On bundles that admit fiberwise hyperbolic dynamics (Q2634878)

The article under review deals with topological properties of negatively curved bundles. By definition, a smooth bundle \(M\to E \overset{p}{} X\) is called \textit{negatively curved} if its fibers \(M_x = p^{-1}(x)\), \(x\in X\), are equipped with Riemannian metrics \(g_x\), \(x\in X\), of negative curvature in such a way that \(g_x\) vary continuously with \(x\) in \(C^\infty\) topology, see also [the first author and \textit{P. Ontaneda}, Geom. Funct. Anal. 20, No. 6, 1397--1430 (2010; Zbl 1207.58013)]. It is conjectured by the first author and P. Ontaneda that if \(X\) is a compact simply connected manifold or a simply connected finite simplicial complex, then any negatively curved bundle \(M\to E \to X\) is topologically trivial in the sense that there exists a continuous map \(r: E\to M\) such that the restriction \(r|_{M_x}:M_x\to M\) is a homeomorphism for each \(x\in X\). Instead of smooth bundles, the authors consider \textit{fiberwise associated sphere bundles} and then prove general statements related to the conjecture of Farrell-Ontaneda. Theorem 1. Let \(M\to E \to X\) be a smooth negatively curved bundle whose base space \(X\) is a simply connected closed manifold or a simply connected finite simplicial complex. Then its fiberwise associated sphere bundle \(SM\to SE \to X\) is topologically trivial. Theorem 2. Let \(M\to E \to X\) be a smooth negatively curved bundle whose base space \(X\) is a simply connected closed manifold or a simply connected finite simplicial complex. Then it is fiber homotopically trivial. Theorem 3. Let \(X\) be a closed manifold or a finite simplicial complex and \(M\to E \to X\) be a smooth negatively curved, fiber homotopically trivial bundle. Then its fiberwise associated sphere bundle \(SM\to SE \to X\) is topologically trivial. Moreover, it is shown that the requirement for smooth bundles to be negatively curved cannot be weakened and replaced by the hyperbolicity of \(M\). Theorem 4. For each prime number \(n>2\) there exists a smooth bundle \(M\to E \to \mathbb{S}^{2n-3}\) such that: a) the (abstract) fiber \(M\) is real hyperbolic, i.e., \(M\) supports a Riemannian metric of constant negative sectional curvature; b) the fiberwise associated sphere bundle \(SM\to SE \to \mathbb{S}^{2n-3}\) is not topologically trivial.