Actions of finite groups and smooth functions on surfaces
Abstract
Let f:M→R be a Morse function on a smooth closed surface, V be a connected component of some critical level of f, and EV be its atom. Let also S(f) be a stabilizer of the function f under the right action of the group of diffeomorphisms Diff(M) on the space of smooth functions on M, and SV(f)={h∈S(f)|h(V)=V}. The group SV(f) acts on the set π0∂EV of connected components of the boundary of EV. Therefore we have a homomorphism ϕ:S(f)→Aut(π0∂EV). Let also G=ϕ(S(f)) be the image of S(f) in Aut(π0∂EV). Suppose that the inclusion ∂EV⊂M∖V induces a bijection π0∂EV→π0(M∖V). Let H be a subgroup of G. We present a sufficient condition for existence of a section s:H→SV(f) of the homomorphism ϕ, so, the action of H on ∂EV lifts to the H-action on M by f-preserving diffeomorphisms of M. This result holds for a larger class of smooth functions f:M→R having the following property: for each critical point z of f the germ of f at z is smoothly equivalent to a homogeneous polynomial R2→R without multiple linear factors.
Key words: Diffeomorphism, Morse function.