We study fixed point properties of the automorphism group of the universal Coxeter group Aut$(W_n)$. In particular, we prove that whenever Aut$(W_n)$ acts by isometries on complete $d$-dimensional CAT$(0)$ space with $d<lfloorfrac{n}{2}rfloor$, then it must fix a point. We also prove that Aut$(W_n)$ does not have Kazhdans property (T). Further, strong restrictions are obtained on homomorphisms of Aut$(W_n)$ to groups that do not contain a copy of Sym(n).
Any group $G$ gives rise to a 2-group of inner automorphisms, $mathrm{INN}(G)$. It is an old result by Segal that the nerve of this is the universal $G$-bundle. We discuss that, similarly, for every 2-group $G_{(2)}$ there is a 3-group $mathrm{INN}(G_{(2)})$ and a slightly smaller 3-group $mathrm{INN}_0(G_{(2)})$ of inner automorphisms. We describe these for $G_{(2)}$ any strict 2-group, discuss how $mathrm{INN}_0(G_{(2)})$ can be understood as arising from the mapping cone of the identity on $G_{(2)}$ and show that its underlying 2-groupoid structure fits into a short exact sequence $G_{(2)} to mathrm{INN}_0(G_{(2)}) to Sigma G_{(2)}$. As a consequence, $mathrm{INN}_0(G_{(2)})$ encodes the properties of the universal $G_{(2)}$ 2-bundle.
Let G be a finite group, and $g geq 2$. We study the locus of genus g curves that admit a G-action of given type, and inclusions between such loci. We use this to study the locus of genus g curves with prescribed automorphism group G. We completely classify these loci for g=3 (including equations for the corresponding curves), and for $g leq 10$ we classify those loci corresponding to large G.
We work in a first-order setting where structures are spread out over a metric space, with quantification allowed only over bounded subsets. Assuming a doubling property for the metric space, we define a canonical {em core} $mathcal{J}$ associated to such a theory, a locally compact structure that embeds into the type space over any model. The automorphism group of $mathcal{J}$, modulo certain infinitesimal automorphisms, is a locally compact group $mathcal{G}$. The automorphism groups of models of the theory are related with $mathcal{G}$, not in general via a homomorphism, but by a {em quasi-homomorphism}, respecting multiplication up to a certain canonical compact error set. This fundamental structure is applied to describe the nature of approximate subgroups. Specifically we obtain a full classification of (properly) approximate lattices of $SL_n({mathbb{R}})$ or $SL_n({mathbb{Q}}_p)$.
We prove a theorem that gives a sufficient condition for the full basic automorphism group of a complete Cartan foliation to admit a unique (finite-dimensional) Lie group structure in the category of Cartan foliations. Emphasize that the transverse Cartan geometry may not be effective. Some estimates of the dimension of this group depending on the transverse geometry are found. Further, we investigate Cartan foliations covered by fibrations. When the global holonomy group of that foliation is discrete, we obtain the explicit new formula for determining its basic automorphism Lie group. Examples of computing the full basic automorphism group of complete Cartan foliations are constructed.