Normal bundles of double dimension immersions, double points of Lagrangian immersions, and totally real embeddings (Q1116504)

An immersion \(f: V\to\mathbb C^ n\), \(V\) an \(n\)-dimensional smooth manifold, is called Lagrangian (resp. totally real) if \(iT_ xf\) \((T_ xV)\) is orthogonal (resp. transverse) to \(T_ xf\) \((T_ xV)\) for all \(x\in V\). Whether a manifold allows a Lagrangian embedding or not seems to involve deep geometric considerations (cf. \textit{M. Gromov} [Invent. Math. 82, 307--347 (1985; Zbl 0592.53025)]). On the other hand, the author shows that existence of totally real embeddings in most cases can be decided upon by methods from differential and algebraic topology alone. She shows that there is at most one totally real immersion up to usual regular homotopy, unless the dimension \(n\) is a power of 2. Then, the algebraic number of double points is calculated for that particular regular homotopy class. Using results of \textit{M. Gromov} [Izv. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Ser. Mat. 37, 329--343 (1973; Zbl 0254.58001)], it is shown that a manifold \(V^ n\) with trivial complexified tangent bundle allows a totally real embedding if and only if the Euler characteristic, resp. the Kervaire semi-characteristic, vanishes for \(n\) even, resp. \(n\equiv 1 \bmod 4\) and \(V\) orientable.