On 3-manifolds having the same Turaev-Viro invariants (Q1264908)

If \(F\) is a surface with non-negative Euler characteristic in a 3-manifold, \(M\), a new 3-manifold may be constructed by cutting \(M\) open along \(F\) and reglueing via a homeomorphism. A special spine of a 3-manifold is an embedded 2-complex which satisfies some properties. The authors show that any two 3-manifolds related by the above cut and paste with an appropriate homeomorphism have similar special spines. Putting this together with the observation that manifolds with similar special spines have the same Turaev-Viro invariants, produces examples of distinct 3-manifolds with the same Turaev-Viro invariants. The later paper [\textit{A. Kawauchi}, J. Knot Theory Ramifications 3, No. 1, 25-39 (1994; Zbl 0823.57012)] also constructs 3-manifolds with the same invariants.