An imitation theory of manifolds (Q914201)

Given a manifold pair (M,L), we consider an involution \(\alpha\) on (M,L)\(\times I\), \(I=[-1,1],\) such that \(\alpha (M,L)\times 1=(M,L)\times (-1)\) and dim Fix(\(\alpha\),M\(\times I)=\dim M\). Letting \((M^*,L^*)=Fix(\alpha,(M,L)\times I)\), we call \((M^*,L^*)\) an imitation of (M,L) and the composite of the inclusion \((M^*,L^*)\subset (M,L)\times I\) with the projection (M,L)\(\times I\to (M,L)\) the imitation map. In this paper it is shown that every imitation map has several properties close to a diffeomorphism. Further, for each pair (M,L) with dim M\(>2\), it is shown that there exists an essential imitation map \((M^*,L^*)\to (M,L)\), though when dim \(M\leq 2\) any imitation map is inessential. It is also observed that the Whitehead torsion of an imitation map to a compact manifold M can be defined.