Actions of Finite Groups on Rn+k with Fixed Set Rk

Abstract

In this paper we study the existence problem for topological actions of finite groups on euclidean spaces Rn+k which are free outside a fixed point set Rk (embedded as a vector subspace). We refer to such an action as a semi-free action on (Rn+k, Rn) and note that all our actions will be assumed orientation-preserving.Suppose the finite group π acts semi-freely on (Rn+k, Rn), then it acts freely on (Rn+k – Rn) = Sn–l × Rk+1. Since this space is homotopy equivalent to Sn–l, π will have periodic integral cohomology and n will be a multiple of the period. In fact the orbit spaceis a finitely-dominated Poincaré complex of formal dimension n – 1 with π1W = π and as considered by Swan [41].