\(PD_{4}\)-complexes with fundamental group a \(PD_{2}\)-group (Q1888460)

If \(f: X\to Z\) is a degree 1 map of finite 4-dimensional Poincaré duality complexes with fundamental group \(\pi\) such that \(\pi_1(f)\) is an isomorphism, then \(\pi_2(f)\) is a split epimorphism of \(\mathbb{Z}[\pi]\)-modules, and \(K_2(f):= \text{Ker}(\pi_2(f))\) is a stably free direct summand of \(\pi_2(X)\) [see \textit{C. T. C. Wall}, Surgery on compact manifolds (London Math. Soc. Monographs 1, Academic Press, London) (1970; Zbl 0219.57024)]. This extends to maps between finitely dominated Poincaré duality complexes: the kernel \(K_2(f)\) is then a finitely generated projective \(\mathbb{Z}[\pi]\)-module. Thus \(f\) is 2-connected and is a homotopy equivalence if and only if \(K_2(f)\cong 0\). Hence if \(\Hom_{\mathbb{Z}[\pi]}(\pi_2(X), \mathbb{Z}[\pi])\cong 0\), any such map \(f\) must be a homotopy equivalence. Such a \(PD_4\)-complex \(X\) is called (strongly) minimal. If \(\pi\) is a free group there is always a 2-connected degree 1 map to a minimal \(PD_4\)-complex. The author shows that there are always such maps if \(\pi\) has cohomological dimension \(\leq 2\). The case of (aspherical) surface groups was first proved in \textit{A. Cavicchioli}, \textit{F. Hegenbarth} and \textit{D. Repovš} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 349, No. 10, 4007--4019 (1997; Zbl 0887.57026)]. The class of groups with cohomological dimension \(\leq 2\) includes \(PD_2\)-groups, the groups of classical knots and links, fundamental groups of irreducible 3-manifolds with a nonempty aspherical boundary component, and torsion-free \(1\)-relator groups. The author proves that every \(PD_4\)-complex \(X\) with fundamental group \(\pi\) of cohomological dimension 2 admits a 2-connected degree 1 map to a strongly minimal \(PD_4\)-complex \(Z\), which is called a minimal model for \(X\). If moreover \(\pi\) has one end and \(X\) is assumed to be constructed by attaching a single 4-cell to its 3-skeleton, then the author relates the cohomology intersection pairing on the maximal stably free quotient of \(\pi_2(X)\) to a pairing constructed from \(\pi\) via the Whitehead quadratic functor, and proves that every Hermitian form on a finitely generated projective \(\mathbb{Z}[\pi]\)-module is realized by some finite \(PD_4\)-complex. If \(\pi\) is the fundamental group of an aspherical closed surface \(F\), then the minimal models are total spaces of \(\mathbb{S}^2\)-bundles over \(F\), as proved by Cavicchioli, Hegenbarth and Repovš in the paper quoted above. If \(\pi\) is a \(PD_2\)-group, then the minimal complex is the total space of an \(\mathbb{S}^2\)-bundle over \(K(\pi,1)\), and is determined by cohomological invariants of \(X\). Some results on the classification up to homeomorphism or \(s\)-cobordism of closed 4-manifolds with such fundamental groups complete this fine paper. As a consequence, the author observes that the example of \textit{I. Hambleton} and \textit{P. Teichner} [Manuscr. Math. 93, No. 4, 435--442 (1997; Zbl 0890.57034)] may be adapted to show that in general such 4-manifolds are not connected sums of minimal models with simply connected closed 4-manifolds.