Fixed-orbit indices. I (Q692372)

This is a very demanding article on equivariant fixed-orbit indices. Let \(G\) be a compact Lie group with Lie algebra \(\mathfrak{g}\) and a normal closed subgroup \(K\) with Lie algebra \(\mathfrak{k}\). The author considers two problems: Let \(X\) be a \(G\)-ENR and \(U\subset X \) an open \(G\)-subset and \(f:U\to X\) a \(G\)-equivariant map. Assume that \(\text{Fix}^K:=\{x\in U|\,f(x)\in Kx\}\) (the \(K\)-orbits in \(U\) that are fixed by \(f\)) is compact. How does one measure algebraically \(\text{Fix}^K(f)\) as a \(G\)-set? Second, let \(M\) be a smooth \(G\)-manifold without boundary and \(v\) a continuous \(G\)-vector field on \(M\). Assume that \(\text{Zero}^{\mathfrak{k}}(v):=\{x\in M|\;v(x)\in\rho_x(\mathfrak{k})\}\) (the set of points \(x\) where the vector field is parallel to the \(K\)-orbit through \(x\)) is compact where \(\rho:M\times\mathfrak{g}\to\tau M\) is the obvious map given by the derivative of the \(G\)-action at \(1\in G\). How then does one measure algebraically \(\text{Zero}^{\mathfrak{k}}(v)\)? When \(K=G\) and \(G\) acts freely on \(X\) one obtains a fixed-orbit index in the free abelian group on the conjugacy classes of \(\pi_0(G)\). The prospective reader should be well acquainted with the material in Ulrich's monograph [\textit{H. Ulrich}, Fixed point theory of parametrized equivariant maps. Lecture Notes in Mathematics, 1343. Berlin etc.: Springer-Verlag. (1988; Zbl 0652.55005)].