On a covering group theorem and its applications (Q1612771)

This is mainly an announcement of results and proofs are either absent or sketched. The authors first outline how to introduce a group structure on an \(n\)-fold covering of a compact connected group in such a way that the covering map becomes a group homomorphism. This is done by approximating compact connected groups by compact Lie groups in the usual way, subsequently using the covering group theory for path connected and locally path connected topological groups already present in \textit{Pontryagin}'s 1938 classical monograph and finally putting everything together in an adequate way. The algebraicity of all coverings of a compact Abelian group and a criterion for the triviality of all \(n\)-fold coverings of a compact connected Abelian group are then announced as applications. This is further applied to give a criterion for the solvability of algebraic equations with functional coefficients.