Algorithmic solvability of the lifting extension problem

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 dimX≤2d, for some d≥1, we provide an algorithm that computes the set of all equivariant homotopy classes of equivariant continuous maps |X|→|Y|; the existence of such a map can be decided even for dimX≤2d+1. This yields the first algorithm for deciding topological embeddability of a k-dimensional finite simplicial complex into Rn under the condition k≤23n−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.