Degree of equivariant maps between generalized \(G\)-manifolds (Q360541)

An orientable generalised \(n\)-manifold over a principal ideal domain \(L\) is a locally compact Hausdorff space \(X\) which satisfies the following conditions: The cohomological dimension \(\dim_L(X)\) of \(X\) over \(L\) is finite. The relative Borel-Moore homology of \(X\) is given by \[ \mathcal{H}_q(X; L)_x \cong H_q(X, X- \{x\} ; L) = \begin{cases} L & \text{for \(q=n\),}\\ 0 & \text{for \(q \neq n\).} \end{cases} \] \(X\) is cohomologically locally connected over \(L\). Although generalized manifolds have many local and global properties of topological manifolds, they are still different from topological manifolds. It is known due to \textit{J. Bryant} et al., [Ann. Math. (2) 143, No. 3, 435--467 (1996; Zbl 0867.57016)] that there exist generalised manifolds which are not homotopy equivalent to topological manifolds. In the paper under review, the authors investigate the degree of equivariant maps between generalized \(G\)-manifolds equipped with free actions of a compact Lie group \(G\). Using ideal valued cohomological index theory due to \textit{E. R. Fadell} and \textit{S. Husseini} [Ergodic Theory Dyn. Syst. (Charles Conley Mem. Vol.) 8, 73--85 (1988; Zbl 0657.55002)] and the transfer homomorphism for compact Lie groups due to \textit{R. Oliver} [Ann. Math. (2) 103, 637--644 (1976; Zbl 0354.57006)], the authors prove the following Theorem: Fix a prime \(p\) and let \(G\) be a compact Lie group. Let \(X\) and \(Y\) be oriented, connected, compact, generalized \(n\)-manifolds over \(\mathbb{Z}\) equipped with an orientation preserving free action of \(G\). Let \[ q_X^*: H^{n-\dim(G)}(B_G; \mathbb{Z}_p) \to H^{n-\dim(G)}(X/G; \mathbb{Z}_p), \] \[ q_Y^*: H^{n-\dim(G)}(B_G; \mathbb{Z}_p) \to H^{n-\dim(G)}(Y/G; \mathbb{Z}_p), \] be induced by the classifying maps for \(X\) and \(Y\), respectively. Let \(f: X \to Y\) be a \(G\)-equivariant map. Then the following hold: If \(q_X^* \neq 0\), then \(f^*: H^n(Y; \mathbb{Z}_p) \to H^n(X; \mathbb{Z}_p)\) is an isomorphism and the degree of \(f\) is not congruent to zero mod \(p\). If \(q_X^* = 0\) and \(q_Y^* \neq 0\), then \(f^*: H^n(Y; \mathbb{Z}_p) \to H^n(X; \mathbb{Z}_p)\) is trivial and the degree of \(f\) is congruent to zero mod \(p\). If \(q_X^* = 0\) and \(q_Y^* = 0\), then no assertion can be made about the degree of \(f\). This extends similar results due to \textit{Y. Hara} [Topology Appl. 148, No. 1--3, 113--121 (2005; Zbl 1064.57038)] and \textit{J. Jaworowski} [J. Fixed Point Theory Appl. 1, No. 1, 111--121 (2007; Zbl 1124.55002)] regarding degree of equivariant maps between \(G\)-manifolds equipped with free actions of a compact Lie group \(G\).