Euler class in a generalized cohomology theory ($e_h(\xi )=z^{\ast }{u}_{\xi }$)

For an $h$-oriented real bundle $\xi$ of rank $r$, pull its Thom class back along the zero section to obtain its Euler class in $h^r(X)$. It depends on the orientation and the actual bundle, not merely its stable isomorphism class. In complex cobordism the orientation may be supplied by a stable complex structure on a real vector bundle.

Normalize the section to the sphere bundle. Scaling it from zero to unit length gives a homotopy within the disk bundle from the zero section to this sphere-valued section. The image of the relative Thom class in absolute cohomology restricts to zero on the sphere bundle. Homotopy invariance therefore makes its zero-section pullback vanish.

// Target: geometry-and-topology.bigb