English

The 4-Dimensional Light Bulb Theorem

Geometric Topology 2020-06-30 v3

Abstract

For embedded 2-spheres in a 4-manifold sharing the same embedded transverse sphere homotopy implies isotopy, provided the ambient 4-manifold has no \BZ2\BZ_2-torsion in the fundamental group. This gives a generalization of the classical light bulb trick to 4-dimensions, the uniqueness of spanning discs for a simple closed curve in S4S^4 and π0(\Diff0(S2×D2)/\Diff0(B4))=1\pi_0(\Diff_0(S^2\times D^2)/\Diff_0(B^4))=1. In manifolds with \BZ2\BZ_2-torsion, one surface can be put into a normal form relative to the other.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1705.09989,
  title  = {The 4-Dimensional Light Bulb Theorem},
  author = {David Gabai},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1705.09989},
  year   = {2020}
}
R2 v1 2026-06-22T20:01:37.971Z