Algebraic & Geometric Topology 5 (2005) 1719–1732

DOI: 10.2140/agt.2005.5.1719

arXiv: math.GT/0505394

Abstract

We prove that the canonical 4–dimensional surgery problems can be solved after passing to a double cover. This contrasts the long-standing conjecture about the validity of the topological surgery theorem for arbitrary fundamental groups (without passing to a cover). As a corollary, the surgery conjecture is reformulated in terms of the existence of free involutions on a certain class of 4–manifolds. We consider this question and analyze its relation to the A,B–slice problem.

Keywords

4–manifolds, surgery, involutions

Mathematical Subject Classification

Primary: 57N13

Secondary: 57M10, 57M60

References

Forward citations

Publication

Received: 17 May 2005
Accepted: 2 December 2005
Published: 17 December 2005

Authors