New York Journal of Mathematics
NYJM Monographs, Volume 6, 2025

  

Stefan Friedl, Matthias Nagel, Patrick Orson, and Mark Powell

The foundations of four-manifold theory in the topological category

view    print


Published: March 19, 2025
Keywords: 4-manifold theory, algebraic topology.
Subject[2020]: 57K40, 57N35, 57N40, 57N65, 57N75.

Abstract

This monograph aims to provide a guide to the literature on topological 4-manifolds. Foundational theorems on 4-manifolds are stated, especially in the topological category. Precise references are given, with indications of the strategies employed in the proofs. Where appropriate we give statements for manifolds of all dimensions.

Many intuitively plausible theorems which are standard results in differential topology are either extraordinarily deep results in the topological category, are open, or are known to be false. Hence one must proceed with caution. We seek to help 4-manifold topologists navigate potential pitfalls, and to apply the many powerful results that do exist with confidence.


Acknowledgements

N/A


Author information

Stefan Friedl:
Fakultat fur Mathematik
Universitat Regensburg, Germany

sfriedl@gmail.com

Matthias Nagel:
Department of Mathematics
ETH Zürich, Switzerland

matthinagel@gmail.com

Patrick Orson:
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, CA, USA

patrickorson@gmail.com

Mark Powell:
School of Mathematics and Statistics
University of Glasgow, UK

mark.powell@glasgow.ac.uk