Embedding 4-manifolds with vanishing second homology (Q697617)

The authors study the problem of embedding closed oriented smooth 4-manifolds with trivial second homology in 5-space, or in other standard simply-connected examples. More specifically, they prove that if \(M\) is a closed oriented smooth 4-manifold with \(H_2(M;{\mathbb Z})\cong 0\), then: (1) \(M\) embeds smoothly in the connected sum of copies of \(S^2\times S^3\) (and hence in \({\mathbb R}^6)\); and (2) if \(f_{\ast}([M])=0\), where \(f:M\to B\pi_1(M)\) is the classifying map for the universal covering and \([M]\) represents the fundamental class of \(M\), then \(M\) embeds smoothly in either the 5-sphere \(S^5\), or in one of two standard examples denoted \(X_{-1}\), and \(X_\infty\). The proofs use Kervaire-Milnor style surgery arguments. The results in this paper are related to results of \textit{T. Cochran}, who studied in a series of papers [Invent. Math. 77, 173-184 (1984; Zbl 0525.57027); Topology 23, 257-269 (1984; Zbl 0582.57019)] the question of when a spin closed smooth 4-manifold with trivial signature embeds in \({\mathbb R}^5\). By invoking results of Cochran's, the authors also give here a necessary and sufficient condition for a 4-manifold with trivial second homology to smoothly embed in \({\mathbb R}^5\).