The algebraic characterization of geometric 4-manifolds
By: J.A. Hillman.
Series: London Mathematical Society lecture note series ;; 198
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 1994
Place of publication: Cambridge
Language: eng
Number of pages: 170
Subjects: Four-manifolds (Topology); Homotopy theory.
Description: This book describes work, largely that of the author, on the characterization of closed 4-manifolds in terms of familiar invariants such as Euler characteristic, fundamental group, and Stiefel–Whitney classes. Using techniques from homological group theory, the theory of 3-manifolds and topological surgery, infrasolvmanifolds are characterized up to homeomorphism, and surface bundles are characterized up to simple homotopy equivalence. Non-orientable cases are also considered wherever possible, and in the final chapter the results obtained earlier are applied to 2-knots and complex analytic surfaces. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in low-dimensional topology.
Notes: Includes bibliographical reference (p. 160-168) and index.