\(s\)-cobordism classification of 4-manifolds through the group of homotopy self-equivalences (Q493350)

From the abstract: ``The aim of this paper is to give an \(s\)-cobordism classification of topological 4-manifolds in terms of the standard invariants using the group of homotopy self-equivalences.'' More precisely: The cohomological dimension of a group \(G\), denoted cd\(G\) is the smallest non-negative integer \(n\) such that \(\mathbb{Z}\) admits a projective resolution \(P=(P_i)_{i\leq 0}\) of \(\mathbb{Z}\) over \(\mathbb{Z}G\) of length \(n\), satisfying \(P_i=0\) for \(i>n\). If there exists no such \(n\), then put cd\(G=\infty\). In this paper the authors deal with groups whose cohomological dimension is less than or equal to 2. This class of groups contains the free groups, knot groups and one-relator groups whose relator is not a proper power. The aim of the paper is to give an \(s\)-cobordism classification of topological 4-manifolds with fundamental group \(\pi\) such that cd\(\pi\leq 2\), in terms of the standard invariants such as the fundamental group, characteristic classes and the equivariant intersection form using the group of homotopy self-equivalences. The group of homotopy self-equivalences is studied by using a braid constructed by \textit{M. Kreck} [Ann. Math. (2) 149, No. 3, 707--754 (1999; Zbl 0935.57039)]. Using this braid together with the modified surgery theory of Kreck, the authors give an \(s\)-cobordism classification for certain 4-manifolds with fundamental group \(\pi\), such that cd\(\pi\leq 2\). The conditions that must be fulfilled are the following: (A1) The assembly map \(A_4:H_4(K(\pi,1);L_0(\mathbb{Z}))\rightarrow \mathbb{L}_4(\mathbb{Z}[\pi])\) is injective, where \(\mathbb{L}_0(\mathbb{Z})\) stands for the connectivity cover of the periodic surgery spectrum; (A2) The Whitehead group \(Wh(\pi)\) is trivial for \(\pi\); and (A3) The surgery obstruction map \(T(M\times\times\times I,\partial)\rightarrow L_5(\mathbb{Z}(\pi))\) is onto, where \(M\) is a closed, connected, oriented 4-manifold with \(\pi_1(M)\cong \pi\). In addition, if \(u_M:M\rightarrow K(\pi,1)\) is a classification map for the fundamental group \(\pi\) and if \(\widetilde{M}\overset{p}{\longrightarrow}M\overset{u_M}{\longrightarrow}K(\pi,1)\) is the homotopy fibration which induces a short exact sequence \(0\rightarrow H^2(K(\pi,1);\mathbb{Z}/2)\rightarrow H^2(M;\mathbb{Z}/2)\rightarrow H^2(M;\mathbb{Z}/2)\), then can be formulated the following definition due to \textit{I. Hambleton} and \textit{M. Kreck} [Invent. Math. 91, No. 1, 53--59 (1988; Zbl 0609.57008)]. Definition 1.1. A manifold \(M\) has \(w_2\)-type (I), (II), or (III) if one the following holds: (I) \(w_2(\widetilde{M})\neq 0\); (II) \(w_2(M)=0\); or (III) \(w_2(M)\neq 0\) and \(w_2(\widetilde{M})=0\). Then the main result of the paper is the following: Theorem 1.2. Let \(M_1\) and \(M_2\) be closed, connected, oriented, topological 4-manifolds with fundamental group \(\pi\) such that cd\(\pi\leq 2\) and satisfying properties (A1), (A2) and (A3). Suppose also that they have the same Kirby-Siebenmann invariant and \(w_2\)-type (I) or (II). Then \(M_1\) and \(M_2\) are \(s\)-cobordant if and only if they have isometric quadratic 2-types.