Homotopy classes of nonsingular Morse-Smale vector fields on Seifert bundles (Q819478)

Homotopy equivalences of some mappings from an orientable compact closed three-manifold into two-dimensional sphere are studied. The author gives a criterion of \textit{L. Pontryagin}-type [Rec. Math. Moscou, n. Ser. (2) 9, 331--359 (1941; Zbl 0025.09302)] permitting to decide if two such mappings \(f,g\) are homotopic, depending on the set \(C_+(f,g)\) of points where the maps are equal, and the set \(C_-(f,g)\) of points where the maps are antipodal. The results are extended to nonsingular vector fields and co-oriented plane fields on three-dimensional manifolds. As an application, nonsingular Morse-Smale fields on Seifert manifolds are studied.