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Theo Johnson-Freyd
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When does an even-dimensional manifold fiber over an odd-dimensional manifold?

Are their simple necessary and sufficient conditions for an (oriented) even-dimensional compact smooth manifold to fiber over an (oriented) odd-dimensional manifold (with oriented fibers)?

For example, if $M \to N$ is a fiber bundle of compact manifolds with fiber $F$, then their Euler characteristics satisfy $\chi(M) = \chi(N)\chi(F)$. But if $N$ and $F$ are odd-dimensional, $\chi(N) = \chi(F) = 0$, and so $\chi(M)$ must also vanish. Is the converse true? I.e. if $M$ has vanishing Euler class, does it fiber over an odd-dimensional manifold? Or perhaps there's a hint that $\chi(M) = 0^2$, not just $0$, and so maybe some combination of Massey products also must vanish?

Theo Johnson-Freyd
  • 54.6k
  • 10
  • 142
  • 336