Simple crystallizations of 4-manifolds

Minimal crystallizations of simply connected PL 4-manifolds are very natural objects. Many of their topological features are reflected in their combinatorial structure which, in addition, is preserved under the connected sum operation. We present a minimal crystallization of the standard PL K3 surface. In combination with known results this yields minimal crystallizations of all simply connected PL 4-manifolds of "standard" type, that is, all connected sums of $\mathbb{CP}^2$, $S^2 \times S^2$, and the K3 surface. In particular, we obtain minimal crystallizations of a pair of homeomorphic but non-PL-homeomorphic 4-manifolds. In addition, we give an elementary proof that the minimal 8-vertex crystallization of $\mathbb{CP}^2$ is unique and its associated pseudotriangulation is related to the 9-vertex combinatorial triangulation of $\mathbb{CP}^2$ by the minimum of four edge contractions.Comment: 23 pages, 7 figures. Minor update, replacement of Figure 7. To appear in Advances in Geometr

Computing trisections of 4-manifolds

Algorithms that decompose a manifold into simple pieces reveal the geometric and topological structure of the manifold, showing how complicated structures are constructed from simple building blocks. This note describes a way to algorithmically construct a trisection, which describes a $4$-dimensional manifold as a union of three $4$-dimensional handlebodies. The complexity of the $4$-manifold is captured in a collection of curves on a surface, which guide the gluing of the handelbodies. The algorithm begins with a description of a manifold as a union of pentachora, or $4$-dimensional simplices. It transforms this description into a trisection. This results in the first explicit complexity bounds for the trisection genus of a $4$-manifold in terms of the number of pentachora ($4$-simplices) in a triangulation.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figure

Computational topology with Regina: Algorithms, heuristics and implementations

Regina is a software package for studying 3-manifold triangulations and normal surfaces. It includes a graphical user interface and Python bindings, and also supports angle structures, census enumeration, combinatorial recognition of triangulations, and high-level functions such as 3-sphere recognition, unknot recognition and connected sum decomposition. This paper brings 3-manifold topologists up-to-date with Regina as it appears today, and documents for the first time in the literature some of the key algorithms, heuristics and implementations that are central to Regina's performance. These include the all-important simplification heuristics, key choices of data structures and algorithms to alleviate bottlenecks in normal surface enumeration, modern implementations of 3-sphere recognition and connected sum decomposition, and more. We also give some historical background for the project, including the key role played by Rubinstein in its genesis 15 years ago, and discuss current directions for future development.Comment: 29 pages, 10 figures; v2: minor revisions. To appear in "Geometry & Topology Down Under", Contemporary Mathematics, AM

The triangulation complexity of elliptic and sol 3-manifolds

The triangulation complexity of a compact 3-manifold M is the minimal number of tetrahedra in any triangulation of M. We compute the triangulation complexity of all elliptic 3-manifolds and all sol 3-manifolds, to within a universally bounded multiplicative error

The triangulation complexity of elliptic and sol 3-manifolds

The triangulation complexity of a compact 3-manifold is the minimal number of tetrahedra in any triangulation of the 3-manifold. We compute the triangulation complexity of all elliptic 3-manifolds and all sol 3-manifolds, to within a universally bounded multiplicative error.Comment: 41 pages, 9 figure

Two-dimensional state sum models and spin structures

The state sum models in two dimensions introduced by Fukuma, Hosono and Kawai are generalised by allowing algebraic data from a non-symmetric Frobenius algebra. Without any further data, this leads to a state sum model on the sphere. When the data is augmented with a crossing map, the partition function is defined for any oriented surface with a spin structure. An algebraic condition that is necessary for the state sum model to be sensitive to spin structure is determined. Some examples of state sum models that distinguish topologically-inequivalent spin structures are calculated.Comment: 43 pages. Mathematica script in ancillary file. v2: nomenclature of models and their properties changed, some proofs simplified, more detailed explanations. v3: extended introduction, presentational improvements; final versio