Orientation-reversing actions on Lens spaces and Gaussian integers (Q2463863)

This paper examines the equivalence classes of actions of finite groups on 3-dimensional lens spaces with orientation-reversing elements. Only amphicheiral lens spaces \(L(p,q)\), where \(q^2=-1 \) (mod \(p\)), admit self-diffeomorphisms that reverse orientation. The family of such actions is partially ordered by lifting actions via covering maps. The authors show that each connected component of this partially ordered set is described in terms of the lattice of Gaussian integers ordered by divisibility. To develop their results they use invariant Heegaard tori in lens spaces whose sides are interchanged by elements of finite groups that reverse orientation.