On Cappell-Shaneson 4-spheres (Q1173916): Difference between revisions

\textit{S. E. Cappell} and \textit{J. L. Shaneson} [Ann. Math., II. Ser. 103, 349-353 (1976; Zbl 0338.57008)] constructed a family of examples, indexed by matrices in \(SL(3,\mathbb{Z}),\) of homotopy 4-spheres. Each matrix determined a pair of homotopy 4-spheres which were distinguished by a \(Z_ 2\) choice of framing, which the author terms the ''easy'' and ''hard'' choices of framing. Two of these examples were shown to be double covers of homotopy \(\mathbb{R}\mathbb{P}^ 4\)s which were known to be exotic by other work of \textit{S. E. Cappell} and \textit{J. L. Shaneson} [ibid. 104, 61-72 (1976; Zbl 0345.57003)]. Thus it was hoped that one might find a counterexample for the smooth 4-dimensional Poincaré conjecture from this class of examples. \textit{I. R. Aitchison} and \textit{J. H. Rubinstein} [Contemp. Math. 35, 1-74 (1984; Zbl 0567.57015)] studied an infinite family of such pairs, and showed that in each case the easy framing yielded a standard sphere. The present article constructs handle decompositions of this infinite family of Cappell-Shaneson spheres. This handle decomposition is used to show that for one choice of framing, the standard sphere is obtained. For the other choice, a handlebody with no 3-handles, and only two 1-handles and two 2-handles is obtained. The simplest member of the family is the one studied by \textit{S. Akbulut} and \textit{R. Kirby} [Topology 24, 375-390 (1985; Zbl 0584.57009)] and has been shown in a separate paper by the author [ibid. 30, No. 1, 97-115 (1991; Zbl 0715.57016)] to also be standard with the hard framing.