We prove that a finite group acting on an infinite graph with dismantling properties
fixes a clique. We prove that in the flag complex spanned on such a graph the fixed
point set is contractible. We study dismantling properties of the arc, disc
and sphere graphs. We apply our theory to prove that any finite subgroup
of the
mapping class group of a surface with punctures, the handlebody group, or
fixes
a filling (respectively simple) clique in the appropriate graph. We deduce
some realisation theorems, in particular the Nielsen realisation problem in
the case of a nonempty set of punctures. We also prove that infinite
have
either empty or contractible fixed point sets in the corresponding complexes. Furthermore,
we show that their spines are classifying spaces for proper actions for mapping class groups
and .
Instytut Matematyczny
Uniwersytet Wrocławski
pl. Grunwaldzki 2/4
50-384 Wrocław
Poland
and Universität Wien
Fakultät für Mathematik
Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1
1090 Wien
Austria
McGill University
The Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Burnside Hall, Room 1005
805 Sherbrooke Street West
Montreal, QC, H3A 0B9
Canada
and Institute of Mathematics
Polish Academy of Sciences
Śniadeckich 8
00-656 Warsaw
Poland