On finite simple groups acting on homology spheres with small fixed point sets (Q485096)

The author of this particularly well-written article continues his research on smooth actions of finite groups on homology spheres. Together with various co-authors he has previously dealt with finite simple groups acting on homology \(n\)-spheres with \(n \leq 5\). His main result here is that for each integer \(d \geq -1\), there are only finitely many finite simple groups that can act smoothly on an integer homology sphere (of arbitrary dimension) with fixed point sets of dimension at most \(d\). Moreover he obtains that in the case \(d = -1\) (i.e, free action), these groups are \(A_5\), \(\text{PSL}_2(7)\) and possibly \(\text{PSU}_3(3)\), with actions on spheres of dimension \(\leq 5\). For arbitrary finite groups it is shown that there are more groups that can act on a homology 3-sphere compared to those acting on the 3-sphere itself. In contrast to the above finiteness result, the author conjectures that all groups \(\text{PSL}_2(p)\), \(p\) a prime, can act on a mod 2 homology 3-sphere. The main ingredient for the proofs is A.~Borel's formula relating dimensions of various fixed point sets and a good deal of group theory, in particular, group cohomology.