Homotopy types of complements of 2-arrangements in \(\mathbb{R}^4\) (Q1806113)

Given a space \(X\) with \(H_1(X)\) isomorphic to \({\mathbb Z}^n\), the \(k\)-th determinantal ideal of the Alexander module of \(X\) defines a subvariety, \(V_k(X)\), of the complex algebraic torus, \({\mathbb C^*}^n\), called the \(k\)th characteristic variety of \(X\). The monomial isomorphism type of this variety is known to depend only on the homotopy type of \(X\) (in fact, only on \(\pi_1(X)\)). Using this fact, certain homotopy-type invariants are derived, and applied to complements of 2-arrangements in \({\mathbb R}^4\) (that is, complements of arrangements of transverse planes in \({\mathbb R}^4\)). It is shown that it is possible to compute these invariants using standard methods in geometric topology and commutative algebra, and also that these numerical invariants are powerful enough to yield the following main results: For every integer \(n \geq 1\), there exist at least \(p(n-1) - \lfloor \frac{n-1}{2} \rfloor\) different homotopy types of complements of 2-arrangements of \(n\) planes in \({\mathbb R}^4\), where \(p\) is the partition function. For every integer \(n \geq 6\), there exists a pair of 2-arrangements of \(n\) planes in \({\mathbb R}^4\), whose complements have isomorphic cohomology rings, but different homotopy types (this answers a question posed by \textit{G. M. Ziegler} in [Math. Z. 212, No. 1, 1-11 (1993; Zbl 0789.57018)]). For 2-arrangements of \(n \leq 6\) planes in \({\mathbb R}^4\), the homotopy types of complements are in one-to-one correspondence with the rigid isotopy types modulo mirror images.