\(\mathbb{Z}_2^k\)-actions fixing a disjoint union of odd dimensional projective spaces (Q1704374)

Let \(M\) be a closed smooth manifold and \(\Phi\) a smooth action of the elementary abelian 2-group \(\mathbb{Z}_2^k\) on \(M\) with the fixed-point set \(F\), where \(k\geq 1\). It is well-known that \(F\) is a finite disjoint union of closed submanifolds of \(M\). A natural question, which has attracted a lot of attention, is the classification up to equivariant cobordism of the pairs \((M, \Phi)\) with a given fixed point set \(F\). Most notable work in this direction is due to \textit{P. E. Conner} and \textit{E. E. Floyd} [Differentiable periodic maps. Berlin-Göttingen-Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag (1964; Zbl 0125.40103)]. Continuing this line of investigation, in the paper under review, the authors prove the following two results: Theorem 1. Let \((M, \Phi)\) be a \(\mathbb{Z}_2^k\) action with \(k>1\). If the fixed-point set \(F\) is of the form \(F=\mathbb{R}P^{n_1} \sqcup \cdots \sqcup \mathbb{R}P^{n_j}\), where \(j \geq 2\), each \(n_i\) is odd and \(n_i \neq n_s\) for \(i\neq s\), then \((M,\Phi)\) bounds equivariantly. Theorem 2. Let \((M, \Phi)\) be a \(\mathbb{Z}_2^k\) action with \(k>1\). If \(F=\mathbb{K}P^n \sqcup \mathbb{K}P^m\), where \(\mathbb{K}=\mathbb{R}, \mathbb{C}\) or \(\mathbb{H}\), and \(n,m\) are odd, then \((M,\Phi)\) bounds equivariantly. These results can be found in the literature for involutions (\(k=1\)).