Algebraic cycles and vector bundles on real affine threefolds (Q1106903)

The author determines whether there exists vector bundles with prescribed Chern classes on any smooth affine 3-fold over the reals. Over an algebraically closed field, the problem was settled by \textit{M. P. Murthy} and the reviewer [cf. Ann. Math., II. Ser. 116, 579-591 (1982; Zbl 0519.14009)]. As a corollary of the main theorem in this paper, the author proves the following: Let X be a smooth affine 3-fold over \({\mathbb{R}}\). If \(X({\mathbb{R}})=\) real points of X has no compact connected component, then for arbitrary elements \(a_ i\in A^ i(X)\), there exists a vector bundle E of rank 3 on X such that \(c_ i(E)=a_ i\) for \(i=1,2,3.\) The reviewer is skeptical about the first problem the author poses after the corollary.