Related papers: On converting a side-pairing to a handle decomposi…
Given an acyclic map $X\to Y$ of closed manifolds dimension $d$, we study the relationship between the embeddings of $Y$ in $S^{n}$ with those of $X$ in $S^{n}$ when $n-d \ge 3$. The approach taken here is to first solve the Poincar\'e…
In a compact, symplectic real manifold, i.e supporting an antisymplectic involution, we use Donaldson's construction to build a codimension 2 symplectic submanifold invariant under the action of the involution. If the real part of the…
Motivated by a result of L.P. Roberts on rational blow-downs in Heegaard-Floer homology, we study such operations along 3-manifolds that arise as branched double covers of $S^{3}$ along several non-alternating, slice knots.
We construct analogs of Khovanov-Jacobsson classes and the Rasmussen invariant for links in the boundary of any smooth oriented 4-manifold. The main tools are skein lasagna modules based on equivariant and deformed versions of…
The stable Kauffman conjecture posits that a knot in $S^3$ is slice if and only if it admits a slice derivative. We prove a related statement: A knot is handle-ribbon (also called strongly homotopy-ribbon) in a homotopy 4-ball $B$ if and…
We give uniform, explicit, and simple face-pairing descriptions of all the branched cyclic covers of the 3-sphere, branched over two-bridge knots. Our method is to use the bi-twisted face-pairing constructions of Cannon, Floyd, and Parry;…
Homeomorphism types of compression bodies form the vertices of a graph where two vertices are joined by an edge if one compression body is obtained by gluing a $2$-handle onto the other. Motivated by earlier work of Lackenby and Purcell on…
We prove that there are infinitely many pairwise non-commensurable hyperbolic $n$-manifolds that have the same ambient group and trace ring, for any $n \geq 3$. The manifolds can be chosen compact if $n \geq 4$.
Kirby proved that two framed links in S^3 give orientation-preserving homeomorphic results of surgery if and only if these two links are related by a sequence of two kinds of moves called stabilizations and handle-slides. Fenn and Rourke…
We consider links that are alternating on surfaces embedded in a compact 3-manifold. We show that under mild restrictions, the complement of the link decomposes into simpler pieces, generalising the polyhedral decomposition of alternating…
We determine for which $n$, the complete bipartite graph $K_{n,n}$ has an embedding in $S^3$ whose topological symmetry group is isomorphic to one of the polyhedral groups: $A_4$, $A_5$, or $S_4$.
Rubinstein--Tillmann generalized the notions of Heegaard splittings of 3-manifolds and trisections of 4-manifolds by defining {\it multisections} of PL $n$-manifolds, which are decompositions into $k=\lfloor n/2\rfloor+1$ $n$-dimensional…
The present paper provides several results on automorphisms of hyperk\"ahler (or irreducible holomorphic symplectic) manifolds. In particular it focuses on the symplectic case and contains a classification of prime order symplectic…
One approach to produce a pair of homeomorphic-but-not-diffeomophic closed 4-manifolds is to find a knot which is smoothly slice in one but not the other. This approach has never been run successfully. We give the first examples of a pair…
Generalizing Heegaard splittings of 3-manifolds and trisections of 4-manifolds, we consider multisections of higher-dimensional smooth (or PL) closed orientable manifolds, namely decompositions into 1-handlebodies whose subcollections…
The topology of broken Lefschetz fibrations is studied by means of handle decompositions. We consider a slight generalization of round handles, and describe the handle diagrams for all that appear in dimension four. We establish simplified…
This paper gives an exposition of the authors' harmonic deformation theory for 3-dimensional hyperbolic cone-manifolds. We discuss topological applications to hyperbolic Dehn surgery as well as recent applications to Kleinian group theory.…
This is the last of five papers that construct an isomorphism between the Seiberg-Witten Floer homology and the Heegaard Floer homology of a given compact, oriented 3-manifold.
An edge-unfolding of a polyhedron is produced by cutting along edges and flattening the faces to a *net*, a connected planar piece with no overlaps. A *grid unfolding* allows additional cuts along grid edges induced by coordinate planes…
The problem of decomposing non-manifold object has already been studied in solid modeling. However, the few proposed solutions are limited to the problem of decomposing solids described through their boundaries. In this thesis we study the…