Comparing 4-manifolds in the pants complex via trisections (Q1747142)

Using Heegard splittings, \textit{J. Johnson} [Algebr. Geom. Topol. 6, 853--874 (2006; Zbl 1130.57029)] defined distances between two 3-manifolds, one in the pants complex and one in the dual curve complex. Analogously to Heegaard splitting for 3-manifolds, \textit{D. T. Gay} and \textit{R. Kirby} [Geom. Topol. 20, No. 6, 3097--3132 (2016; Zbl 1372.57033)] defined the notion of a trisection of a 4-manifold. Using this, the author defines distances between two 4-manifolds, similar to those defined by Johnson and proves their independence of the choices involved. Also some interpretations of the distances are given, for example im terms of the signatures of the manifolds or their Kirby diagrams.