Nullification functors and the homotopy type of the classifying space for proper bundles

DOI10.2140/AGT.2005.5.1141MaRDI QIDQ2571379zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Publication date 1 November 2005

Published in Algebraic \& Geometric Topology (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/math/0510378, https://eudml.org/doc/126265, http://www.emis.de/journals/UW/agt/AGTVol5/agt-5-46.abs.html

zbMATH Keywords

classifying spaces nerve of a category nullification proper actions

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Localization and completion in homotopy theory (55P60) Classifying spaces of groups and (H)-spaces in algebraic topology (55R35)

Abstract: Let G be a discrete group for which the classifying space for proper G-actions is finite-dimensional. We find a space W such that for any such G, the classifying space PBG for proper G-bundles has the homotopy type of the W-nullification of BG. We use this to deduce some results concerning PBG and in some cases where there is a good model for PBG we obtain information about the BZ/p-nullification of BG.

Review text

Given two spaces \(A\) and \(X\), \(X\) is \(A\)-null if the mapping space \(\text{map}(A,X)\) is homotopy equivalent to \(X\) via the inclusion of the constant maps, \(X\hookrightarrow \text{map}(A,X)\). The \(A\)-nullification of a space is a functor on spaces that assigns to \(X\) an \(A\)-null space \(P_A(X)\) together with a universal map \(X\to P_A(X)\) which induces a weak homotopy equivalence \(\text{map}(P_A(X),Y) \simeq \text{map}(X,Y)\) for every \(A\)-null space \(Y\). Thus \(P_A\) `makes trivial the structure of \(X\) that depends on \(A\).' Let \(G\) denote a discrete group throughout. The paper relates nullification with respect to \(W_\infty = \bigvee_p B\mathbb{Z}_p\), where the index is over the prime numbers, and the classifying space for proper actions of a group \(G\), denoted \(\underline{\text{B}}G\). The space \(\underline{\text{B}}G\) enjoys the universal property that if \(G\) acts on \(X\) with isotropy groups all finite, then there is a \(G\)-map \(X\to \underline{\text{E}}G\) unique up to \(G\) homotopy. The space \(\underline{\text{B}}G = \underline{\text{E}}G/G\). The main theorem shows that \(P_{W_\infty}(BG) \simeq \underline{\text{B}}G\). Based on this equivalence, the author explores the properties of the classifying space for proper actions. As a functor \(\underline{\text{B}}\) takes products to products, and certain pushouts of groups to the corresponding pushout of classifying spaces. Using the properties of \(\bigvee_p B\mathbb{Z}_p\) and nullification, there are results for the homotopy type of \(\underline{\text{B}}G\) for \(G\) locally finite, supersoluble, or one of the wallpaper groups. Since \(\underline{\text{B}}G\) and \(BG\) are realized as realizations of nerves of small categories, the analysis of \(BG \to \underline{\text{B}}G\) can be studied by simplicial means, and the author determines the homotopy fibre of this map to end the paper.

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