Fixed points on pairs of nilmanifolds (Q1346487)

\textit{D. V. Anosov} [Russ. Math. Surv. 40, No. 4, 149-150 (1985); translation from Usp. Mat. Nauk 40, No. 4(244), 133-134 (1985; Zbl 0594.55002)] proved that if \(f : X \to X\) is a map of a compact nilmanifold, then \(N(f)\), the Nielsen number of \(f\), can be readily computed because \(N(f) = | L(f) |\), where \(L(f)\) denotes the Lefschetz number. Let \(A\) be a subpolyhedron of a finite polyhedron \(X\) and suppose \(f : (X,A) \to (X,A)\) is a map of pairs. It is convenient to assume \(X\) is connected, but \(A\) may be disconnected, and we denote by \(f_ j\) the restriction of \(f\) to a component \(A_ j\) of \(A\) that is mapped to itself. \textit{H. Schirmer} [Pac. J. Math. 122, 459-473 (1986; Zbl 0553.55001)] introduced the relative Nielsen number, a lower bound for the number of fixed points of all maps of pairs homotopic to \(f\). Other Nielsen numbers for maps of pairs [\textit{H. Schirmer}, Contemp. Math. 152, 291-309 (1993; Zbl 0805.55001)] were subsequently developed, for instance, the lower bound \(N(f;X - A)\) of Zhao for the number of fixed points on \(X - A\). In this paper, the author investigates the natural question of whether, if \((X,A)\) is a nilmanifold pair, formulas like Anosov's hold for relative Nielsen numbers. He shows that, under rather strong hypotheses (but of the sort generally required in fixed point theory) on the topological properties of \(X\) and \(A\), and on the relationship between the fixed points of \(f\) restricted to \(A\) and those of \(f\), such formulas do hold. For instance, if \(L(f)\) and all the \(L(f_ j)\) are nonzero, then \(N(f;X - A) = | L(f) | - \sum_ j | L(f_ j) |\). He shows by examples that the hypotheses are required. He demonstrates the usefulness of the formulas by employing them to study periodic points of maps of nilmanifolds.