The \(L^2\)-Alexander torsion for Seifert fiber spaces (Q2408909)

The paper under review gives a formula for the \(L^2\)-Alexander torsion of Seifert fibered spaces in terms of the Thurston norm. The \(L^2\)-Alexander torsion was first defined by \textit{J. Dubois} et al. [J. Topol. 9, No. 3, 889--926 (2016; Zbl 1355.57009)] and generalizes the \(L^2\)-Alexander polynomial introduced by \textit{W. Li} and \textit{W. Zhang} [in: Topology and physics. Proceedings of the Nankai international conference in memory of Xiao-Song Lin. Hackensack, NJ: World Scientific. 236--259 (2008; Zbl 1214.57016)]. The formula is proven in two stages. In the first stage, the author restricts his attention to Seifert fibered spaces that can be expressed as \(S^1\)-bundles over surfaces. Because these are examples of \(S^1\)-CW-complexes, he proves a formula for the \(L^2\)-Alexander torsion of \(S^1\)-CW-complexes in terms of the Euler number (this is Lemma B in the paper), and then relates the Euler number to the Thurston norm (Lemma A), giving a formula for the \(L^2\)-Alexander torsion in terms of the Thurston norm. In the second stage, he considers the remaining Seifert fibered spaces, and proves the formula by cutting them into nice enough pieces, computing the invariant for these pieces, and then using a gluing theorem.