Polynomial assignments (Q743982)

Let \(T\) be an \(r\)-dimensional torus, where \(r\geq 1\), acting smoothly on a manifold \(M\). Let \({\mathit{t}}\) be the Lie algebra of \(T\) and let \({\mathit{t}}_p\) be the Lie algebra of the stabilizer group \(T_p\) of \(p\in M\). The set of points \(q\in M\) with \({\mathit{t}}_q={\mathit{t}}_p\) form a submanifold of \(M\) called the infinitesimal orbit type stratum of \(M\) through \(p\). These strata form a poset \({\mathcal{P}}_T(M)\), where \[ X\preceq Y\Leftrightarrow X \subseteq \overline{Y}. \] For each \(X\in {\mathcal{P}}_T(M)\), denote by \({\mathit{t}}_X\) the Lie algebra \({\mathit{t}}_p\) for \(p\in X\). A function \(\phi\) on \({\mathcal{P}}_T(M)\) that assigns to each stratum \(X\) a map \(\phi_X: {\mathit{t}}_X\to {\mathbb{R}}\) such that \(\phi_Y=\phi_X| {\mathit{t}}_Y\) for all \(X\preceq Y\), is called an assignment. If each \(\phi_X\) is a polynomial map, \(\phi\) is called a polynomial assignment. Polynomial assignments then form a graded ring \({\mathcal{A}}_T(M)\). The authors show that there is a canonical map of graded rings \[ \gamma: H^{\text{even}}_T(M)\to {\mathcal{A}}_T(M), \] where \(H_T(M)=H^\ast_T(M;{\mathbb{R}})\) denotes the equivariant cohomology ring of \(M\). They show that if \(M\) is equivariantly formal and if \(M^T\) is finite, then \(\gamma\) is injective. Under these conditions \(H^{\text{odd}}_T(M)\) equals zero. In Section 7 the authors study the map \(\gamma\) for compact Hamiltonian \(T\)-spaces and give a combinatorial characterization of the image of \(\gamma\). In particular, they give a new proof of a result of \textit{M. Pabiniak} [J. Symplectic Geom. 12, No. 1, 23--47 (2014; Zbl 1302.53086)] concerning a characterization of the \(S^1\)-equivariant cohomology ring of a compact Hamiltonian manifold. The authors conclude the paper by showing that the assignment ring has nice functorial properties with respect to morphisms between \(T\)-manifolds.