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arXiv · 2102.01043

Branched covering simply-connected 4-manifolds

Abstract

We prove that any closed simply-connected smooth 4-manifold is 16-fold branched covered by a product of an orientable surface with the 2-torus, where the construction is natural with respect to spin structures. In particular this solves Problem 4.113(C) in Kirby's list. We also discuss analogous results for other families of 4-manifolds with infinite fundamental groups.

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David Auckly, R. Inanc Baykur, Roger Casals, Sudipta Kolay, Tye Lidman, Daniele Zuddas. 2021-02-01. Branched covering simply-connected 4-manifolds. https://doi.org/10.2140/obs.2022.5.31

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