Knotting codimension 2 submanifolds locally (Q1826168)

Let \(L^ n\) be a smooth submanifold of \(M^{n+2}\), with both manifolds being closed, connected and oriented. Denote by \({\mathcal K}_ n\) the monoid (under connected sum) of isotopy classes of oriented knots, diffeomorphic to \(S^ n\), in \(S^{n+2}\), and let I(M,L) be the submonoid consisting of those \((S^{n+2},K)\) for which (M,L){\#}(S\({}^{n+2},K)\) is orientation-preserving diffeomorphic to (M,L). This paper compares I(M,L) (and its submonoid defined by requiring further a concordance between the diffeomorphism and the identity map) with \({\mathcal K}_ n\). At one extreme, if \(n\geq 3\) and \(H_ 1(M-L)\) is infinite cyclic generated by a meridian of L in M, then I(M,L) is trivial; at the other, if M is spin, L is diffeomorphic to \(S^ n\), \(n\geq 3\) and a meridian of L in M is null-homotopic in M-L, then \(I(M,L)={\mathcal K}_ n\). Intermediate cases occur when a meridian has finite order.