“This book is a jewel – it explains important, useful and deep topics in Algebraic Topology that you won’t find elsewhere, carefully and in detail.” Prof. Günter M. Ziegler, TU Berlin

The book focuses on the relation between transformation groups and algebraic K-theory. The general pattern is to assign to a geometric problem an invariant in an algebraic K-group which determines the problem. The algebraic K-theory of modules over a category is studied extensively and appplied to the fundamental category of G-space. Basic details of the theory of transformation groups sometimes hard to find in the literature, are collected here (Chapter I) for the benefit of graduate students. Chapters II and III contain advanced new material of interest to researchers working in transformation groups, algebraic K-theory or related fields.

Historically, applications of algebraic topology to the study of topological transformation groups were originated in the work of L. E. 1. Brouwer on periodic transformations and, a little later, in the beautiful fixed point theorem ofP. A. Smith for prime periodic maps on homology spheres. Upon comparing the fixed point theorem of Smith with its predecessors, the fixed point theorems of Brouwer and Lefschetz, one finds that it is possible, at least for the case of homology spheres, to upgrade the conclusion of mere existence (or non-existence) to the actual determination of the homology type of the fixed point set, if the map is assumed to be prime periodic. The pioneer result of P. A. Smith clearly suggests a fruitful general direction of studying topological transformation groups in the framework of algebraic topology. Naturally, the immediate problems following the Smith fixed point theorem are to generalize it both in the direction of replacing the homology spheres by spaces of more general topological types and in the direction of replacing the group tl by more general compact groups.

Introduction to Compact Transformation Groups

Algebraandtopology,thetwofundamentaldomainsofmathematics,playcomplem- tary roles. Topology studies continuity and convergence and provides a general framework to study the concept of a limit. Much of topology is devoted to handling in?nite sets and in?nity itself; the methods developed are qualitative and, in a certain sense, irrational. - gebra studies all kinds of operations and provides a basis for algorithms and calculations. Very often, the methods here are ?nitistic in nature. Because of this difference in nature, algebra and topology have a strong tendency to develop independently, not in direct contact with each other. However, in applications, in higher level domains of mathematics, such as functional analysis, dynamical systems, representation theory, and others, topology and algebra come in contact most naturally. Many of the most important objects of mathematics represent a blend of algebraic and of topologicalstructures. Topologicalfunctionspacesandlineartopologicalspacesingeneral, topological groups and topological ?elds, transformation groups, topological lattices are objects of this kind. Very often an algebraic structure and a topology come naturally together; this is the case when they are both determined by the nature of the elements of the set considered (a group of transformations is a typical example). The rules that describe the relationship between a topology and an algebraic operation are almost always transparentandnatural—theoperationhastobecontinuous,jointlyorseparately.

This is an account of the theory of certain types of compact transformation groups, namely those that are susceptible to study using ordinary cohomology theory and rational homotopy theory, which in practice means the torus groups and elementary abelian p-groups. The efforts of many mathematicians have combined to bring a depth of understanding to this area. However to make it reasonably accessible to a wide audience, the authors have streamlined the presentation, referring the reader to the literature for purely technical results and working in a simplified setting where possible. In this way the reader with a relatively modest background in algebraic topology and homology theory can penetrate rather deeply into the subject, whilst the book at the same time makes a useful reference for the more specialised reader.

This book highlights the latest advances in algebraic topology, from homotopy theory, braid groups, configuration spaces and toric topology, to transformation groups and the adjoining area of knot theory. It consists of well-written original research papers and survey articles by subject experts, most of which were presented at the “7th East Asian Conference on Algebraic Topology” held at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali, Punjab, India, from December 1 to 6, 2017. Algebraic topology is a broad area of mathematics that has seen enormous developments over the past decade, and as such this book is a valuable resource for graduate students and researchers working in the field.

Algebraic topology is a basic part of modern mathematics, and some knowledge of this area is indispensable for any advanced work relating to geometry, including topology itself, differential geometry, algebraic geometry, and Lie groups. This book provides a detailed treatment of algebraic topology both for teachers of the subject and for advanced graduate students in mathematics either specializing in this area or continuing on to other fields. J. Peter May's approach reflects the enormous internal developments within algebraic topology over the past several decades, most of which are largely unknown to mathematicians in other fields. But he also retains the classical presentations of various topics where appropriate. Most chapters end with problems that further explore and refine the concepts presented. The final four chapters provide sketches of substantial areas of algebraic topology that are normally omitted from introductory texts, and the book concludes with a list of suggested readings for those interested in delving further into the field.