A note on open 3-manifolds supporting foliations by planes (Q2880657)

Let \(N\) be an open connected \(n\)-manifold with finitely generated fundamental group and \(\mathcal {F}\) a \(C^{2}\)-foliation by closed planes on \(N\). The authors prove that \(\pi_{1}(N)\) is a free group. As a consequence, if \(\pi_{1}(N)\) has an abelian subgroup of rank greater than one, \(\mathcal {F}\) has at least one nonclosed leaf. If \(N\) is a \(3\)-manifold with finitely generated abelian fundamental group of rank greater than one, the authors prove that \(N\) is homeomorphic to \(\mathbb {T}^2\times \mathbb {R}\). In this case, \(\mathcal {F}\) is completely described.