Universal actions and representations of locally finite groups on metric spaces (Q2421898)

In 1927 \textit{P. Urysohn} in [Bull. Sci. Math., II. Sér. 51, 43--64 (1927; JFM 53.0556.01)] built an universal metric space \(\mathbb{U}\) with the property that every separable metric space \(X\) can be isometrically embedded in \(\mathbb{U}\). In 1959 \textit{P. Hall} in [J. Lond. Math. Soc. 34, 305--319 (1959; Zbl 0088.02301)] built an universal locally finite group \(\mathsf{G}\) with the property that every countable locally finite group \(H\) admits a monomorphism to \(\mathsf{G}\). One of the main results of the paper under review is Theorem 0.1: There exists a universal action of the Hall locally finite group \(\mathsf{G}\) on the Urysohn space \(\mathbb{U}\) by isometries. That is, for any action of a countable locally finite group \(H\) on a separable metric space \(X\) by isometries, there exists a subgroup \(H^{*} \leq \mathsf{G}\) isomorphic to \(H\) such that, after identifying \(H\) and \(H^{*}\), there is an \(H\)-equivariant isometric embedding of \(X\) into \(\mathbb{U}\). The meaning of the previous theorem is that there is a single action of a countable locally finite group on a separable metric space by isometries that contains all actions of all countable locally finite groups on all separable metric spaces as subactions. The restriction to locally finite groups in Theorem 0.1 is essential as it is shown thanks to Theorem 0.5: There are no analogously universal actions of infinite groups that are not locally finite. In the article the author also discusses universal actions on Banach spaces.