Equivariant topological complexity

Abstract

We define and study an equivariant version of Farber's topological complexity for spaces with a given compact group action. This is a special case of the equivariant sectional category of an equivariant map, also defined in this paper. The relationship of these invariants with the equivariant Lusternik-Schnirelmann category is given. Several examples and computations serve to highlight the similarities and differences with the non-equivariant case. We also indicate how the equivariant topological complexity can be used to give estimates of the non-equivariant topological complexity.