A stable approach to the equivariant Hopf theorem

Abstract

Let G be a finite group. For semi-free G-manifolds which are oriented in the sense of Waner, the homotopy classes of G-equivariant maps into a G-sphere are described in terms of their degrees, and the degrees occurring are characterized in terms of congruences. This is first shown to be a stable problem and then solved using methods of equivariant stable homotopy theory with respect to a semi-free G-universe.