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 There is an introduction to Casson handles and Freedman's work including a chapter of unpublished proofs on exotic R4's. The reader needs an understanding of smooth manifolds and characteristic classes in low dimensions.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.
| Author: Robion C. Kirby |
| Publisher: Springer |
| Publication Date: May 10, 1989 |
| Number of Pages: 112 pages |
| Binding: Paperback or Softback |
| ISBN-10: 3540511482 |
| ISBN-13: 9783540511489 |
