The classification of flat compact complete space-forms with metric of signature \((2,2)\). (Q808485)

This is a remarkable paper. As a continuation of the classification of flat compact space-forms with metric of signature \((1,3)\) by \textit{D. Fried} [J. Differ. Geom. 26, 385-396 (1987; Zbl 0643.53047)], the author has classified the flat (complete) compact space-forms with metric of signature (2,2) up to finite covers. As the author remarks the idea was suggested by Ravi S. Kulkarni. If \(\Gamma \subseteq {\mathbb{R}}^ 4\rtimes SO(2,2)\) and \(\Gamma\) acts on \({\mathbb{R}}^ 4\) freely and properly discontinuously with compact quotient, then \(X:={\mathbb{R}}^ 4/\Gamma\) is a flat compact (complete) space-form with metric of signature \((2,2)\). The method is based on the following Theorem: Suppose X is a flat compact space-form with fundamental group \(\Gamma \subseteq {\mathbb{R}}^ 4\rtimes SO(2,2)\). Then there is a uniquely determined subgroup H of \({\mathbb{R}}^ 4\rtimes SO(2,2)\) that acts simply transitively on \({\mathbb{R}}^ 4\) and \(H\cap \Gamma =\pi\) has finite index in \(\Gamma\). First, those subgroups of \({\mathbb{R}}^ 4\rtimes SO(2,2)\) are classified that act on \({\mathbb{R}}^ 4\) simply transitively, up to the conjugacy of \({\mathbb{R}}^ 4\rtimes O(2,2)\). These are the Lie groups: Type 0 \(\cong {\mathbb{R}}^ 4\), Type I \(\cong {\mathbb{R}}\times Nil^ 3\), Type II \(\cong Nil^ 4\), Type III-1 \(\cong {\mathbb{R}}\times \{{\mathbb{R}}^ 2\rtimes \left( \begin{matrix} e^ t\\ 0\end{matrix} \begin{matrix} 0\\ e^{-t}\end{matrix} \right)\); \(t\in {\mathbb{R}}\}\), Type III-2 \(\cong {\mathbb{R}}\times \{{\mathbb{R}}^ 2\rtimes SO(2)\}\). All of them, except the last one, correspond to \(\Gamma\) 's. Then \(\Gamma\) is proved to be virtually solvable, i.e. \(\Gamma\) has a solvable subgroup of finite index. This confirms a Milnor's conjecture in a special case. The theory of crystallographic hull, developed by \textit{D. Fried} and \textit{W. Goldman} [Adv. Math. 47, 1-49 (1983; Zbl 0571.57030)] completes the proof of the theorem. Corollary: Up to finite covers, every flat compact space-form with metric of signature (2,2) is of the form H/\(\Gamma\), where H is a simply transitive subgroup of \({\mathbb{R}}^ 4\rtimes SO(2,2)\) of Type 0, Type I, Type II or Type III-1, and \(\Gamma\) is a uniform lattice of H. These uniform lattices have already been listed by \textit{H. Zassenhaus} [``Beweis eines Satzes über diskrete Gruppen'', Abh. Math. Semin. Hansische Univ. 12, 289-312 (1938; Zbl 0023.01403)]. The uniform lattices of H are semidirect products \({\mathbb{Z}}^ 3\rtimes {\mathbb{Z}}_ A\), where \(A\in SL({\mathbb{Z}})\) has the characteristic polynomial \(\det (tI-A)=(t-1)(t^ 2- bt+1)\) and Type 0: \(A=I\), \(b=2\); Type I: \((A-I)^ 2=0\), \(A\neq I\), \(b=2\); Type II: \((A-I)^ 2\neq 0\), \((A-I)^ 3=0\), \(b=2\); Type III-1: \(b\geq 3\) is an integer.