Transfer maps of sphere bundles (Q1574804)

Let \(V\) be a vector bundle of positive rank over a finite complex \(B\), and let \(S(V)\) be the sphere bundle associated to \(V\). If a vector bundle \(W\) over \(B\) satisfies certain conditions, then the authors define a transfer map \(\tau_W\) of \(S(V)\). Employing a result of K. Knapp's \`\` Habilitationsschrift'' [Some application of \(K\)-theory to framed bordism; \(e\)-invariant and transfer, Bonn (1979)], they show that the cofiber \(C(\tau_W)\) of \(\tau_W\) is represented by a Thom spectrum. Given a ring spectrum \(E\) with unit, the authors use then a suitable stable cofiber sequence to study the \(E\)-theory \(e\)-invariant \(e_E(\tau_W)\). They derive a concrete formula for \(e_E(\tau_W)\) and apply it to transfer maps generalizing the \(S^1\)-transfer maps defined for the principal \(S^1\)-bundle \(S(\xi)\), where \(\xi\) is the canonical complex line bundle over complex projective space.