Decompositions and approximate fibrations (Q1069507)

Let M be a connected n-dimensional manifold, \(\partial M=\emptyset\), and let \({\mathcal G}\) be an u.s.c. decomposition of M into continua \(g\in {\mathcal G}\) each having the shape of a closed k-dimensional manifold N(g). Assuming that dim(M/\({\mathcal G})<\infty\), the authors prove that there is a dense open subset \(U\subseteq M/{\mathcal G}\) such that the restriction of the quotient map \(p: M\to M/{\mathcal G}\) to \(p^{-1}(U)\) is an approximate fibration in the sense of \textit{D. S. Coram} and \textit{P. F. Duvall} jun. [Rocky Mt. J. Math. 7, 275-288 (1977; Zbl 0367.55019)]. The authors also establish a link between approximate fibrations and generalized manifolds (gm) by proving that whenever \(p: M\to B\) is an approximate fibration and B is an ANR, then B is a gm over \({\mathbb{Z}}\). In the final section of the paper the authors study decompositions \({\mathcal G}\) of M, where each \(g\in {\mathcal G}\) has the shape of a closed (n-1)- manifold and M/\({\mathcal G}={\mathbb{R}}^ 1\). It is proved that the inclusion \(g\to M\) induces isomorphisms of (Čech) homology groups. This generalizes a result of the first author [''Decompositions of manifolds into codimension one submanifolds'', Compos. Math., to appear]. An essential ingredient of the argument is a Thom-Gysin type exact sequence for a subcontinuum of M having the shape of a closed k-manifold. There are examples (n\(\leq 6)\) (given by the first author [op. cit.]) of decompositions \({\mathcal G}\) with elements g,g'\(\in {\mathcal G}\) of different homotopy type. This is due to differences in \(\pi_ 1\). By imposing suitable control on \(\pi_ 1\), the authors obtain the desired conclusion that \(p: M\to M/{\mathcal G}\) \((={\mathbb{R}}^ 1)\) is an approximate fibration.