Extending group actions by finite groups. I (Q1196975)

Generalized Bieberbach-Nielsen problem: Let \(\widehat {\Gamma}\) be a discrete group containing the group \(\Gamma\) as a subgroup of finite index, and suppose that \(X_\Gamma\) is a closed aspherical manifold with \(\pi_1(X_\Gamma) = \Gamma\). Does there exist an action of \(\widehat{\Gamma}\) on the universal covering \(\widetilde {X}_\Gamma\) which restricts to a covering action of \(\Gamma\)? In this paper, we consider discrete groups acting by isometries on a symmetric space. Suppose given actions \(\alpha_i : \Gamma_i \times X \to X\) (\(i = 1,2)\), by diffeomorphisms, of discrete groups \(\Gamma_1\), \(\Gamma_2\) on a smooth manifold \(X\), and let \(\Delta\) be a subgroup of both \(\Gamma_1\) and \(\Gamma_2\); the actions \(\alpha_1\), \(\alpha_2\) are said to be smoothly equivalent over \(\Delta\) when there is a diffeomorphism \(\phi : X \to X\) such that, for all \(\delta \in \Delta\), \(x \in X\), \(\phi(\alpha_1 (\delta, x)) = \alpha_2 (\delta, \phi(x))\). Two such actions \(\alpha_i : \Gamma_i \times X \to X\) \((i = 1,2)\) are said to be smoothly commensurable when there is a group \(\Delta\) contained as a subgroup of finite index in each of \(\Gamma_1\) and \(\Gamma_2\), such that \(\alpha_1\) and \(\alpha_2\) are smoothly equivalent over \(\Delta\). A Lie group \(L\) with only finitely many connected components is said to be of type \(FC\); such a group admits a maximal compact subgroup \(K\), unique up to conjugacy, such that \(L/K\) is diffeomorphic to a Euclidean space (see \textit{G. D. Mostow} [Ann. Math. 62, 44-55 (1955; Zbl 0065.014)]). When \(L\) is linear reductive, \(L/K\) is a symmetric space in which each factor in the de Rham decomposition is noncompact. Let \(L_1\), \(L_2\) be \(FC\) Lie groups whose identity components are linear reductive. We say that \(L_1\), \(L_2\) are geometrically equivalent, \(L_1 \underset {\text{geom}} \sim L_2\) when there is an isometry of symmetric spaces \(L_1/K_1 @>\simeq>> L_2/K_2\). We shall prove: Finite extension theorem. Let \(L\) be a connected reductive Lie group with no nontrivial compact normal subgroup, let \(\Gamma\) be a discrete cocompact subgroup of \(L\), and let \(\widehat{\Gamma}\) be an abstract group which contains \(\Gamma\) with finite index. Then \(\widehat {\Gamma}\) imbeds as a discrete cocompact subgroup in an \(FC\) Lie group \(\widehat {L}\) which is geometrically equivalent to \(L\). In terms of isometry groups this becomes: Generalized Bieberbach-Nielsen Theorem. Let \(X\) be a symmetric space with no compact factors, and let \(\cdot : \Gamma \times X \to X\) be an (effective) properly discontinuous action of a discrete group, \(\Gamma\) as a cocompact group of isometries of \(X\). Let \(\widehat {\Gamma}\) be a (discrete) group which contains \(\Gamma\) as a subgroup of finite index. Then (i) there is an action \(* : \widehat {\Gamma} \times X \to X\) of \(\widehat {\Gamma}\) by isometries on \(X\) which is cocompact and properly discontinuous, though not necessarily effective; it is, however, effective and, indeed, free when restricted to any torsion free subgroup of \(\widehat {\Gamma}\). Moreover, (ii) the action \(*\) is smoothly commensurable with the original action.