A finiteness theorem for the spectral sequence of a Riemannian foliation (Q1102582)

For a transversally oriented Riemannian foliation \({\mathcal F}\) of codimenSion \(q\) on a closed manifold \(M\), the horizontal lifting \(\hat{\mathcal F}\) of \({\mathcal F}\) to the principal \(\text{SO}(q)\)-bundle of oriented orthonormal transverse frames (with the transverse Levi-Civita connection) is considered, obtaining the corresponding spectral sequences \(E_i({\mathcal F})\) and \(E_i(\hat{\mathcal F})\). We define an operation of the Lie algebra \(\text{so}(q)\) on the differential algebra \(E_i(\hat{\mathcal F})\) so that \(E_2({\mathcal F})\) and \(E_2(\hat{\mathcal F})\) can be related. To get the necessary relation a key result about actions of compact Lie groups is proved. Then, since \(E_2(\hat{\mathcal F})\) is finite-dimensional, the main result of the paper is obtained: If \({\mathcal F}\) is Riemannian and \(M\) closed then \(E_2({\mathcal F})\) is of finite dimension.