On \((Z_2)^k\) actions. (Q5957281)

The author generalizes a 20 years old theorem of Kosniowski and Stong: Let \((M^m,\Phi)\) be a smooth \((\mathbb{Z}_2)^k\) action on a closed smooth \(m\)-dimensional manifold with fixed set \(F^n\) being a connected \(n\) -dimensional submanifold. Then: (i) if \(m>2^kn\), \((M,\Phi)\) bounds equivariantly; (ii) if \(m=2^kn\), \((M,\Phi)\) is equivariantly cobordant to the action \((F^n\times\ldots\times F^n, \text{twist})\) on the product of \(2^k\) copies of \(F^n\) which interchanges factors. Kosniowski and Stong proved the case \(n=1\). The proof in the paper under review gives a new argument for \(k=1\), and shows that the methods suggested by Kosniowski and Stong were inadequate for \(k>1\).