Equivariant embeddings of metrizable proper \(G\)-spaces (Q392547)

This work involves locally compact Hausdorff topological groups \(G\). The authors use the notion of \textit{R. S. Palais} [Ann. Math. (2) 73, 295--323 (1961; Zbl 0103.01802)] of a proper \(G\)-space. The focus is on the class \(G\)-\(\mathcal{M}\) of proper \(G\)-spaces that are metrizable by a \(G\)-invariant metric. Seminal work in the field has shown that \(G\)-\(\mathcal{M}\) contains all separable metrizable proper \(G\)-spaces when \(G\) is an arbitrary locally compact group. It is an open question whether \(G\)-\(\mathcal{M}\) coincides with the class of metrizable proper \(G\)-spaces, even for \(G=\mathbb{R}\) or \(G=\mathbb{Z}\). Some results in the paper go as follows. Theorem 5.1 and its Corollary 5.2 assert, roughly speaking, that every \(G\)-space \(X\in G\)-\(\mathcal{M}\) admits an equivariant embedding \(i\) in a certain Banach \(G\)-space \(\mathcal{Q}(X)\) such that \(\mathcal{Q}(X)\setminus\{0\}\) is a proper \(G\)-space, \(i(X)\) is closed in its convex hull, and \(||i(x)||=1\) for each \(x\in X\). Theorem 5.4 and its Corollary 5.5 yield that every \(G\)-space \(X\in G\)-\(\mathcal{M}\) admits a closed equivariant embedding \(i\) in a certain normed linear \(G\)-space \(L\), such that \(L\setminus\{0\}\) is a proper \(G\)-space, \(||i(x)||=1\) for each \(x\in X\), and \(i(X)\) is a Hamel basis for \(L\). It is possible that these embedding results could play an important role in the equivariant theory of retracts and infinite-dimensional manifolds. An example of such an application is shown in Section 6.