A topological minorization for the volume of vector fields on 5-manifolds (Q2572931)

The volume of a vector field \(X\) on a Riemannian manifold is defined as the volume of the image of \(X\), viewed as a section in the tangent bundle, using the Sasaki metric [\textit{H. Gluck} and \textit{W. Ziller}, Comment. Math. Helv. 61, 177--192 (1986; Zbl 0605.53022)]. The parallel vector fields minimize the volume and the most studied cases [\textit{O. Gil-Medrano} and \textit{E. Llinares-Fuster}, Math. Ann. 320, No. 3, 531--545 (2001; Zbl 0989.53020); \textit{F. B. Brito, P. M. Chacón} and \textit{A. M. Naveira}, Comment. Math. Helv. 79, No. 2, 300--316 (2004; Zbl 1057.53022); \textit{A. G. Reznikov}, Arch. Math. 58, No. 5, 509--513 (1992; Zbl 0726.58018)] are concerned with a vector field of constant length. The authors obtain an explicit result for manifolds of dimension \(5\), relating the volume of a vector field with constant length and its topology, involved by the Euler class of the orthogonal distribution \(X^{\bot }\). When the unit dual form of \(X\) is closed, then \(X^{\bot }\) is integrable, defining a Riemannian foliation. In this case, if the foliation has a compact leaf, then the manifold fibers over a circle and one can relate the volume of \(X\) and the Euler characteristic of the leaves of \(X^{\bot }\) directly.