Applied equivariant degree. I: An axiomatic approach to primary degree (Q874399)

The equivariant degree theory introduced by \textit{J. Ize, I. Massabó} and \textit{A. Vignoli} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 315, 433--510 (1989; Zbl 0695.58006)] gives an important alternative to the other approaches in degree theory. However, in general, the equivariant homotopy group of spheres \(\Pi_{S^W}^G(S^V)\) is not stable even under suspensions by \(G\)-trivial summands, that makes the practical computation of \(\deg_G(f,\Omega)\) very complicated. Nevertheless, a slight modification of the original construction allows to define the equivariant degree in such a way that its value belongs to the stable limit of \(\Pi_{S^W}^G(S^V)=\pi_n^{G,\text{st}}\). At first, several notions from differential topology are recalled and the known facts related to the bi-orientability, normality and the purely group-theoretic quantity \(n(L,H)\) are discussed. Then the main result on the axiomatic approach to the primary degree for the case of \(n\) free parameters is developed, which is preceded by a general discussion of regular fundamental domains in the context relevant to equivariant extensions. The description of the axiomatic approach to the primary \(S^1\)-degree for the case of one free parameter is given. Here the concept of a basic map plays a central role: in a certain sense basic maps are the simplest equivariant ones being close to the ``identity'' map and having the nonzero \(S^1\)-degree. It is shown how the computation of the \(S^1\)-degree bifurcation can be reduced to the basic maps. Some techniques such as homotopy factorization, splitting lemma and \(S^1\)-degree formulae are developed. The last section contains the recurrence to provide for a class of equivariant maps, naturally appearing in one-parameter equivariant Hopf bifurcation, the computation of the primary \(G\) degree via appropriate \(S^1\)-degree and coefficients depending on \(G\) only.