Relations between cyclotomic units and Smith equivalence of representations (Q1823517)

Two representations A and B of a finite group G are called Smith equivalent if G acts smoothly on a closed homotopy sphere with exactly two fixed points, and the tangent representations at these fixed points are A and B. Cyclic groups \(Z_{4m}\) of order 4m (m\(\geq 2)\) have Smith equivalent but nonisomorphic representations [see \textit{S. E. Cappell} and \textit{J. L. Shaneson}, Invent. Math. 68, 1-19 (1982; Zbl 0507.57027)]. \textit{K. H. Dovermann} and \textit{T. Petrie} [Topology 24, 283-305 (1985; Zbl 0597.57014)] showed that there exist odd order cyclic groups which have nonisomorphic Smith equivalent representations. The groups exhibited there were very large. It is mentioned that their order is at least \(10^{2812917}\). The paper under review gives ``small'' odd order cyclic groups which have representations as above. To obtain such groups the authors study relations among cyclotomic units.