The Euler class of an umbilic foliation (Q282866)

This paper is devoted to the computation of the Euler class of a foliation of even dimension, assuming that it admits a compact and umbilic leaf. The main result of the paper is the following: Theorem. Let \(\mathcal D^{2k}\) be a distribution on a Riemannian manifold \(M^{2k+p}\) with pure curvature form. Let \(L\) be a compact umbilic submanifold of \(M\), with dimension \(2k\), and suppose the sectional curvatures of \(M\) are nonnegative along \(L\). If \(\mathcal D\) is tangent to \(L\), then the Euler class is \(\epsilon(\mathcal D)\neq 0\). This theorem generalizes some results obtained in [\textit{G. Walschap}, Ill. J. Math. 41, No. 1, 122--128 (1997; Zbl 0880.53025); the second author and \textit{P. G. Walczak}, Bol. Soc. Bras. Mat. 17, No. 1, 41--46 (1986; Zbl 0616.53026)].