Algebraic automorphisms of smooth affine surfaces (Q1262366)

The author gives a partial solution of the conjecture that the only smooth homology plane affine surface V which admits a nontrivial algebraic automorphism of finite order is the affine plane. This conjecture implies a well known conjecture that every algebraic action of \({\mathbb{C}}^*\) on \({\mathbb{C}}^ 3\) is conjugate to a linear action. The author checks the conjecture in the cases when \(V\) is of Kodaira dimension 1, or the Ramanujan surface [cf. \textit{C. P. Ramanujan}, Ann. Math., II. Ser. 94, 69-88 (1971; Zbl 0218.14021)], or the Gurjar-Miyanishi surface. Note that a homology plane surface of Kodaira-dimension \(-\infty\) is the affine plane, and there are no homology plane surfaces of Kodaira dimension 0. Until recently the Ramanujan surface and the Gurjar-Miyanishi surface were the only known examples of homology plane surfaces of Kodaira dimension 2. New examples of such surfaces have been constructed by the author and tom Dieck. For some of them the conjecture was verified, too. The method of the proof is based on the analysis of the action of an automorphism of finite order on the tree of irreducible components of the curve at infinity of \(V\).