Equivariant Nielsen root theory for \(G\)-maps (Q975233)

H. Hopf generalized the notion of degree of a map between manifolds, and defined a Nielsen root number \(N(f, a)\) of a map \(f: X\to Y\) and a point \(a\) in \(Y\). This number \(N(f, a)\) gives a lower bound for the number \(\sharp g^{-1}(a)\) of roots at \(a\) for all maps homotopic to \(f\). It was proved in [\textit{D. Gonçalves} and \textit{P. Wong}, Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 133, No.~9, 2779--2782 (2005; Zbl 1071.55001)] that if \(N(f; a) = 0\), then there is a root free map \(g\) homotopic to \(f\) under the assumption that \(Y\) is a topological manifold, but \(X\) may be any compact space. The authors of this paper consider the equivariant setting of Nielsen root theory. A \(G\)-equivariant root number \(N_G(f, a)\) of a \(G\)-map \(f: X\to Y\) between locally smooth \(G\)-spaces is defined, where \(G\) is a compact Lie group. Similar definitions can be found in work of the second author [Banach Cent. Publ. 49, 253--258 (1999; Zbl 0940.55002)] and [Fundam. Math. 186, No. 2, 161--175 (2005; Zbl 1081.55005)]. Actually, a more general coincidence setting was treated by \textit{J. Guo} and \textit{P. Heath} [Topology Appl. 128, No. 2-3, 277--308 (2003; Zbl 1021.55001)], but there are some restrictions on the \(G\)-spaces. The improvement in defining \(N_G(f, a)\) of this paper lies in dropping some restrictions on the maps and the spaces. The main result of this paper are some sufficient conditions to guarantee that if \(N_G(f, a)=0\), there must be a root free map in the \(G\)-homotopy class of \(f\).