Dual submanifolds in rational homology spheres (Q1701243)

The author considers a simply connected rational homology sphere, \(\Sigma\), of dimension \(n+1\), together with two disjoint closed submanifolds \(M_{+}\) and \(M_{-}\) such that the complement \(\Sigma\backslash M_{+}\) strongly homotopy retracts onto \(M_{-}\). In this situation, the manifolds \(M_{+}\) and \(M_{-}\) are called dual to each other. Denoting by \(1+m_{\pm}\) the codimension of \(M_{\pm}\), the author gives an explicit list of the triples \((n,m_{+},m_{-})\) that can be encountered. He proves that this list consists of 6 families. Among them, 3 families are infinite: \(n=m_{+}=m_{-}\), \(n=m_{+}+m_{-}\) and (\(n=2(m_{+}+m_{-})\) with \(m_{+}+m_{-}\) odd if \(m_{+}\) and \(m_{-}\) are strictly greater than 1). There are also 3 finite families, \(m_{+}=m_{-}=\frac{1}{3}n\in\{1,2,4,8\}\), \(m_{+}=m_{-}=\frac{1}{4}n\in\{1,2\}\), \(m_{+}=m_{-}=\frac{1}{6}n\in\{1,2\}\). The proof relies on previous works of \textit{S. Stolz} [Invent. Math. 138, No. 2, 253--279 (1999; Zbl 0944.53035)] and \textit{K. Grove} and \textit{S. Halperin} [J. Differ. Geom. 26, 429--459 (1987; Zbl 0637.53075)].