Homology equivalences of manifolds and zero-in-the-spectrum examples (Q357719)

The author describes a general construction which produces manifolds with given homology and fundamental group. The construction improves an earlier theorem of the author (see [Isr. J. Math. 192, Part B, 699--717 (2012); erratum ibid. 196, 507--508 (2013; Zbl 1270.55009)]) which was at the level of CW complexes. As special cases, this construction gives many well-known important theorems: \textit{M. A. Kervaire}'s characterisation of fundamental groups of homology spheres [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 144, 67--72 (1969; Zbl 0187.20401)] and of codimension two knots [Differ. and Combinat. Topology, Sympos. Marston Morse, Princeton, 105--119 (1965; Zbl 0134.42903)], the plus-construction of Quillen and \textit{J.-C. Hausmann} [Comment. Math. Helv. 53, 113--134 (1978; Zbl 0376.57015)], the existence of one-sided h-cobordisms [\textit{C. R. Guilbault} and \textit{F. C. Tinsley}, Algebr. Geom. Topol. 13, No. 1, 35--60 (2013; Zbl 1420.57060)], as well as counter examples to the zero-in-the-spectrum conjecture obtained in [\textit{M. Farber} and \textit{S. Weinberger}, Ann. Math. (2) 154, No. 1, 139--154 (2001; Zbl 0992.58012)] and \textit{N. Higson, J. Roe} and \textit{T. Schick} [Geom. Dedicata 87, No. 1--3, 335--343 (2001; Zbl 0991.57002)].