A geometric computation of cohomotopy groups in co-degree one

Abstract

Using geometric arguments, we compute the group of homotopy classes of maps from a closed $(n+1)$-dimensional manifold to the $n$-sphere for $n \geq 3$. Our work extends results from Kirby, Melvin and Teichner for closed oriented 4-manifolds and from Konstantis for closed $(n+1)$-dimensional spin manifolds, considering possibly non-orientable and non-spinnable manifolds. In the process, we introduce two types of manifolds that generalize the notion of odd and even 4-manifolds. Furthermore, for the case that $n \geq 4$, we discuss applications for rank $n$ spin vector bundles and obtain a refinement of the Euler class in the cohomotopy group that fully obstructs the existence of a non-vanishing section.