On the localization formula in equivariant cohomology (Q876546)

Let \(M\) be a compact oriented manifold with a torus \(T\) acting on it. The Atiyah-Bott-Berline-Vergne localization theorem formula gives the integral of an equivariant cohomology class on \(M\) in terms of an integral over the fixed point set \(M^T\). The authors extend this result by replacing \(T\) by \(G\), a compact oriented group. Their fixed point set is \(M^C\), which is the set of points of \(M\) which are fixed by some element in a conjugacy class \(C\) of some element \(g \in G\). Let \(V\) be a module over \(H\) where \(H\) is the rational cohomology of \(BG\), which is an integral domain and \(Q\) is its field of fractions. Then the localization of \(V\) is defined by \(\widehat V:=V \otimes_H Q\). The usual equivariant cohomology \(H^*_G(M)\) is an \(H\)-module, so \(\widehat H^*_G(M)\) is called the localized equivariant cohomology. Now the localized equivariant cohomology satisfies an equivariant Mayer-Vietoris theorem. This is the main technique, and it forces the authors to assume that \(M^C\) is a smooth manifold. They do this casually and leave off hypotheses about the smoothness of \(M\) in their theorems, introducing an unnecessary ambiguity to their exposition. They prove a Borel type Localization formula stating the inclusion \(i:M^C\rightarrow M\) induces an isomorphism in localized cohomology. If \(t\) is contained in the maximal torus \(T\), then the usual Borel localization formula holds. This provides a systematic method for calculating the Gysin homomorphism in ordinary cohomology of an equivariant map. As an example, the Alkidiz-Carrell formula is obtained for the Gysin map on flag manifolds.