On the structure of the group of equivariant diffeomorphisms of \(G\)-manifolds with codimension one orbit (Q5956082)

Let \(M\) be a smooth connected manifold and let \(\text{Diff}^{\infty}(M)_0\) denote the group of \(C^{\infty}\)-diffeomorphisms of \(M\) which are isotopic to the identity. This group has been much studied in the literature and among others it has been proved by \textit{W. Thurston} [Bull. Am. Math. Soc. 80, 304-307 (1974; Zbl 0295.57014)] that it is a simple group, i.e. it contains no non-trivial normal subgroups, implying in particular that it is a perfect group, i.e. equal to its commutator subgroup. In the present paper, the authors study the corresponding group \(\text{Diff}^{\infty}_G(M)_0\) of \(G\)-equivariant diffeomorphisms of the manifold \(M\) when a compact Lie group \(G\) acts smoothly on \(M\). In this case, the group \(\text{Diff}^{\infty}_G(M)_0\) is not necessarily a simple group. However, in a paper of 1978, the authors have proved that it is a perfect group when \(M\) is a principal \(G\)-manifold. If \(M\) has at least two orbit types then even this is no longer true. In the main theorem in this interesting paper, the authors compute the first homology group of \(\text{Diff}^{\infty}_G(M)_0\), when \(M\) is a \(G\)-manifold with codimension one orbit. In particular, this measures, for this type of \(G\)-manifold, the deviation from being perfect of the group \(\text{Diff}^{\infty}_G(M)_0\).