Homology handles with multiple knot-surgery descriptions (Q1325827)

For a knot \(K\) in \(S^ 3\), let \((K;0)\) denote the 3-manifold obtained by longitudinal or 0-surgery on \(K\), i.e., by attaching a solid torus \(V\) to the exterior of \(K\) such that the meridian of \(V\) is mapped to the longitude of \(K\). Then \((K;0)\) has the same integral homology groups as \(S^ 2\times S^ 1\). Such a 3-manifold is called a homology handle. In [J. Differ. Geom. 26, 479-536 (1987; Zbl 0639.57008)], \textit{D. Gabai} settled the Property R conjecture and the Poenaru conjecture: for a nontrivial knot \(K\), \((K;0)\) cannot be homeomorphic to \(S^ 2\times S^ 1\), and \((K;0)\) is irreducible. He also raised a problem [loc. cit., Problem 8.4] which asks to what extent a knot \(K\) is determined by \((K;0)\). In particular, one can ask whether \(K\) is uniquely determined by \((K;0)\). (See also [\textit{B. Zimmermann}, Math. Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. 109, No. 1, 79-82 (1991; Zbl 0719.57011)].) In [ibid. 113, No. 1, 91-96 (1993; Zbl 0789.57016) and Corrigenda, ibid. 116, No. 1, 191 (1994; Zbl 0802.57009)], the author showed that if \((K;0)\) is homeomorphic to a Seifert fibered manifold, then it determines the knot. But in general the answer to the question is ``no''. \textit{W. R. Brakes} [ibid. 87, 443-448 (1980; Zbl 0443.57010)] has given examples of homology handles with two distinct knot-surgery descriptions long before. Recently, \textit{R. E. Gompf} and \textit{K. Miyazaki} [Some well disguised ribbon knots (preprint 1992)] also gave such examples. In the present paper, for any integer \(n\geq 2\) we will give examples of homology handles which can be described as 0-surgery on \(n\) distinct knots in \(S^ 3\). Our construction is based on the idea of dual knots, which has been used in [Gompf and Miyazaki, loc. cit.].