English

Nonvanishing vector fields on orbifolds

Differential Geometry 2009-12-09 v2 Algebraic Topology

Abstract

We introduce a complete obstruction to the existence of nonvanishing vector fields on a closed orbifold QQ. Motivated by the inertia orbifold, the space of multi-sectors, and the generalized orbifold Euler characteristics, we construct for each finitely generated group Γ\Gamma an orbifold called the space of Γ\Gamma-sectors of QQ. The obstruction occurs as the Euler-Satake characteristics of the Γ\Gamma-sectors for an appropriate choice of Γ\Gamma; in the case that QQ is oriented, this obstruction is expressed as a cohomology class, the Γ\Gamma-Euler-Satake class. We also acquire a complete obstruction in the case that QQ is compact with boundary and in the case that QQ is an open suborbifold of a closed orbifold.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0807.2738,
  title  = {Nonvanishing vector fields on orbifolds},
  author = {Carla Farsi and Christopher Seaton},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0807.2738},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

28 pages; edited for clearer exposition, fixed Example 2.12, added Example 4.6

R2 v1 2026-06-21T11:01:37.616Z