Nielsen equalizer theory (Q554422)

Nielsen fixed point theory mainly deals with the fixed point sets of self-maps. A generalization of the fixed point set is the coincidence set of two maps. The author of the paper under review successfully extends Nielsen fixed point theory to a more general setting: equalizer sets. Given \(k\) maps \(f_1, f_2, \dots, f_k\) from \(X\) to \(Y\), their equalizer set is defined as \(\{x\in X\mid f_1(x)=f_2(x)= \cdots =f_k(x)\}\). The equalizer classes are defined if both of \(X\) and \(Y\) have universal coverings. It is proved that there exists a well-defined semi-index for each equalizer class if \(X\) and \(Y\) are manifolds of dimension \((k-1)n\) and \(n\) respectively. This is a natural generalization of the semi-indices of coincidence sets introduced by \textit{R. Dobreńko} and \textit{J. Jezierski} [Rocky Mt. J. Math. 23, No.~1, 67--85 (1993; Zbl 0787.55003)]. Hence, the author defines a Nielsen equalizer number \(N(f_1,f_2,\dots,f_k)\), which is a lower bound for the number of equalizer points for \(k\) maps homotopic to the given \(k\) maps respectively. If the domain \(X\) is not a surface, such a lower bound is realizable, i.e. a type of Wecken theorem is obtained. Furthermore, the author also shows that the equalizer Nielsen number can be used to estimate coincidence points.