On a question of R.H. Bing concerning the fixed point property for two-dimensional polyhedra (Q340406)

This article is motivated by a question of R.H. Bing on the existence of compact 2-dimensional polyhedra \(X\) with the fixed point property and even Euler characteristic. The problem is still open if the condition on \(\chi(X)\) is replaced by \(\widetilde{H}_{*}(X;\mathbb{Q}) \neq 0\). Assuming such \(X\) exists, the authors prove certain restrictions on the fundamental group \(\pi_1(X)\). Recall that \(X\) satisfies the fixed point property if every continuous map \(f: X \to X\) has a fixed point. Compact 2-dimensional polyhedra satisfying the fixed point property and \(\widetilde{H}_{*}(X;\mathbb{Q}) \neq 0\) are called \textit{Bing spaces} throughout the article. The main theorem shows that there are no Bing spaces with abelian \(\pi_1(X)\). Moreover, the authors prove that the fundamental group of Bing spaces has non-trivial Schur multiplier, i.e., \(H_2(\pi_1(X)) \neq 0\) and also show that \(\pi_1(X)\) is not isomorphic to any dihedral group, the alternating groups \(A_4, A_5\) or the symmetric group \(S_4\).