English

A 4-dimensional light bulb theorem for disks

Geometric Topology 2024-06-18 v3

Abstract

We give a 4-dimensional light bulb theorem for properly embedded disks, generalizing recent work of Gabai and Kosanovic-Teichner in certain contexts, and extending the 4-dimensional light bulb theorem for 2-spheres due to Gabai and Schneiderman-Teichner. In particular, we provide conditions under which homotopic disks properly embedded in a compact 4-manifold X with a common dual in the interior of X are smoothly isotopic rel boundary. We also provide a new geometric interpretation of the Dax invariant, to aid in its computation.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2109.13397,
  title  = {A 4-dimensional light bulb theorem for disks},
  author = {Hannah Schwartz},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2109.13397},
  year   = {2024}
}

Comments

Updated version -- the hypotheses and conclusion of the main result have been made more general, Figure 14 and Remarks 4.2 and 4.3 added, and additional small revisions/corrections throughout. Comments encouraged!

R2 v1 2026-06-24T06:24:38.195Z