Finite order \(q\)-invariants of immersions of surfaces into 3-space (Q5929723)

If \(F\) is a closed surface, let \(I_n\subset\text{ Imm}(F,{\mathbb R}^3)\) denote the set of immersions of \(F\) into \({\mathbb R}^3\) whose unstable self-intersection consists of precisely \(n\) generic quadruple points, and \(I=\bigcup_{n\geq 0}I_n\). A \(q\)-invariant is a function \(f:I_0\to{\mathbb Z}/2\) which takes equal values on immersions related by a generic regular homotopy with no quadruple points. A \(q\)-invariant can be extended over \(I\) by \(f(i)=\sum f(i_k)\), where, if \(i\in I_n\), \(i_k\) ranges over the \(2^n\) generic immersions obtained by deforming \(i\) slightly. A \(q\)-invariant, extended to \(I\) as above, has finite order \(n\) if \(n\) is the smallest integer for which \(f|I_{n+1}=0\). If \(A\subset\text{ Imm}(F,{\mathbb R}^3)\) is a regular homotopy class, let \(V_n(A)\) denote the space of all \(q\)-invariants on \(A\) of order \(\leq n\). The main theorem is that if \(F\) is orientable, then \(\dim(V_n(A)/V_{n-1}(A))\leq 1\) for all \(A\) and \(n\). Since a surface of genus \(g\) has \(2^{2g}\) regular homotopy classes, an immediate corollary is that if \(F\) is orientable of genus \(g\), then \(\dim(V_n/V_{n-1})\leq 2^{2g}\).