Intersection numbers, transfers, and group actions (Q1313939)

The classical intersection number is defined when two submanifolds of complementary dimension intersect transversally inside a third manifold. The present paper proposes a remarkable generalization of this idea, where (1) the manifolds may be parametrized over a space \(B\) (i.e. fibre bundle over \(B\)), (2) sub-manifolds are replaced by maps from manifolds, and (3) there may be more than two submanifolds or maps. The most interesting tool is the use of the Umkehr map obtained by ``conjugating'' a map on homology by Poincaré duality. Applications include a divisibility property which involves the trace [the first author, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 293, 381-410 (1986; Zbl 0593.57017)] and results from the thesis of the second author [Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN 1984]\ which for example describe the trace of a finite group action in terms of the traces of the Sylow \(p\)-subgroups.