Axioms for the fixed point index of n-valued maps, and some applications

Abstract

We give an axiomatic characterization of the fixed point index of an $n$-valued map. For $n$-valued maps on a polyhedron, the fixed point index is shown to be unique with respect to axioms of homotopy invariance, additivity, and a splitting property. This uniqueness is used to obtain easy proofs of an averaging formula and product formula for the index. In the setting of $n$-valued maps on a manifold, we show that the axioms can be weakened.