English

The 2-width of embedded 3-manifolds

Geometric Topology 2023-04-05 v2

Abstract

We discuss a possible definition for "kk-width" of both a closed dd-manifold MdM^d, and on embedding MdeRnM^d \overset{e}{\hookrightarrow} \mathbb{R}^n, n>dkn > d \ge k, generalizing the classical notion of width of a knot. We show that for every 3-manifold 2-width(M3)2(M^3) \le 2 but that there are embeddings ei:T3R4e_i: T^3 \hookrightarrow \mathbb{R}^4 with 2-width(ei)(e_i) \to \infty. We explain how the divergence of 2-width of embeddings offer a tool to which might prove the Goeritz groups GgG_g infinitely generated for g4g \geq 4. Finally we construct a homeomorphism θg:GgMCG(#gS2×S2)\theta_g: G_g \to \mathrm{MCG}(\underset{g}{\#} S^2 \times S^2), suggesting a potential application of 2-width to 4D mapping class groups.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1907.13183,
  title  = {The 2-width of embedded 3-manifolds},
  author = {Michael Freedman},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1907.13183},
  year   = {2023}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-23T10:35:22.003Z