9
$\begingroup$

Does there exists a knot $K\subset \mathbb{S}^3$ such that

  1. $K$ is not slice
  2. $\exists W^4$, $\partial W = \mathbb{S}^3$ rational homology ball
  3. $\exists $ properly embedded smooth disk $(D,\partial D)\to (W,K)$. ?

In other words $K$ is not slice in $B^4$ but is slice in some rational homology ball.

$\endgroup$

2 Answers 2

12
$\begingroup$

Yes. The figure-eight knot is an example: it bounds a smooth slice disk in a rational homology ball. This has been proven in a bunch of different ways, going back to the 1980s. Here are a couple of relevant references:

Fintushel, Ronald; Stern, Ronald J., A (\mu)-invariant one homology 3-sphere that bounds an orientable rational ball, Four-manifold theory, Proc. AMS-IMS-SIAM Joint Summer Res. Conf., Durham/N.H. 1982, Contemp. Math. 35, 265-268 (1984). ZBL0566.57006.

Cha, Jae Choon, The structure of the rational concordance group of knots, Mem. Am. Math. Soc. 885, 95 p. (2007). ZBL1130.57034.

Akbulut, Selman; Larson, Kyle, Brieskorn spheres bounding rational balls, Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 146, No. 4, 1817-1824 (2018). ZBL1422.57081.

However, it remains unknown whether there's a knot is slice in an integer homology ball but not in $B^4$.

$\endgroup$
3
$\begingroup$

Rationally slice knots in $S^3$ are in abundance due to the collection of Kawauchi's theorems and the recent result of Kim and Wu:

Theorem ([1] + [2]): Any hyperbolic amphicheiral knot $K$ in $S^3$ is rationally slice.

Theorem ([3]): Any fibered, negative amphicheiral knot $K$ in $S^3$ with irreducible Alexander polynomial (called Miyazaki knot) is rationally slice.

Using these theorems, you may find plenty of rationally slice knots that are not smoothly slice.

[1]: Kawauchi, Akio. "The invertibility problem on amphicheiral excellent knots." Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series A, Mathematical Sciences 55.10 (1979): 399-402.

[2]: Kawauchi, Akio. "Rational-slice knots via strongly negative-amphicheiral knots." Commun. Math. Res. 25.2 (2009): 177-192.

[3]: Kim, Min Hoon, and Zhongtao Wu. "On rational sliceness of Miyazaki's fibered,− amphicheiral knots." Bulletin of the London Mathematical Society 50.3 (2018): 462-476.

$\endgroup$

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.