A remark on singular sets of vector bundle morphisms (Q2340966)

If \(L: E\to F\) is a mapping of vector bundles of the same dimension over a common base space \(X\), then the singular set of \(L\), \(\Sigma(L)\), is the subset of \(X\) consisting of points where the mapping of fibers induced by \(L\) is singular. The main theorem of this paper asserts that if \(c(E)\) and \(c(F)\) are characteristic classes which do not produce the same homomorphism of homology at level \(k\) and \(X\) is a closed \(n\)-manifold orientable with respect to the ring of the classes, then \(\Sigma(L)\) admits a non-trivial cohomology class at level \(n-k\). In particular, the dimension of \(\Sigma(L)\) is at least \(n-k\). Applications are offered for Stiefel-Whitney classes, Pontryagin classes, Chern classes, Euler classes and Wu classes. For example, if \(E\) is orientable and \(F\) is not, then the dimension of \(\Sigma(L)\) is at least \(n-1\) and, if \(E\) is spin and \(F\) is not, then the dimension of \(\Sigma(L)\) is at least \(n-2\).