An extension of the loop theorem and resolutions of generalized 3- manifolds with 0-dimensional singular set (Q2266484)

The author proves that, modulo the Poincaré conjecture, every ENR homology 3-manifold is a cell-like image of a 3-manifold, provided its nonmanifold set is of dimension \(\leq 0\). (The analogous result for higher dimensions (\(\geq 5)\) is due to \textit{J. W. Cannon}, \textit{J. L. Bryant} and \textit{R. C. Lacher} [Geometric Topology, Proc. Conf., Athens/Ga. 1977, 261-300 (1979; Zbl 0476.57006)].) The principal tool used in the proof is an extension of the classical loop theorem to proper maps of noncompact planar surfaces into noncompact 3-manifolds, which are 1-acyclic at infinity. (Related loop theorems were previously obtained by \textit{M. G. Brin} [Topology 20, 353-363 (1981; Zbl 0473.57002)] and \textit{A. J. Casson} and \textit{C. McA. Gordon} [Invent. Math. 74, 119-137 (1983; Zbl 0538.57003)].) This resolution theorem is one of the key results in the proof of the recognition theorem for 3-manifolds, due to \textit{R. C. Lacher} and the reviewer [Topology Appl. 16, 161-170 (1983; Zbl 0519.57013)].