An isovariant Blakers--Massey theorem

Abstract

An isovariant map is an equivariant map between $G$-spaces which strictly preserves isotropy groups. In this paper, we lay the groundwork for the study of isovariant stable homotopy theory. We prove an isovariant Blakers--Massey theorem and its $n$-cubical generalization, define a suitable notion of suspension (by a trivial representation sphere) in the isovariant category, and prove an isovariant Freudenthal suspension theorem.