Algebraicity of immersions in \(\mathbb{R}^ n\) (Q1209380)

Suppose \(M\subset \mathbb{R}^ n\) is a smooth compact submanifold. The authors previously proved that there is an algebraic set \(X\subset \mathbb{R}^ n\) and a union of components \(X'\) of \(X\) which is isotopic to \(M\) [the authors, Invent. Math. 107, No. 1, 87-98 (1992; Zbl 0781.14038)]. Here they show that one can take \(X'\) to be the algebraic set itself if the image of \(M\) under the Thom map lies in a certain subgroup of \(\pi_ n\) of the Thom space of the universal \(R^ k\) bundle (\(k\) the codimension of \(M\)). Actually they prove a more general result applying to immersed manifolds: Theorem 1. Let \(f: M\to \mathbb{R}^ n\) be a smooth immersion of a smooth closed manifold \(M\). Then \(f\) is \(\varepsilon\)-regularly homotopic to an immersion onto an almost nonsingular real algebraic subset of \(\mathbb{R}^ n\) if and only if \(f\) is immersion cobordant to a degree one immersion onto an almost nonsingular real algebraic set in \(\mathbb{R}^ n\). This is a nice result that is the culmination of work done by the authors and others, motivated by Nash's original paper [\textit{J. Nash}, Ann. Math., II. Ser. 56, 405-421 (1952; Zbl 0048.385)]. For definitions and discussions of the history of the problem and various successes or failures see the authors' work cited above.