Relative Nielsen theory for noncompact spaces and maps (Q2498025)

Relative Nielsen theory deals with the estimation of the number of fixed points of maps in the relative homotopy class of a given relative map \(f\colon (X,A)\to (X,A)\) of a pair of compact polyhedra. \textit{H. Schirmer} obtained two invariants, namely \(N(f;X,A)\) [Pac. J. Math. 122, 459--473 (1986; Zbl 0553.55001)] and \(N(f;\overline{X-A})\) [Topology Appl. 30, No. 3, 253--266 (1988; Zbl 0664.55003)], which are lower bounds for the number of fixed points on \(X\) and \(\overline{X-A}\), respectively, for maps in the relative homotopy class of \(f\). The reviewer obtained an invariant \(N(f;X-A)\) [\textit{X. Zhao}, Lect. Notes Math. 1411, 189-199 (1989; Zbl 0689.55008)], which is a lower bound for the number of fixed points on \(X-A\). These methods were also used to estimate the periodic points, with given least period or period, on \(X\), \(\overline{X-A}\) and \(X-A\). Corresponding Nielsen type numbers were obtained in [\textit{P. R. Heath, H. Schirmer} and \textit{C. You}, Topology Appl. 63, No. 2, 117--138 (1995; Zbl 0827.55002)]. The authors of the paper under review generalize these relative type Nielsen numbers to the setting of ``admissible'' maps of noncompact ANR-pairs. The key point is that under the admissibility assumption, the fixed point index of the given map is well-defined, and hence the generalized Nielsen type numbers share the same lower bound properties as the original ones. Such a generalization aims at the application of Nielsen theory to analysis, which was formalized by \textit{U. K. Scholz} in the non-relative case [Rocky Mt. J. Math. 4, 81--87 (1974; Zbl 0275.55013)].