Pulling back fixed points (Q1093959)

Let G be an abelian p-group, \(p\neq 2\), acting smoothly on the manifold X, preserving orientation. Let Y be an oriented PL G-manifold and let \(f: X\to Y\) be a proper G-map with degree \(\not\equiv 0\) mod p. Let \(f^ G: X^ G\to Y^ G\) denote the map of fixed sets. Then it is shown that the map induced by \(f^ G\) in cohomology with \({\mathbb{F}}_ p\)-coefficients is an injection. A similar result holds for \(p=2\) if it is assumed that the normal bundles to fixed point sets of subgroups have a complex structure. In order to prove such results by induction over the order of G the author introduces a suitable notion of degree which makes sense for maps \(f: X\to Y\) between manifolds of different dimension: Let [X], [Y] be orientation classes and \(\mu_ x\), \(\mu_ y\) in \(H^ n(X)\), \(H^ m(Y)\) be dual generators and \(x\in H^{n-m}(X)\). Then deg f rel x\(=(f^*(\mu_ y)\cup x)[X]\). In the applications x is a polynomial in Chern classes of a suitable bundle. Results of the type mentioned above can also be proved by using the localization theorem in cobordism theory as proved by the reviewer [Math. Z. 126, 31-39 (1972; Zbl 0221.57020)].