Equivariant Nielsen invariants for discrete groups (Q952968)

In Nielsen fixed point theory, there are two invariants, the Lefschetz number \(L(f)\) and the Nielsen number \(N(f)\), associated to any given self map \(f: X\to X\) on a finite CW-complex \(X\). If \(L(f)\neq 0\), then any map homotopic to \(f\) must have a fixed point. This is the well-known Lefschetz fixed point theorem. The Nielsen number \(N(f)\) provides a lower bound for the number of fixed points for maps in the homotopy class of \(f\). The author of this paper introduces some analogs of Nielsen number for equivariant self maps. Let \(G\) be a discrete group, and \(f: X\to X\) be a \(G\)-equivariant map on a finite proper \(G\)-CW-complex \(X\). By using the generalized equivariant Lefschetz invariants given by the author [\(K\)-Theory 36, No. 1--2, 169--207 (2005; Zbl 1111.55003)], some equivariant Nielsen invariants are defined, and are proved to be the lower bounds for the number of fixed point orbits of maps in the \(G\)-homotopy class of given map. Under some mild hypotheses, these lower bounds can be realized. Moreover, a converse of the equivariant Lefschez fixed point theorem is obtained. When \(G\) is a compact Lie group or a finite group, notions of equivariant Nielsen numbers and equivariant Lefschetz numbers were introduced by \textit{P. Wong} [\(K\)-Theory 36, No. 1--2, 169--207 (2005; Zbl 1111.55003)] and \textit{D. Ferrario} [Handbook of topological fixed point theory. Berlin: Springer. 287--300 (2005; Zbl 1082.55001)].