ENGLISH

4-Manifolds and Kirby Calculus

Book information

Publisher
American Mathematical Society
Year
1999
ISBN
0821809946, 9780821809945
LCC
QA613.2 .G66 1999
Language
english
Format
PDF
Filesize
10 MB (10627146 bytes)
Series
Graduate Studies in Mathematics 20
Pages
570\570
Topic
Education
Time added
2011-06-04 13:46:07

Description

The past two decades have brought explosive growth in 4-manifold theory. Many books are currently appearing that approach the topic from viewpoints such as gauge theory or algebraic geometry. This volume, however, offers an exposition from a topological point of view. It bridges the gap to other disciplines and presents classical but important topological techniques that have not previously appeared in the literature. Part I of the text presents the basics of the theory at the second-year graduate level and offers an overview of current research. Part II is devoted to an exposition of Kirby calculus, or handlebody theory on 4-manifolds. It is both elementary and comprehensive. Part III offers in depth a broad range of topics from current 4-manifold research. Topics include branched coverings and the geography of complex surfaces, elliptic and Lefschetz fibrations, $h$-cobordisms, symplectic 4-manifolds, and Stein surfaces. Applications are featured, and there are over 300 illustrations and numerous exercises with solutions in the book.

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