Barbell twists are natural

Abstract

For any oriented smooth $4$--manifold $X$ diffeomorphic to $(S^2\times D^2)^{\natural n}$ ($n\geq0$), the author establishes a natural isomorphism of abelian groups: $$\mathrm{Mod}(X,\partial X)\cong \mathrm{Mod}(D^4,\partial D^4)\times\wedge^2H_2(X;\mathbb{Z}),$$ concerning the (smooth) boundary-fixing mapping class group of $X$. For $n=2$, the Budney--Gabai barbell twist $\varphi\in\mathrm{Mod}(\mathcal{N},\partial\mathcal{N})$ is identified with a generator of the factor subgroup $\wedge^2H_2(\mathcal{N};\mathbb{Z})\cong\mathbb{Z}$. Up to boundary-fixing diffeotopy, the barbell spines of $\mathcal{N}$ are completely classified by the bases of $H_2(\mathcal{N};\mathbb{Z})\cong\mathbb{Z}^2$, forming a homogeneous set modeled on the group $\mathrm{GL}(H_2(\mathcal{N};\mathbb{Z}))\cong\mathrm{GL}(2,\mathbb{Z})$. Any barbell spine of $\mathcal{N}$ gives rise to an implanted barbell twist equal to $\varphi$ or $\varphi^{-1}$ in $\mathrm{Mod}(\mathcal{N},\partial \mathcal{N})$, according to the sign of the homological basis orientation.