English

SL(n,Z) cannot act on small spheres

Geometric Topology 2008-10-31 v2

Abstract

The group SL(n,Z) admits a smooth faithful action on the (n-1)-sphere S^(n-1), induced from its linear action on euclidean space R^n. We show that, if m < n-1 and n > 2, any smooth action of SL(n,Z) on a mod 2 homology m-sphere, and in particular on the m-sphere S^m, is trivial.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.math/0604239,
  title  = {SL(n,Z) cannot act on small spheres},
  author = {Bruno P. Zimmermann},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:math/0604239},
  year   = {2008}
}

Comments

5 pages; this is a corrected version which will appear in Top. Appl. 2008