Inequivalent genus 2 handlebodies in \(S^ 3\) with homeomorphic complement (Q748967)

Let V and W be handlebodies of genus g in \(S^ 3\). If the closures of \(S^ 3-V\) and \(S^ 3-W\) are homeomorphic, are V and W necessarily equivalently embedded in \(S^ 3\), i.e., does there exist a homeomorphism of \(S^ 3\) mapping V onto W? \textit{S. Suzuki} [Hokkaido Math. J. 4, 179- 195 (1975; Zbl 0327.57010)] proved that the answer is no if \(g\geq 3\), and \textit{C. McA. Gordon} and \textit{J. Luecke} [J. Am. Math. Soc. 2, 371-415 (1989; Zbl 0678.57005)] gave a positive answer for \(g=1\). In the present paper the author settles the remaining case \(g=2\). He produces an infinite family of inequivalently embedded handlebodies of genus 2 in \(S^ 3\) whose complements are all homeomorphic.