The index of a tangent 2-field

Mark Mahowald

Vol. 58 (1975), No. 2, 539–548

DOI: 10.2140/pjm.1975.58.539

Abstract

Thomas, using an obstruction theory approach, evaluated the index of a tangent 2-field on M^m,m ≡ 1(4) if M is a spin manifold. Atiyah using the Atiyah-Singer index theorem evaluated the index for all orientable manifolds. The purpose here is to give a proo f of Atiyah’s result in the spirit of Thomas’ work.

Mathematical Subject Classification

Primary: 57D25

Milestones

Received: 24 December 1973

Published: 1 June 1975