Topological invariants of real algebraic actions (Q1176268)

This paper studies fixed point sets of real algebraic actions of compact Lie groups. The main question is whether ``exotic'' fixed point sets, that are well-known for smooth non-linear actions, can be found for real algebraic actions as well. Thus the authors construct, for every odd order abelian group with at least 3 noncyclic Sylow subgroups, one fixed point actions on a variety which is a homotopy sphere. As a consequence, they obtain the following fixed point conjecture for an abelian group \(G\) of odd order: \(G\) acts real algebraically without a fixed point on a variety diffeomorphic to \({\mathbb{R}}^ n\) if and only if \(G\) acts smoothly without a fixed point on the disk \(D^ m\). Furthermore, they provide examples of two fixed point real algebraic actions on homotopy spheres with non-equivalent tangent representations (Smith-equivalence), actions on homotopy complex projective spaces with exotic defect, and actions with exotic linking numbers between fixed point sets of subgroups. A detailed introduction and list of references makes the paper accessible to non-experts.