Lifting a symmetry of a Riemann surface (Q1671976)

Let \(\pi: X \rightarrow Y\) be a normal covering between the compact Riemann surfaces \(X\) and \(Y\). Given an automorphism \(\varphi\) of \(Y\) an interesting problem is to determine conditions for the existence of an automorphism \(\phi\) of \(X\) such that \(\varphi \pi = \pi \phi\). We say that \(\phi\) is a lifting of \(\varphi\). Several results are known when the surface \(Y\) is hyperelliptic and \(\varphi\) is its hyperelliptic involution. The case for lifting a general involution, not necessarily hyperelliptic, has been studied by \textit{A. F. Costa} and \textit{P. Turbek} [Arch. Math. 81, No 2, 161--168 (2003; Zbl 1053.30035)]. They also found conditions for lifting an automorphism of order three. In all these cases the automorphism \(\varphi\) is conformal. In the present paper the authors study the problem of lifting an anticonformal involution \(\sigma\), called a symmetry. Recall that the orbit space \(Y/\langle \sigma \rangle\) is a Klein surface. Unbranched normal coverings \(X \rightarrow Y\) are considered, where \(Y\) is a compact Riemann surface of genus bigger than one and admitting a symmetry \(\sigma\). Let \(H\) be the group of covering transformations. The authors find necessary and sufficient conditions on the action of \(H\) such that \(\sigma\) lifts to an anticonformal automorphism \(\tau\) of \(X\). Non-Euclidean crystallographic groups (NEC groups) play an essential role. The study is divided into three cases according to the topological type of the orbit space \(Y/\langle \sigma \rangle\): a bordered orientable surface, a bordered non-orientable surface or an unbordered non-orientable surface. In each case a set of generators \(\bar{\alpha}_i, \bar{\beta}_i\), of \(H\) is found, satisfying a relation between the commutators \([\bar{\alpha}_i, \bar{\beta}_i]\) and proving the existence of an automorphism \(\tau\) defined from those generators. Since a finite group admits different representations, there can be groups such that the symmetry \(\sigma\) lifts or does not lift depending on the particular realization of the group. In the first example of the last section such a group \(H\) is given, for which there are surfaces \(X_1\) and \(X_2\), with \(X_i/H=Y\) such that \(\sigma\) lifts to \(X_1\) and does not lift to \(X_2\). Examples 2 and 3 provide finite groups such that \(\sigma\) always lifts.