The \(h\)-principle for broken Lefschetz fibrations (Q969683)

A broken Lefschetz fibration is a smooth map from a four manifold to a surface with certain types of singularities. The critical locus of such a map is a union of the classical Lefschetz singularities (in complex coordinates \((z,w) \mapsto zw\)) and singularities of the form \((x_1,x_2,x_3,x_4)\mapsto (x_1,x_2^2+x_3^2-x_4^2)\). The latter is called an indefinite fold. The main result states that if two broken Lefschetz fibrations are homotopic then there exists a homotopy that is realised by a sequence of six basic modifications. Moreover, any broken Lefschetz fibration is equivalent to a simplified purely wrinkled fibration. That is, the maps are related by a sequence of the basic modifications. As an application, the author proves that a smooth closed four manifold can be specified by a chain \({\gamma_i}_{i\in \mathbb Z/k\mathbb Z}\) of simple closed curves in an orientable surface such that \(\gamma_i\) intersects \(\gamma_{i+1}\) transversely at one point. The paper contains very good and helpful drawings and finishes with a section on open problems.