All Questions
40 questions
25
votes
1
answer
582
views
Does every oriented $3$-dimensional submanifold of $\mathbb{R}^6$ bound an oriented $4$-dimensional submanifold?
In my recent research, I encountered the following problem about embeddings. Let $M^3$ be a closed compact oriented smooth $3$-dimensional submanifold of $\mathbb{R}^6$. Does there exist a compact ...
- 587
5
votes
1
answer
380
views
Proving the Cork Theorem
I am reading Kirby's paper paper "Akbulut's corks and h-cobordisms of smooth simply connected 4-manifolds" and I have a question about how to actually prove the cork theorem from the results ...
14
votes
0
answers
326
views
When can we extend a diffeomorphism from a surface to its neighborhood as identity?
Let $M$ be a closed and simply-connected 4-manifold and let $f: M^4 \to M^4$ be a diffeomorphism such that $f^*: H^*(M;\mathbb{Z})\to H^*(M;\mathbb{Z})$ is the identity map. Moreover, let $\Sigma \...
- 3,751
14
votes
0
answers
376
views
Nonsmoothable 4-manifolds
Does there exist a closed connected nonsmoothable 4-manifold $M$ such that:
$\kappa(M)=0$ (Kirby-Siebenmann invariant vanishes, hence, there is no "classical" obstruction to smoothability) ...
- 12.3k
4
votes
1
answer
453
views
Detecting a "bad map" in Fintushel-Stern knot surgery
Background
Let $X$ be a simply-connected smooth 4-manifold which contains a smoothly embedded torus $T$ with trivial normal bundle (in other words, $T^2\times D^2\subset X$). Let $K$ be a knot in $S^3$...
- 159
12
votes
0
answers
419
views
Is the Lipschitz structure on $\mathbb{S}^4$ unique?
Sullivan [S] proved that on any $n$-dimensional, $n\neq 4$, topological manifold there is a unique Lipschitz structure. Although it is generally accepted result, it seems that the proof lacks some ...
- 28k
10
votes
3
answers
684
views
Doubles of 2-handlebodies
Let $X$ denote a $4$-manifold with boundary obtained by adding $k_1$ $1$-handles to $B^4$ and $k_2$ many $2$-handles to the resulting manifold i.e. $X$ is an arbitrary $4$-dimensional $2$-handlebody. ...
- 1,174
6
votes
1
answer
317
views
"Neck cutting" and why gauge theory doesn't work on homotopy 4-spheres
I attended a talk recently and the speaker said, essentially, that gauge theory invariants are expected to never be able to detect exotic 4-spheres because they always vanish, for a reason related to ...
- 187
5
votes
0
answers
146
views
Can every homeomorphism of the 4-ball fixing the boundary be approximated by diffeomorphisms smoothly isotopic to the identity?
Let $B^{n}$ denote the euclidean closed ball of dimension $n$. Alexander's trick shows that every homeomorphism of $B^{n}$ fixing $\partial B^n$ is $C^{0}$-isotopic to the identity via a boundary ...
- 151
2
votes
0
answers
95
views
If a Compact $n$-Manifold Immerses in $\mathbb{R}^{n+1}$ is there a Locally Flat Immersion?
Suppose that $M$ is a compact, topological $n$-manifold and there is a topological immersion (i.e. local embedding) of $M$ into $\mathbb{R}^{n+1}$. Is there necessarily a locally flat immersion of $M$...
- 439
5
votes
1
answer
783
views
Kirby diagrams: sliding 1-handles over 1-handles and ribbon disks
Consider the Kirby diagram $ D$ given by a 2-component unlink, both dotted circles.
In general, when performing a 1-handle slide over another 1-handle, the band chosen must not link any dotted circle,...
- 2,533
11
votes
0
answers
335
views
Isotopy on embedded 3-manifolds in 4-manifolds
Suppose that $X$ be an oriented, closed four-manifold. Suppose that $Y$ is an oriented, closed three-manifold smoothly embedded in $X$. Suppose also that $f:X \to X$ is a diffeomorphism that fixes $Y$...
- 3,751
6
votes
1
answer
337
views
Invertible 2-knots in $S^4$
Q1: Is it true that a knot $S^2\hookrightarrow S^4$ has an inverse iff it is trivial? Or it is also an open question?
See relatedly Unknotted $S^{n-2}$ in $S^n$.
Q2: It is easy to see that if a knot $...
- 1,875
12
votes
1
answer
531
views
Unknotted $S^{n-2}$ in $S^n$
I wonder is it still an open question that a smooth sphere $\Sigma^{2}\subset S^4$ is unknotted in $S^4$ iff its complement is homotopy equivalent to $S^1$? If it is an open question, how is it ...
- 1,875
6
votes
0
answers
391
views
Questions about a paper by Laudenbach and Poénaru
I am working on the 1972 paper A Note on 4-Dimensional Handlebodies by F. Laudenbach and V. Poénaru, and I had two questions. I will use their notations to simplify things, since the paper is very ...
- 283
14
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Very particular kind of 4-manifolds. Classification
Let $M$ be a smooth orientable compact connected (with boundary) manifold of dimension $4$. In addition $M$ is assumed to be aspherical and acyclic.
Question: is there a "classification" of ...
- 223
6
votes
1
answer
559
views
Akbulut's cork involution
Akbulut's cork is the Mazur manifold $W$ shown in the picture below,
This manifold carries an involution of it's boundary $f:\partial W\to \partial W$ that exchanges a meridian of the 0-framed curve ...
- 2,533
0
votes
0
answers
114
views
May this slice disk for the unknot be pushed into the boundary?
Write the 4-ball as $\mathbb{D}^4=\mathbb{D}^2\times \mathbb{D}^2$.
Then its boundary $\mathbb{S}^3\simeq \mathbb{S}^1\times \mathbb{D}^2\cup \mathbb{D}^2\times \mathbb{S}^1$. We will use implicitely ...
- 2,533
9
votes
2
answers
546
views
Rational slice knot that is not slice
Does there exists a knot $K\subset \mathbb{S}^3$ such that
$K$ is not slice
$\exists W^4$, $\partial W = \mathbb{S}^3$ rational homology ball
$\exists $ properly embedded smooth disk $(D,\partial D)\...
- 2,533
3
votes
1
answer
233
views
Codimension two foliations with transverse surfaces
Suppose I have some closed $4$-manifold $X$ and a codimension-two foliation $\mathcal{F}$, as well as a closed surface $\Sigma$ of nonnegative self-intersection that is everywhere transverse to $\...
- 1,601
4
votes
0
answers
348
views
Smoothability of open 4-manifolds
F. Quinn proved that any open topological 4-manifold admits a smooth structure in Ends of maps III: dimensions 4 and 5.
He first proves the generalized annulus conjecture:
Suppose $h:D^j\times \...
- 91
6
votes
1
answer
300
views
3-balls with the same boundary in $S^4$ differ up to diffeomorphism
I am looking at this recent paper by Budney and Gabai and I am confused by a certain sentence in it. Theorem 4.7 states that if $\Delta_1$ and $\Delta_2$ are two 3-balls smoothly embedded in $S^4$ ...
- 5,349
8
votes
0
answers
489
views
Self diffeomorphism of $S^2\times S^2$
The main question is motivated from the answer of this question https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/2481200/finite-groups-gs-which-acts-freely-on-s2-times-s2
Is it true that every self ...
- 3,751
13
votes
2
answers
952
views
Example of two exotic closed 4-manifolds s.t. SW(X)=0
I am interested in seeing examples of two closed 4-manifolds $X_1,X_2$ such that $SW(X_i)=0$ and they are homeomorphic but not diffeomorphic.
So far in the literature I've only found examples which ...
- 3,751
14
votes
0
answers
336
views
Are there exotic twisted doubles of 4-manifolds?
Take a smooth 4-manifold $X$ whose boundary has a diffeomorphism $\tau: \partial X \to \partial X$ that extends to a homeomorphism but not a diffeomorphism of $X$. (By Matveyev and Curtis-Freedman-...
- 515
10
votes
1
answer
771
views
Which 3-manifolds are known to admit exotic pairs of bounding 4-manifolds?
Let $M$ be a compact connected three manifold. By an exotic pair of bounding 4-manifolds, I mean two smooth 4-manifolds $X_1,X_2$ such that $X_1$ and $X_2$ are homeomorphic but not diffeomorphic, and ...
- 5,349
7
votes
1
answer
187
views
Minimum number of double points over all immersed disks
Let $K$ be a knot in the boundary of a compact smooth 4-manifold $X$, and suppose that $K$ is the the kernel of $\pi_1(\partial X) \to \pi_1(X)$. Then $K$ is the boundary of some immersed disk $D \to ...
- 5,349
25
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What can we say about the Cartesian product of a manifold with its exotic copy?
Let $M$ be a smooth oriented manifold, and let $M^E$ be an exotic copy, i.e homeomorphic but not diffeomorphic to $M$.
Is it true that $M\times M$ is diffeomorphic to $M\times M^E$?
I am ...
- 3,751
4
votes
2
answers
715
views
Are there Kirby diagrams with 3-handles?
Let $M\colon \partial_- M \to \partial_+ M$ be an oriented, compact cobordism. Assume that there is a handle decomposition with at most one 0-handle, and denote the handle bodies by $M_i, i \in \{0,\...
- 5,565
8
votes
1
answer
686
views
Surgery along an embedded surface in a 4-manifold
Let $X$ be a 4-manifold and $\Sigma_g\subset X$ be an embedded closed orientable genus = $g$ surface. Suppose $\Sigma_g\subset X$ has a trivial closed normal bundle $N(\Sigma_g) = \Sigma_g\times D^2$. ...
6
votes
0
answers
188
views
Quotients of 4-sphere by smooth $Z_p$ actions with knotted fixed point sets
This question is closely related to another I asked today.
Giffen showed in 1966 that the generalized Smith conjecture is false by constructing for odd $p$ a smooth $Z_p$ action on $S^4$ with fixed-...
- 2,851
6
votes
1
answer
477
views
A proof of Theorem 9.2.12. in the Gompf-Stipsicz
I'm seeking for a proof of Theorem 9.2.12. in the Gompf-Stipsicz "4-Manifolds and Kirby Calculus" (for the statement, see the following image). But the textbook omits any proofs and only gives a ...
14
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Construction of invariants of 4-manifolds with the Kirby calculus
I'm an undergraduate student, interested in the low dimensional topology, in particular, the 4-manifold theory.
I have a question.
In the knot theory, the Reidemeister moves play fundamental roles.
...
5
votes
1
answer
319
views
Are "Unions" of small exotic $\mathbb{R}^4$'s small?
Suppose $M$ is a smooth 4-manifold, and $U,V \subset M$ are exotic $\mathbb{R}^4$'s, i.e. homeomorphic to standard $\mathbb{R} ^4$.
Further more suppose $U$ an $V$ intersect nicely sucht that $U \cup ...
5
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Intersection forms of 4-manifolds with boundary
Let $X$ be any simply connected smooth 4-manifold with a fixed Euler characteristic $e$, signature $\sigma$ and boundary $Y$. Assume that the determinant of the intersection form $Q_{X}$ is equal to a ...
- 53
12
votes
1
answer
832
views
Handlebody decomposition of an open 4-manifold
Let $M$ be the fake $CP^2$ (namely the closed topological 4-manifold which is homotopy equivalent but not homeomorphic to the complex projective plan). It is well-known that $M$ admits no smooth ...
- 2,283
11
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Is there a smooth $4$-manifold homeomorphic but not diffemorphic to $CP^2$? [closed]
Is there a smooth $4$-manifold homeomorphic but not diffemorphic to $CP^2$? Are there known non-smooth examples homeomorphic $CP^2$?
- 129
28
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Can you flip the end of a large exotic $\mathbb{R}^4$
Can you flip the end of a large exotic $\mathbb{R}^4$
Background
Definition (Exotic $\mathbb{R}^4$):
An exotic $\mathbb{R}^4$ is a smooth manifold $R$ homeomorphic but not diffeomorphic to $\mathbb{...
- 1,897
19
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What's the Kirby Diagram of a universal $\mathbb{R}^4$?
What's the Kirby diagram of a universal $\mathbb{R}^4$?
Background
Define $\mathcal{R}$ as the set of smoothings of $\mathbb{R}^4$. For two oriented elements $R_1$, $R_2$ in $\mathcal{R}$ we can ...
- 1,897
29
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Embeddings of $S^2$ in $\mathbb{CP}^2$
Suppose we are given an embedding of $S^2$ in $\mathbb{CP}^2$ with self-intersection 1. Is there a diffeomorphism of $\mathbb{CP}^2$ which takes the given sphere to a complex line?
Note: I suspect ...
- 6,247