Let $M$ be an oriented smooth manifold and $\operatorname{Homeo}\!(M,\omega )$ the group of measure preserving homeomorphisms of $M$, where $\omega$ is a finite measure induced by a volume form. In this paper, we define volume and Euler classes in bounded cohomology of an infinite dimensional transformation group $\operatorname{Homeo}_0\!(M,\omega )$ and $\operatorname{Homeo}_+\!(M,\omega )$, respectively, and in several cases prove their non-triviality. More precisely, we define:

• • Volume classes in $\operatorname{H}_b^n(\operatorname{Homeo}_0\!(M,\omega ))$, where $M$ is a hyperbolic manifold of dimension $n$.

• • Euler classes in $\operatorname{H}_b^2(\operatorname{Homeo}_+(S,\omega ))$, where $S$ is an oriented closed hyperbolic surface.

We show that Euler classes have positive norms for any closed hyperbolic surface and volume classes have positive norms for all hyperbolic surfaces and certain hyperbolic $3$-manifolds; hence, they are non-trivial.

We equate various Euler classes of algebraic vector bundles, including those of [12] and one suggested by M. J. Hopkins, A. Raksit, and J.-P. Serre. We establish integrality results for this Euler class and give formulas for local indices at isolated zeros, both in terms of the six-functors formalism of coherent sheaves and as an explicit recipe in the commutative algebra of Scheja and Storch. As an application, we compute the Euler classes enriched in bilinear forms associated to arithmetic counts of d-planes on complete intersections in $\mathbb P^n$ in terms of topological Euler numbers over $\mathbb {R}$ and $\mathbb {C}$ .

We give an arithmetic count of the lines on a smooth cubic surface over an arbitrary field $k$, generalizing the counts that over ${\mathbf {C}}$ there are $27$ lines, and over ${\mathbf {R}}$ the number of hyperbolic lines minus the number of elliptic lines is $3$. In general, the lines are defined over a field extension $L$ and have an associated arithmetic type $\alpha$ in $L^*/(L^*)^2$. There is an equality in the Grothendieck–Witt group $\operatorname {GW}(k)$ of $k$,

\[ \sum_{\text{lines}} \operatorname{Tr}_{L/k} \langle \alpha \rangle = 15 \cdot \langle 1 \rangle + 12 \cdot \langle -1 \rangle, \]

$\operatorname {Tr}_{L/k}$

$\operatorname {GW}(L) \to \operatorname {GW}(k)$

${\mathbf {C}}$

${\mathbf {R}}$

$\mathbf {A}^1$

Combings of compact, oriented, 3-dimensional manifolds $M$ are homotopy classes of nowhere vanishing vector fields. The Euler class of the normal bundle is an invariant of the combing, and it only depends on the underlying $\text{Spi}{{\text{n}}^{\text{c}}}$-structure. A combing is called torsion if this Euler class is a torsion element of ${{H}^{2}}(M;\,\mathbb{Z})$. Gompf introduced a $\mathbb{Q}$-valued invariant ${{\theta }_{G}}$ of torsion combings on closed 3-manifolds, and he showed that ${{\theta }_{G}}$ distinguishes all torsion combings with the same $\text{Spi}{{\text{n}}^{\text{c}}}$-structure. We give an alternative definition for ${{\theta }_{G}}$ and we express its variation as a linking number. We define a similar invariant ${{p}_{1}}$ of combings for manifolds bounded by ${{S}^{2}}$. We relate ${{p}_{1}}$ to the $\Theta$-invariant, which is the simplest configuration space integral invariant of rational homology 3-balls, by the formula $\Theta \,=\,\frac{1}{4}{{p}_{1}}\,+\,6\text{ }\!\!\lambda\!\!\text{ }\left( {\hat{M}} \right)$, where $\text{ }\!\!\lambda\!\!\text{ }$ is the Casson-Walker invariant. The article also includes a self-contained presentation of combings for 3-manifolds.

A special linear Grassmann variety $\text{SGr}(k,n)$ is the complement to the zero section of the determinant of the tautological vector bundle over $\text{Gr}(k,n)$. For an $SL$-oriented representable ring cohomology theory $A^{\ast }(-)$ with invertible stable Hopf map ${\it\eta}$, including Witt groups and $\text{MSL}_{{\it\eta}}^{\ast ,\ast }$, we have $A^{\ast }(\text{SGr}(2,2n+1))\cong A^{\ast }(pt)[e]/(e^{2n})$, and $A^{\ast }(\text{SGr}(k,n))$ is a truncated polynomial algebra over $A^{\ast }(pt)$ whenever $k(n-k)$ is even. A splitting principle for such theories is established. Using the computations for the special linear Grassmann varieties, we obtain a description of $A^{\ast }(\text{BSL}_{n})$ in terms of homogeneous power series in certain characteristic classes of tautological bundles.

We construct actions of the spheromorphism group of Neretin (containing Thompson's group V) on towers of moduli spaces of genus zero real stable curves. The latter consist of inductive limits of spaces which are the real parts of the Grothendieck–Knudsen compactification of the moduli spaces of punctured Riemann spheres. By a result of M. Davis, T. Januszkiewicz and R. Scott, these spaces are aspherical cubical complexes whose fundamental groups, the ‘pure quasi-braid groups’, can be viewed as analogues of the Artin pure braid groups. By lifting the actions of the Thompson and Neretin groups to the universal covers of the towers, we obtain extensions of both groups by an infinite pure quasi-braid group, and construct an ‘Euler class’ for the Neretin group. We justify this terminology by constructing a corresponding cocycle.

Motivated by complex oriented equivariant cohomology theories, we give a natural algebraic definition of an $A$-equivariant formal group law for any abelian compact Lie group $A$. The complex orientedcohomology of the classifying space for line bundles gives an example.We also show how the choice of a complete flag gives rise to a basis and a means of calculation. This allows us to deduce thatthere is a universal ring $L_A$ for $A$-equivariant formal group laws and that it is generated by the Euler classes and the coefficients of the coproduct of the orientation. Westudy a number of topological cases in some detail. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification: 14L05, 55N22, 55N91, 57R85.

For infinite-dimensional homotopy space forms X/G with G nontrivial finite cyclic groups, we study the homotopy type of X/G. We show that the Euler class of X/G is not zero if and only if X/G is finitely dominated.