Smooth group actions on definite 4-manifolds and moduli spaces (Q1902025)

In this fine paper, the authors apply equivariant gauge theory to the study of smooth group actions on certain 4-manifolds, namely the connected sum \(X\) of \(n\) copies of the complex projective plane. The main result is the following: let \(\pi\) be a finite group acting smoothly on \(X\). If \(\pi\) induces the identity on homology\(H_* (X;\mathbb{Z})\), then \(\pi\) is isomorphic to a subgroup of \(\text{PGL}_3(\mathbb{C})\). If \(n > 1\), then \(\pi\) is abelian of \(\text{rank} \leq 2\). Using also results of \textit{A. Edmonds} and \textit{J. Ewing} [Am. J. Math. 114, 1103-1126 (1992; Zbl 0766.57020)], the authors prove that there exist locally-linear topological group actions \((X,\pi)\) of cyclic groups \(\pi\) on connected sums \(X\) of \(P^2 (\mathbb{C})\) inducing the identity on homology which are not smoothable.