Algorithmic solvability of the lifting-extension problem

Abstract

Let $X$ and $Y$ be finite simplicial sets (e.g. finite simplicial complexes), both equipped with a free simplicial action of a finite group $G$. Assuming that $Y$ is $d$-connected and $\dim X\le 2d$, for some $d\geq 1$, we provide an algorithm that computes the set of all equivariant homotopy classes of equivariant continuous maps $|X|\to|Y|$; the existence of such a map can be decided even for $\dim X\leq 2d+1$. For fixed $G$ and $d$, the algorithm runs in polynomial time. This yields the first algorithm for deciding topological embeddability of a $k$-dimensional finite simplicial complex into $\mathbb{R}^n$ under the conditions $k\leq\frac 23 n-1$. More generally, we present an algorithm that, given a lifting-extension problem satisfying an appropriate stability assumption, computes the set of all homotopy classes of solutions. This result is new even in the non-equivariant situation.