An invariant of smooth isotopy for surfaces in a 4-manifold (Q1851445)

Let \(F\) be a connected oriented non simply connected surface. We define the 4-manifold \(M=F\times \mathbb R\times S^1\). Let \(K\) be an oriented knot in \(F\times\mathbb R\) and suppose that \(K\) is in general position with respect to the projection onto \(F\). An isotopy of \(K\) onto itself gives rise to a torus or Klein bottle \(T\) smoothly embedded in \(M\). The surface \(T\) is a \textit{closed 2-braid} in the following sense: The composition of the smooth embedding \(T\hookrightarrow M\) with the projection \(\text{ arg} : M \to S^1\) onto the \(S^1\) factor is a submersion. In order to define an isotopy invariant \(W_T\) for the closed 2-braid \(T\hookrightarrow M\), Fiedler used a \textit{small state sum} invariant \(W_K\in \mathbb Z [H_1(F)]\) of degree 1 for knots in \(F\times\mathbb R\) , see [\textit{T. Fiedler}, Topology 40, 1415-1435 (2001; Zbl 0991.57024)]. The aim of the paper under discussion is to generalize Fiedler's invariant. The author defines an invariant \(I_T\) for closed 2-braids \(T\hookrightarrow M\). The invariant \(I_T\) is a function \(I_{T} \colon H_1(F)\times H_1(F)\setminus\Sigma\to H_1(F^2)\times H_1(S^1)\) where \(\Sigma = \{(a,b)\in H_1(F)\times H_1(F) |a=b\;\text{ or } a=2b\;\text{ or } b=2a\;\text{ or } a=0\;\text{ or } b=0\}\). Moreover, for \(F = \mathbb R^2\setminus\{(0,0)\}\) some examples of closed 2-braids \(T_n \subset M\), \(n\in\mathbb Z\), are constructed for which \(W_{T_n}\) is trivial but \(I_{T_n}\) is not. Note that the composition of \(I_{T}\) with the projection onto the factor \(H_1(S^1)\cong\mathbb Z\) coincides with the degree 2 invariant \(I_K\) for knots \(K\subset F\times\mathbb R\). The invariant \(I_K\) is defined by using Gauss diagram invariants for knots, see [\textit{T. Fiedler}, Gauss diagram invariants for knots and links. Mathematics and its Applications. 532. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers (2002; Zbl 1009.57001)]. Cédric Darolles died in a tragic accident.