Pseudogroups of \(C^ 1\), piecewise projective homeomorphisms (Q1075673)

The group \(PSL_ 2{\mathbb{R}}\) acts transitively on the circle \(S^ 1={\mathbb{R}}\cup \infty\), by linear fractional transformations. A homeomorphism g:u\(\to V\) between open subsets of \({\mathbb{R}}\) is called \(C^ 1\), piecewise projective if g is \(C^ 1\), and if there is some locally finite subset S of u such that, on each component of u-S, g agrees with some element of \(PSL_ 2{\mathbb{R}}\). Let \(\Gamma_{{\mathbb{R}}}\) be the pseudogroup of such homeomorphisms. We show that the Haefliger classifying space \(B\Gamma_{{\mathbb{R}}}\) is simply connected, and that there is a map \(i: B_ 2^{\sim}{\mathbb{R}}\to B\Gamma_{{\mathbb{R}}}\) inducing isomorphism in homology. \((_ 2^{\sim}{\mathbb{R}}\) is the universal cover of \(PSL_ 2{\mathbb{R}}\), considered as a discrete group.) As a consequence, the classifying space of the discrete group of compactly supported, \(C^ 1\) piecewise projective homeomorphisms of \({\mathbb{R}}\) is a ''homology loop space'' of \(B_ 2^{\sim}{\mathbb{R}}\).