Maps between classifying spaces and applications (Q689270)

The author develops several techniques for reducing the study of mapping spaces of the form map \((BG,BH)\), where \(G\) and \(H\) are compact connected Lie groups, to the case of simply connected Lie groups. This enables him to extend certain results, previously known only for simply connected or simple Lie groups. For example it is proved here that the group of self- homotopy equivalences of \(BG\) is naturally isomorphic to \(\text{Iso}(K(BG))\), the group of lambda-ring automorphisms of the complex \(K\)-theory of \(BG\) which preserve the image of \(\text{KO}(BG)\). This extends to arbitrary compact connected Lie groups \(G\) a significant part of an important result obtained in the homotopy classification of self-maps of \(BG\) (\(G\)= simple) by \textit{St. Jackowski}, \textit{J. McClure} and \textit{B. Oliver} [Ann. Math., II. Ser. 135, No. 1, 183-226 (1992; Zbl 0758.55004) and No. 2, 227-270 (1992; Zbl 0771.55003)]. A key ingredient of the proof is provided by the reviewer's detailed description of the normalizer of the Weyl group of a simply connected group in terms of its simple factors [Math. Ann. 275, 637-652 (1986; Zbl 0585.57023)]. Real K- theory is finally used by the author to distinguish between the simple factors of the form \(\text{Sp}(n)\) and \(\text{Spin}(2n+1)\). As a corollary one may also find here a result in the homotopy classification of fake Lie groups of general type \(G\) by their lambda K- rings together with their KO-structure, which completes the study begun for simple connected groups by the author and \textit{L. Smith} [Math. Annn. 288, No. 4, 637-661 and 663-673 (1990; Zbl 0697.55006 and Zbl 0697.55007)] and [Math. Ann. 290, No. 4, 629-642 (1991; Zbl 0741.55004)].