Whitehead squares in Thom complexes

Abstract

One of the aims of this paper is to examine the following conjecture, attributed to Mahowald on p. 255 of (2), Part 2. Let M be a closed connected smooth manifold of odd dimension q (q≠l,3,7) and with tangent bundle τ. Let the inclusion of a compactified fibre in the Thorn complex of τ be written μ: Sq → Tτ.