\(PD_{4}\)-complexes with strongly minimal models (Q2502963)

The author studies the homotopy type of a \(PD_4\)-complex \(X\) with fundamental group \(\pi = \pi_1(X)\), and his goal is to show that this homotopy type is largely determined by the algebraic \(2\)-type of \(X\) and the equivariant intersection pairing on the \(\mathbb Z[\pi]\)-module \(\pi_2(X)\). \textit{I. Hambleton} and \textit{M. Kreck} [Math. Ann. 280, 85--104 (1988; Zbl 0616.57009)] proved that if \(X\) is orientable and \(H_2(X; \mathbb Q) \neq 0\), then the homotopy type of \(X\) is determined by its Postnikov \(2\)-stage \(P\) and the image of \([X]\) in \(H_4(P; \mathbb Z)\), and if \(\pi\) is finite and of cohomological period dividing \(4\) this image is in turn determined by the equivariant intersection pairing. The main result of the paper under review extends the latter result to certain cases with infinite fundamental group, under further hypotheses on the algebraic \(2\)-type.