Group actions and higher topological complexity of lens spaces (Q6650252)

Let \(\text{TC}_k(-)\) be the higher topological complexity introduced by \textit{Y. B. Rudyak} [Topology Appl. 157, No. 5, 916--920 (2010; Zbl 1187.55001)]. The author uses the non-reduced version, i.e., \(\text{TC}_k(X)=1\) if and only if \(X\) is contractible.\N\NIn the present paper, the author studies the higher TC of lens spaces \(L^{2n+1}_m\). Specifically, the author proves the following statement:\N\N\textbf{Theorem 5.3} If \(m\) does not divide \(\binom{2n}{n}^{\lfloor k/2\rfloor}\), then\N\[\N\text{TC}_k\left(L^{2n+1}_m\right)=k(2n+1).\N\]\N\NThe author shows that the inequality \(\text{TC}_k\left(L^{2n+1}_m\right)\leq k(2n+1)\) holds for any \(m\) (Theorem 5.1). To this end, the author introduces a higher version of Farber's relative topological complexity and the fact that \(S^1\) acts freely on \(L^{2n+1}_m\), with the quotient space \(L^{2n+1}_m/S^1\) being the complex projective space \(\mathbb{C}P^n\) (this was shown by \textit{J. Jaworowski} [Topology Appl. 123, No. 1, 125--129 (2002; Zbl 1007.55003)]). On the other hand, the lower bound follows from the description of the \(\mathbb{Z}_m\)-cohomology ring of lens spaces (Theorem 5.2).