Slice theorem for differential spaces and reduction by stages (Q2450235)

Consider a Lie group \(G\) acting on a smooth manifold \(M\) and let \(H\) be a normal subgroup of \(G\). Then \(H\) acts on \(M\) and \(G/H\) acts on \(M/H\). The orbit spaces \(M/G\) and \((M/H)/(G/H)\) are isomorphic as sets, even as stratified spaces, but, in general, they are not diffeomorphic manifolds, since the orbit spaces do not inherit the manifold structure. In the present paper, the authors prove that, if a Lie group \(G\) acts properly on a locally compact subcartesian differential space \(P\), the orbit space \(P/G\) is a locally compact differential space. In the case of a proper symplectic action of a Lie group \(G\) with a normal subgroup \(H\) on a symplectic manifold \((M,\omega)\), there is a differential space isomorphism \(\phi : P=M/G \to R=(M/H)/(G/H)\), inducing a Poisson algebra isomorphism \(\phi^* : {\mathcal C}^{\infty}(R) \to {\mathcal C}^{\infty}(P)\). Thus, in the framework of differential spaces, reduction of symmetries and reduction by stages are equivalent.