Smooth maps to the plane and Pontryagin classes. Part I: Local aspects

Abstract

We classify the most common local forms of smooth maps from a smooth manifold L to the plane. The word local can refer to locations in the source L, but also to locations in the target. The first point of view leads us to a classification of certain germs of maps, which we review here although it is very well known. The second point of view leads us to a classification of certain multigerms of maps.