Manifolds with finite cyclic fundamental groups and codimension 2 fibrators (Q1971142)

A codimension \(2\) fibrator (resp., codimension \(2\) orientable fibrator) is a closed \(n\)-manifold \(N\) with the property that whenever \(p:M\to X\) is a proper map from a closed \((n+2)\)-manifold (resp., closed orientable \((n+2)\)-manifold) \(M\) onto a \(2\)-manifold \(X\) with each point inverse \(p^{-1}(x)\) shape equivalent to \(N\), then \(p\) is an approximate fibration. \textit{R. J. Daverman} [Compos. Math. 86, No.~2, 159-176 (1993; Zbl 0788.57012)] has established interesting connections with the Hopfian and hyper-Hopfian groups. The author sheds light on the open question if every lens space is a codimension \(2\) fibrator by proving that it is equivalent to the question if every lens space with odd order fundamental group is a codimension \(2\) orientable fibrator. This is deduced from the main result which concerns a closed manifold \(N\) with fundamental group \(H_1 \times H_2\) where \(H_1\) is of odd order and \(H_2\) is a product of cyclic groups of order \(2^r\). It is proved that if the cover of \(N\) associated to \(H_1\) is a codimension \(2\) orientable fibrator, then \(N\) is a codimension \(2\) fibrator.