The double \(n\)-space property for contractible \(n\)-manifolds (Q1748434)

Write \(A \cup_{C} B\) for the union of spaces along the common intersection \(C = A \cap B\). A manifold \(M\) splits if \(M \;= A \cup_{C} B\) with \( A,B,C \approx {\mathbb B}^{n}\) or \( A,B,C \approx {\mathbb R}^{n}\). In the first case one says that \(M\) splits into closed balls and in the second that it splits into open balls. The paper shows that there exist infinitely many topologically distinct splittable compact contractible \(4\)-manifolds. The manifolds are constructed in a manner similar to the Mazur manifolds where a 2-handle is attached to \(S^{1} \times {\mathbb B}^{3}\).