W\) homotopy equivalent to \(X(G_1)\times X(G_2)\) such that the universal covering \(\widetilde W\) is homotopy equivalent to \(S^n\times S^m\). Then again by a result of surgery theory \(\widetilde W\) is actually diffeomorphic to \(S^n\times S^m\) (for \(n+m\equiv 2 \,(mod \,4)\)) with a free action of \(G_1\times G_2\). Playing with joins one can arrange \(n=m\) as required in the main thorem.