The 4-dimensional disc embedding theorem and dual spheres

arXiv2006.05209MaRDI QIDQ6342448

Mark Powell, Arunima Ray, Peter Teichner

Publication date: 9 June 2020

Abstract: We modify the proof of the disc embedding theorem for 4-manifolds, which appeared as Theorem 5.1A in the book "Topology of 4-manifolds" by Freedman and Quinn, in order to construct geometrically dual spheres. These were claimed in the statement but not constructed in the proof. Fundamental results in 4-manifold topology such as the existence and exactness of the surgery sequence, the s-cobordism theorem, and thence the classification of closed, simply connected topological 4-manifolds up to homeomorphism, rely on a closely related sphere embedding theorem with geometrically dual spheres, which is proven using the disc embedding theorem.

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Embeddings and immersions in topological manifolds (57N35) General topology of 4-manifolds (57K40)

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