On topological and piecewise linear vector fields

Embeddings and immersions in topological manifolds (57N35) Neighborhoods of submanifolds (57N40) Flatness and tameness of topological manifolds (57N45) Microbundles and block bundles (57N55) Algebraic topology of manifolds (57N65) Microbundles and block bundles (57Q50) Characteristic classes and numbers in differential topology (57R20) Vector fields, frame fields in differential topology (57R25) Foliations in differential topology; geometric theory (57R30)

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Let \(\operatorname{CAT}\) denote the category \(\operatorname{PL}\) of piecewise linear manifolds and piecewise linear maps or the category \(\operatorname{TOP}\) of topological manifolds and continuous maps. Also, if \(M\) is a \(\operatorname{CAT}\) manifold, let \(\tau(M)\) denote the \(\operatorname{CAT}\) tangent bundle of \(M\). A non-zero \(\operatorname{CAT}\) vector field on \(M\) is a non-zero \(\operatorname{CAT}\) cross-section \(s\colon M\to \tau(M)\). Two \(\operatorname{CAT}\) vector fields \(s_0\) and \(s_1\) are homotopic if there exists a \(\operatorname{CAT}\) map \(S\colon I\times M\to \tau(M)\) such that \(s_t=S(t,\cdot)\) is non-zero \(\operatorname{CAT}\) vector field for all \(t\in l\). In this paper the author investigates properties of \(\operatorname{CAT}\) vector fields analogous to those of \(C^\infty\) vector fields. For instance, it is shown that a \(\operatorname{CAT}\) \(n\)-manifold \(M\) \((n\ne 4,5\) if \(\operatorname{CAT} = \operatorname{TOP})\) has a non-zero \(\operatorname{CAT}\) vector field if and only if \(\tau(M)\) splits off a trivial bundle. More generally, any \(\operatorname{CAT}\) \(R^n\)-bundle over an \(\operatorname{ENR} X\), \(\dim X\le k\), contains a \(\operatorname{CAT}\) disk bundle if \(\operatorname{CAT}= \operatorname{PL}\) and \(k\le n+1\) or if \(k\le n+2\) and \(n\ne 4,5\). Also, it is shown that not every non-zero \(\operatorname{CAT}\) vector field \(s\) on a \(\operatorname{CAT}\) manifold \(M\) is \(\operatorname{CAT}\) integrable in the sense that it is associated with a 1-dimensional \(\operatorname{CAT}\) foliation on \(M\) (as it is in the \(C^\infty\) case). However, it is shown that every such \(s\) is homotopic to a non-zero \(\operatorname{CAT}\) vector field \(s'\) which is integrable. In this paper the Stiefel-Whitney classes for \(\operatorname{CAT}\) \(R^n\)-bundles (and spherical fibrations) are axiomatized, and it is shown that in most instances these axioms uniquely determine the \(\operatorname{CAT}\) Stiefel-Whitney classes. A notion of \(\operatorname{CAT}\) \(k\)-fields is defined, and it is shown that the \(k\)-th \(\operatorname{CAT}\) Stiefel-Whitney class of a \(\operatorname{CAT}\) manifold \(M\) is the primary obstruction to obtaining a \(\operatorname{CAT}\) \((n-k+1)\)-field on \(M\). The author also discusses the existence and uniqueness of \(\operatorname{CAT}\) normal bundles of a locally flat \(\operatorname{CAT}\) submanifold \(M^n\) of a \(\operatorname{CAT}\) manifold \(N^{n+q}\). It is shown that if \(\operatorname{CAT} = \operatorname{PL}\) and \(q\ge n-2\) or if \(q\ge n-j-1\) and \(q\ge 5+j\), \(j =0,1,2\), then \(M\) has a \(\operatorname{CAT}\) normal bundle in \(N\). Also, if \(\operatorname{CAT} = \operatorname{PL}\) and \(q\ge n-1\) or if \(q\ge n-j\), \(j =0,1,2\), then the \(\operatorname{CAT}\) normal bundle of \(M\) in \(N\) is unique up to isotopy. Similar results are obtained for existence and uniqueness of \(\operatorname{CAT}\) normal disk bundles and it is shown these are essentially the best results possible.

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