On the non-existence of a codimension one holomorphic foliation transverse to a sphere (Q812518)

The authors consider the question of whether these is a codimension one holomorphic foliation (possibly with singularities) defined in a neighbourhood of the unit ball in~\({\mathbb{C}}^n\) that is transverse to the unit sphere. When \(n=2\) such foliations easily exist but the authors conjecture that for \(n\geq 3\) there are no such foliations. They establish non-existence under an extra hypothesis as follows. They suppose that there is a leaf with the origin in its closure, that is closed away from the singularities, and that is transverse to all the concentric spheres centred on the origin with radius~\(<1\). According to earlier results of the authors, the foliation can only be singular at a single point. Then the special leaf can be defined by a single holomorphic function and its link in a small sphere is simply connected by Milnor's theory of isolated singularities. This topological conclusion persists out to the intersection with the unit sphere. By a combination of topological and analytic arguments, this eventually leads to a contradiction.