The Anosov theorem for infra-nilmanifolds with a 2-perfect holonomy group (Q428180)

One says that Anosov's theorem holds for a closed manifold \(M\) when the Nielsen number \(N(f)\) equals the absolute value \(|L(f)|\) of the Lefschetz number for any continuous map \(f:M\to M\). The authors prove that Anosov's theorem holds for an infra-nilmanifold with finite holonomy group \(F\) if and only if \(F\) is perfect (i.e., \(F\) has no index-two subgroup). More precisely, let \(G\) be a connected, simply connected, nilpotent Lie group. Denote by \(\text{aff}(G)\) the semigroup \(G\rtimes \text{End}(G)\) with multiplication \((d_1,D_1)(d_2,D_2)=(d_1D_1(d_2),D_1D_2)\). Denote by \(\text{Aff}(G)\) the subgroup \(G\rtimes\text{Aut}(G)\). If \(\Gamma\) is a subgroup of \(\text{Aff}(G)\) such that \(G\cap\Gamma\) is a uniform lattice of \(G\) and if \(N\) is of finite index in \(G\) then \(\Gamma\) is called almost-crystallographic. It is said to be almost-Bieberbach if is torsion-free. The action of \(\text{Aff}(G)\) on \(G\), induces an action of \(\Gamma\) on \(G\), and \(\Gamma\backslash G\) is called an infra-nilmanifold, when \(\Gamma\) is almost-Bieberbach. The holonomy group of \(\Gamma\) is defined as the set \(F\) of all \(x\in\text{Aut}(G)\) such that there is an \(x\in G\) with \((g,x)\in\Gamma\). This then yields a morphism \(\rho:F\to\text{Aut}(\mathfrak g )\) where \(\mathfrak{g}\) is the Lie-algebra of \(G\) and (after choosing a basis for \(\mathfrak{g}\)) a faithful representation \(\rho:F\to\text{GL}_n(\mathbb{R})\). The authors heavily draw on a fundamental theorem of \textit{K. B. Lee} [Pac. J. Math. 168, No. 1, 157--166 (1995; Zbl 0920.55003)]: Let \(G\) be as above and let \(M\) be an infra-nilmanifold modelled on \(G\) with holonomy representation \(\rho:F\to\text{GL}_n(\mathbb{R})\) and \(f:M\to M\) continuous. Let \((d,D)\) be a homotopy lift of \(f\). Then \(N(f)=|L(f)|\) if and only if \(\det(\mathbf{1}-\rho(x_1)D_*)\det(\mathbf{1}-\rho(x_2)D_*)\geq0\) for all \(x_1,x_2\in F\). The authors use this result to prove that Anosov's theorem holds for \(M\) provided \(\det(\hat{\rho}(x))=1\) for all \(x\in F\) and every sub-representation \(\hat{\rho}\) of \(\rho\) over \(\mathbb{R}\). Then they derive their main result from this theorem.