Double point of self-transverse immersions of \(M^{2n} \looparrowright R^{4n-5}\) (Q616655): Difference between revisions

Let \(f:M^n\to \mathbb R^q\) be a self-transverse immersion of a compact closed smooth manifold \(M^n\) into Euclidean space \(\mathbb R^q\). Then a point of \(\mathbb R^q\) is is an \(r\)-fold self-intersection point of \(f\) if it is the image under \(f\) of \(r\) distinct points of \(M^n\). The \(r\)-fold self-intersection point set \(S_r(f)\subset \mathbb R^q\) is an \(r\)-fold point manifold. For example, Boy's surface is a self-transverse immersion of the projective plane \(f:P^2\to \mathbb R^3\), so we have 2-fold and 3-fold self intersection points. If we concentrate on \(S_2(f)\), then we see that the 2-fold manifold \(S_2(f)\) is the image of an immersion of the circle \(S^1\subset P^2\) and \(S_3(f)\) is one point that is the image of an immersion of three points of \(S^1\). In general, the self-transversality of \(f\) implies that the \(r\)-fold manifold \(S_r(f)\subset \mathbb R^q\) is itself the image of an immersion of a compact manifold \(\Delta_r(f)\subset M^n\) of dimension \(rn-(r-1)q\). So self-transverse immersions produce \(r\)-fold point manifolds and recently mathematicians tried to classify immersions up to multiple point manifolds. This paper treats the case of immersions \(f:M^n\to \mathbb R^{2n-5}\), i.e. the case when the double point manifolds are 5-dimensional. Note that the cobordism class of 5-dimensional manifolds is generated by boundaries and the Dold manifold \(V^5\). The paper brings a proof that for \(n\) even the Dold manifold \(V^5\) cannot occur as a double point manifold of any immersion \(f:M^n\to \mathbb R^{2n-5}\), since by general position every immersion is regularly homotopic and so bordant to a self-transverse immersion. The paper [\textit{M. A. Asadi-Golmankhaneh} and \textit{P. J. Eccles}, J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 62, No. 1, 278--290 (2000; Zbl 0959.57025)] contains a general approach to these problems, so that the present paper applies it.