The topology of 4-manifolds
By: Robion C. Kirby.
Series: Lecture notes in mathematics ;; 1374; Lecture notes in mathematics (Springer-Verlag) ;; 1374.
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published: 1989
Place of publication: Berlin; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 108
Subjects: Four-manifolds (Topology)
Other titles: Topology of four-manifolds.
Description: This book presents the classical theorems about simply connected smooth 4-manifolds: intersection forms and homotopy type, oriented and spin bordism, the index theorem, Wall's diffeomorphisms and h-cobordism, and Rohlin's theorem. Most of the proofs are new or are returbishings of post proofs; all are geometric and make us of handlebody theory. There is a new proof of Rohlin's theorem using spin structures. There is an introduction to Casson handles and Freedman's work including a chapter of unpublished proofs on exotic R4's. The reader needs an understanding of smooth manifolds and characteristic classes in low dimensions. The book should be useful to beginning researchers in 4-manifolds.
Notes: Bibliography: p. [103]-106.
Includes index.