Countable approximation of topological \(G\)-manifolds: compact Lie groups \(G\) (Q683960)

Let \(G\) be a compact Lie group and \(M\) a topological \(G\)-manifold; by definition, this requires that the fixed point set of every closed subgroup is a topological manifold. The author shows that then \(M\) is \(G\)-homotopy equivalent to a \(G\)-equivariant countable CW complex. If \(M\) is compact, then the complex may be chosen to be finite-dimensional. A similar result for locally linear actions of arbitrary Lie groups on manifolds was proved by \textit{E. Elfving} [Manuscr. Math. 105, No. 2, 235--251 (2001; Zbl 0992.57032)], but it gives no information about the type of CW complex. The present paper embeds its main theorem in a nice survey of related classical results and examples.