Ribbon cobordisms between lens spaces (Q2062018)

Let \(Y_1,Y_2\) be rational homology spheres. A \textit{ribbon} cobordism from \(Y_1\) to \(Y_2\) is a rational homology cobordism \(W\) (where \(\partial W=-Y_1{\sqcup}Y_2\) and inclusion induces isomorphisms \(H_* (Y_i ;\mathbb{Q})\cong H_* (W;\mathbb{Q})\)) such that \(W\) admits a handle decomposition relative to \(Y_1{\times}I\) that uses \(1\)- and \(2\)-handles only. The author shows that if a rational homology sphere admits a ribbon cobordism to a lens space, then \(Y\) is homeomorphic to a certain lens space. He then determines when there exists a ribbon cobordism from \(Y_1\) to \(Y_2\), where \(Y_1,Y_2\) are connected sums of lens spaces. After introducing ribbon \(\chi\)-concordances from a link \(L_1\) to a link \(L_2\), he classifies ribbon \(\chi\)-concordances between connected sums of \(2\)-bridge links. The proofs involve results on embeddings of linear intersection lattices and expand on work by \textit{P. Lisca} [Geom. Topol. 11, 429--472 (2007; Zbl 1185.57006)].