Universal proper \(G\)-spaces (Q5957276)

Let \(G\) be a topological group. In the paper under review a \(G\)-space \(Z\) is called universal for a class \(\mathcal K\) of \(G\)-spaces if \(Z\) belongs to the class \(\mathcal K\) and for each \(G\)-space \(X\) in \(\mathcal K\) there is a \(G\)-embedding \(X\hookrightarrow Z\). The author constructs universal \(G\)-spaces for several classes of proper \(G\)-spaces, \(G\) a Lie group. Essential use is made of Palais' slice theorem for proper actions. The building blocks of the universal proper \(G\)-spaces are cones over \(G/H\), \(H\) a compact subgroup of \(G\). It is then shown that the spaces thus constructed are (not equivariantly) homeomorphic to Hilbert spaces.