Extendability of certain maps (Q1822092)

The following problem in homotopy theory is considered. Let \(p: X\to S^ n\) be a fibre bundle over the n-sphere, with fibre A. Under which circumstances can a map f from the fibre A into a space Y be extended to a map \(X\to Y ?\) Various results are obtained for particular types of target spaces Y, by investigation of the obstruction class in \(\pi_{n- 1}(Y^ A,f)\). These are not easy to summarize, but are well illustrated by the following application. Let \(p: X_{\xi}\to S^ n\) be a principal \(S^ 3\)-bundle with characteristic class \(\xi \in \pi_{n-1}(S^ 3)\), \(n\geq 5\). Then a map \(f: S^ 3\to S^ 3\) of degree m is extendable to a map \(X_{\xi}\to X_{\xi}\) if and only if \[ (m(m-1)/2)\tau E^ 3\xi \quad \in \quad \xi \pi_{n+2}(S^{n-1}) \] where \(\tau \in \pi_ 6(S^ 3)\) is the Blakers-Massey class.