On the genus of \(\mathbb{R} P^3\times \mathbb{S}^1\) (Q1566946)

We continue the topological classification of closed connected orientable 4-manifolds according to the (regular) genus, as developed in a series of papers [\textit{A. Cavicchioli}, Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 105, No. 4, 1008-1014 (1989; Zbl 0683.57007); Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 331, No. 1, 203-214 (1992; Zbl 0762.57014); \textit{A. Cavicchioli} and \textit{M. Meschiari}, Cah. Topologie Géom. Différ. Catégoriques 34, No. 1, 37-56 (1993; Zbl 0777.57009)]. In particular, we prove that any closed prime orientable PL 4-manifold of genus six is topologically homeomorphic to a lens-fiber bundle over the 1-sphere. There are good reasons to conjecture that the genus six characterizes the topological product \(\mathbb{R} \text{P}^3\times\mathbb{S}^1\) of the real projective 3-space by the 1-sphere among closed connected prime orientable 4-manifolds.