On special generic maps from a closed manifold into the plane (Q752553)

Let M be a closed smooth m-dimensional manifold and f: \(M\to R^ 2\). There is a factorization of f into a monotone map h onto a quotient space \(W_ f\) followed by a light map g: collapse each component \(X\subset M\) of the pre-image of a point \(y\in R^ 2\) to a point \([X]\in W_ f\) and then map [X] to y. A smooth map f: \(M\to R^ 2\) is called special generic if its only singularities are fold points of maximal index. The authors study the monotone-light factorization for special generic maps. In this case much can be said about h, g, the intermediate space \(W_ f\) and its relationship to M. The results can be applied to generalize some results of \textit{O. Burlet} and \textit{G. de Rham} [Enseign. Math., II. Sér. 20, 275-292 (1974; Zbl 0299.58005)].