\(W\)-invariants and Neumann-Siebenmann invariants for Seifert homology 3-spheres (Q5951984)

In a previous paper, the first two authors defined the \(w\)-invariant \(w(\Sigma, X, c)\) for an integral homology \(3\)-sphere \(\Sigma\) bounding a compact \(V\) \(4\)-manifold \(X\) equipped with a spin\(^c\) structure \(c\). One glues \(X\) to a spin \(3\)-manifold \(Y\) with boundary \(-\Sigma\), and the invariant is \(\text{ind} {\mathcal D}(X\cup Y) +\text{sgn}(Y)/8\), where \(\text{ind} {\mathcal D}(X\cup Y)\) is the index of the Dirac operator. In this paper, the authors develop a number of constructions and formulas which enable the computation of \(w\)-invariants for many cases. One consequence is that the \(w\)-invariant for a Seifert homology \(3\)-sphere (using a specific spin \(V\) \(4\)-manifold bounded by it) equals its Neumann-Siebenmann invariant up to sign. It follows that the Neumann-Siebenmann invariant is a homology cobordism invariant when there are either at most six singular fibers, or at least one singular fiber of even multiplicity. Both the constructions and the algebraic underpinnings of the formulas are quite complicated, but are presented with careful attention to detail.