An obstruction to 3-dimensional thickenings (Q4699595)

The author proves the following two theorems: Theorem 1: Let \(X\) be a two-dimensional connected locally finite simplicial complex. Then \(X\) thickens to an orientable three-manifold if and only if (i) \(lk(\nu,X)\) is planar for every vertex \(\nu\) of \(X\), and (ii) there exists a family of embeddings \(\Phi= \{\varphi_v: lk(\nu,X)\to \mathbb{R}^2\), \(\nu\in X^0\}\) so that the cochain \(\overline \omega_\Phi\) is trivial. Theorem 2. Let \(X\) be a fake surface and let \(\Gamma\subset X\) be subgraph of all 1-simplexes of order 3. There exists a well-defined cohomology class \(\xi_X\in H^1(\Gamma; \mathbb{Z}_2)\) with the property that \(\xi_X=0\) if and only if \(X\) thickens to an orientable 3-manifold. These results were obtained independently and essentially simultaneously by \textit{D. Repovš}, \textit{N. B. Brodskij}, and \textit{A. B. Skopenkov} [Topology Appl. 94, No. 1-3, 307-314 (1999; Zbl 0928.57029)].