TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN MATHEMATICALSOCIETY

Volume 170, August 1972

PIECEWISE LINEAR CRITICAL LEVELS AND COLLAPSING

BY

C. KEARTON AND W. B. R. LICKORISH

ABSTRACT. In this paper the idea of collapsing, and the associated idea of

handle cancellation, in a piecewise linear manifold are used to produce a version of Morse theory for piecewise linear embeddings. As an application of this it is shown that, if n > 2, there exist triangulations of the n-ball that are not simpli-

cially

collapsible.

Working

entirely

within

the P.L.

category,

we shall

develop

a proof

of the

fact that a locally ifold with dimension

a critical level

unknotted not less

embedding than
This

of a manifold

M in Qxl,

where isotoped

Q is a manto become

that of M, can be ambiently

is an embedding which,

embedding.

regarding

M as M = han-

dle + collar + handle collar productwise

+ collar..., along

embeds

each This

handle

in a level

of Qxl

and each is fun-

the / direction.

is a folklore

theorem

which

damental
Rourke

to several
[10],

important
could

theories
probably

(e.g.

[lO], [4], [12]).

As mentioned

by

the result

be deduced

from an amplification

of the meth-

ods employed

by Kuiper

[8]

and Kosiski

[7], in proving

that

a P.L.

function

/: M>R can be approximated-by

points (i.e., a P.L. analogue

a function
of Morse

with only nondegenerate

That result

critical
at

theory).

can be deduced

once from the theory

M in Mxl.

given

here,

by considering
is essentially

the graph
very simple,

of / as an embedding
and uses only basic

of

Our method

of proof

P.L.

theory.

We consider

Masa

subcomplex

of Qxl,

and a simplicial

collapse of Qxl,
of the triis

of Qxl
following angulation, dragged

to Q x 0; we drag a collar
the collapsing thus obtaining sequence

of Q x 0 in Q x I up over the whole

in the second derived of Qxl. is introduced subdivision

a new parametrisation of M, a level p-handle

When the collar in this

over a p-simplex

new para-

metrisation.
M is replaced

Otherwise
by Mxl,

the proof consists

in order to consider

of attention
concordances

to detail.
Mxl>

In Theorem
Qxl. This

3,
iso-

theorem

sets

the stage 3", cancel,

for applying

Rourke's

proof

of "concordance for the critical

implies level

topy in codimension of Mx I actually

for the handles as a handle

obtained

embedding any

decomposition

of Mx I on Mx 0, without

handle ternative

'moves'.

In conjunction

with Rourke's spheres

proof,

this > 3.

theory

also

gives

an al-

proof of unknotting
by the editors

in codimension

Received

May 14, 1971.

AMS 1970 subject

classifications.

Primary 57C35, 57C45; Secondary

57D70.

Copyright 1972, American Mathematical Society

415

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416
The correlation result, namely that
proof

C. KEARTON AND W. B. R. LICKORISH

of collapsing it is possible This
of the general

[August
leads to a new

and critical to triangulate was proved

case appears

level

embeddings

the 72-ball (72> 3) by a nonsimpliby Bing [3] in the case

in [5J.

cially collapsible
an erroneous

complex.

when

72 = 3;

We shall
rally in P.L.
manifold

be considering
topology.

the type of handlebody

theory, a handle
submanifold

theory

that occurs

most natu-

In this

decomposition

of an 722-dimensional
of submanifolds

M on an 27z-dimensional

zM- is a sequence

MQ, zM,, ., , M _ ,, M = M, where M+ x is obtained

of some index p = p(z'). In symbols this is expressed

from zVLby adding a handle

as

M. + 1 = M. u(Bp
ai

x Bm'p)
This em-

where bedding
attaching

Br is the r-ball, is called

tube.

and

a.: dBp x Bm~p dM. is an embedding. map of the and zth handle
are said

the attaching
The

Hp., and its image

to cancel if they

is the
have in-

zth and (z + l)th

handles

dices

p and

p + 1 respectively,

(Bp x 1) x Bm~p-1 = a~+\(Bp x (Bm~pwhere Bp+1 = Bp x land

is, of course,
before
these

'x0))=

a~+\(Bp x dBm~p),

Bm~p = Bm~p-\
an equivalent
and after
points

x
of building
addition.

There
dles,

method
each handle

up a manifold
component

from hanand an

in which

a copy of the product

of the relevant

boundary

interval

is inserted
between

We shall
way.

regard

the
that M

equivalence is a manifold

of view in the following we add a handle

Suppose

of dimension

(722 - 1) and that

Hp to M

x I with

attaching

map a: dBp x Bm~p M_ x 1.

Let M be the manifold

so formed

and

let a(dBp x Bm-p)be T x 1. Now M= (M_ x [O, A]) U ((M_- f) x [%, l]) U (T x {A, 1]) Ua (Bp x Bm-p). Let Hp be (Ha(dBp x ABm~p)x {A, l]) Ua(Bp xABm~p)
where II: M_ x / A4_ is the projection; this is a p-handle added to M x [O,

Al But (T x {A, 1]) Ua (B^ x Bm~p) collapses

so that, if d Hp and d Hp denote the attaching

to (dT x {A, l]) u(Tx

and belt tubes

Vi) U Hp,
to

of the handle

Hp, the closure

of ((T x {A, l]) Ua (Bp x ""*'))

can be explicitly

- Hp is homeomorphic
if desired,

(((T xA)This

d_ Hp) U d+ HP) x {A, l].

homeomorphism recorded the homeomor-

phism being the identity on dT x {A, il.

V/i, l]) where
Thus we have on the collars are given

Thus M = (M_ x [O, A]) U Hp U (M+x

from M_ by the surgery
+ collar, Iterating this

M+ is the manifold
A4 in the form collar are determined decomposition M as collar collared

obtained
+ handle

defined

by Hp.
if we

and the product

structures

by that

of M_ x /.

procedure,

a handle

of a manifold + .,,.+

M on M_ x /, we have handle + collar.

a canonical

way of regarding the associated

+ handle

This will be called that if two of the

handle

decomposition.

It is clear

original

handles

cancel

then the associated

handles

cancel

(in the usual

sense)

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1972]
in the collared

PIECEWISE LINEAR CRITICAL LEVELS AND COLLAPSING

decomposition. Similarly, if M is a closed manifold and we are

417

given

a handle

decomposition
0-handles
way.

of AI on the null set,

+ handles

an associated

collared

handle

decomposition,
fined

+ collar

+ . + collar
a pair

+ 772-handles,

can be deHp

in the same

If, in the above

notation

of cancelling

handles

and 77* 1 were added to Al_ x 1, then Hp U Hp M_ x 1 by a face.

meomorphism the ball. which Hence

becomes

a ball attached

to

Al_ x 7 is then homeomorphic

just 'stretches' if we wish, if a handle

to (A1_x 7) U Hp U Hp
of the face for M has some

by a hoconsecutive

a neighbourhood decomposition

in AL x / over

pairs

of cancelling pairs

handles,

we can obtain

a collared

decomposition

in which

these

cancelling

do not appear. Let M and Q be manifolds, and let a handle decomposition of M

Definition.

on Al_ x / (or on cp) be given.

bedding
collar,

An embedding
if, with respect

e: M Q x / is a critical
to the associated
tel,

level
on each

em-

for this

decomposition
e embeds

collared
and,

handle

decomposition,

the z'th handle

in Q x t. for some of an embedding

of the form

X x I, e is the product

X> Q and a direction

preserving

embedding

/ * I. paper level to show that any embedding The following of Al in Q x / can be lemma describes a

It is the aim of this approximated by a critical

embedding.

prototype

situation.

Lemma 1. Let (Ql~l,

be formed from to (<2_, Al_) x 1, where
(p + T)-handle that Hp

Al-1) be a manifold pair, m<q.

a p-handle is a standard
just

Let the pair (Q, Al)

Bm-p) a and then
I.

(Q_, Al_) x / be attaching (Bq~p', Bm~p)

pair

Hp = Bp x (Bq~p,

ball pair,
added

adding
Suppose

which tube

cancels does

the p-handle not meet

to Q_x exists

the attaching

of Hp

M. Then

there

a homeomor-

phism h: Q_x I >Q such that

(i)
(ii)

h~

: M Q_ x I is a critical
of M on M_ x /;

level

embedding
neighbourhood

with respect
of (Q_x

to the handle
1) CI (Hp U

decomposition

h is the identity

outside

a regular

Hp+).
Proof. As the handles added to Q_ x I cancel, we may write Hp = Bp x

(Bq~p,

Bm~p)=Bp
that

x (Bq-p~1
a2((Bp

x I, Bm~p) where Bm~p C Bq~p~l

If flj and.,
Bp x (Bq-p~1

x V2,and Hp+1 =
maps,
other-

Bp+1 x Bq-p~l
we may assume

= (^x

7)x Bq-p~K
misses

are the two attaching

x 0) but that

x 1) x Bq-p~1)=

wise

the attaching

tube of Hp

Hp.

It may also

be assumed

that

a2((Bp x l)x

y2Bq-p-1)=

Bp x (V2Bq-p-1

x 0). Now consider

the following

and p + 1 handles added to >_x [O, Vi\:

Hp = (Bpx(Y2Bq-p-1x[0,

Ml)) u{al(dBpxV2Bq-p~1x[0,
?1

V2\)x[V2, l] |,
[V2, l)\.

7P+1 =(Bp + lx V2Bq~p-1) u{a2((Bpx0udBp

a2

xI)xV2Bq-p-l)x

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418
These form a cancelling

C. KEARTON AND W. B. R. LICKORISH

pair of handles and Hp contains in its boundary

[August
the han-

dle for M, in the associated

is a zy-ball D with boundary

collar

handle

decomposition
(z7-l)-balls

of M. Thus

Hp U Hp

the union

of two

D_ and D +, where

D nQ_x A= D_. Let h: D_x [0, A] (D_x [0, A]) U D be a homeomorphism such that h(D_)= D+and h is the identity near (D_x 0) and on (dD_x [0, Ml). Let E be the /-ball //'' U Hp+1 with the boundary E_ u +, where E_and E+ are

(q-l >balls and E O Q_ x 1 = E_, Now E u (E_ x {A, l]) \ (dE_ x [M, l]) U (E_ x A) U O U (M n E) and zM D E \ (M ri D) U (M n ((_ x M) U (d_ x [% l]))).
Hence by standard results on regular neighbourhoods, the closure of (E U (E_ x

{A, l]))z9is being

associated

homeomorphic
collar handle

to (((_ xA) /5_)U D+) x [M, l] the homeomorphism with the collar
was in fact

the identity

on <?E_ x [%, l] and compatible

decomposition of zM (which

structure
obtained

in the
precise-

ly in this way),
Thus

Thus

h can be extended
the required

by the identity

on ((Q_ - D_) x [0, %])

on _ x {A, l].

U((Q_ _) x {A, l]) and by means

h: Q_ x I > Q has

of the above
properties.

homeomorphism

Addendum.

If, in the statement

of the lemma,

Hp

were a handle

pair

Bp

x (Bq~p~l,
added

Bm~p~l)

which cancelled

both the p-handle added to Q_ x and that

much simpler. For Hp U Hp is

to zVi_x / then the situation

becomes

then an unknotted
similar,

ball pair attached

cumbersome

to Q_x
argument

1 by an unknotted
(see e.g. Zeeman

face

pair.

Then
that

a
h

but much less

[15]) shows

can be constructed and property

so that holds,

h: (Q_, M_)xl*(Q, h then simply

M) is a pairwise the original

homeomorphism collar pair

(ii) still

'stretches'

over (Q, M).

Suppose
of dimension

that c is a collar with

(q-l).

of Q x 0 in Q x /, in other words, the identity;

a cancelling handle

c: Q x I * Q x I manifold
for Q x I

is an embedding

c \Q x 0 being
If we are given

Q being now a closed

decomposition

on c(Q x I) together

with a procedure over each way.

handle

for cancelling

these handles

handles (i.e.

in pairs,

then

we can construct
'stretching' of balls)

a homeomorphism

h: Q x I> Q x I, with
pair of cancelling
procedure.

h | Q x 0 = 1, by
over a sequence is associated

the collar in the usual

We will say that an h so constructed

cancelling

with c and the given

Lemma with a given

2.

// h and h' are homeomorphisms c of Q x 0 and a given keeping Q x 0 fixed. on the number is just of pairs

of Q x I to itself cancelling

both associated then h

collar

handle

procedure,

and h are isotopic Proof. cient

By induction that there

of cancelling

handles

it is suffiwith

to suppose

one pair and that h and h ate associated

collars
where

c and c respectively,

and with this

single

cancelling
to the identity

pair of handles,
keeping Q x 0

c(Q x /) = c '(Q x I) and c~

c ' is isotopic

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1972]

PIECEWISE LINEAR CRITICAL LEVELS AND COLLAPSING

419

fixed.
phisms

Now Q x I = c(Q x I) U Bq where Bq n c(Q x I) = Bq ~ l = Bq n c(Q x 1 );

of the two handles. Bq~
1

Bq is the union sending

Let
1

a, a : c(Q x I) Q x I be homeomorare the identity

to the identity,

to dBq - Bq~
. Then a-'a'

and which
is isotopic

outside

a regular

neighbourhood

of Bq~

for the isotopy

can be constructed of Bq~

first

on the ball

Bq~

and then on the regular

neighbourhood the above

in c(Q x I).

But,

h - ac and h' = a' c ' for some

a and a' with

properties,
isotopic.

and

c~

a~

a' c' is isotopic

to the identity,

hence

h and

h ate
in such a

If the manifold

Q x I is triangulated

as a combinatorial

manifold

way that the projection

Qxl This \s procedure dictates
order

p: Q x I> Q x 0 is simplicial,
procedure A x I \s that Zeeman that (AxO)U

it is well known that

[14] calls cylindrical. A in
of

Q x 0 by a collapsing

(dA x I) for all simplexes

A second derived subdivision

Q x 0 in some the triangulation

of decreasing

dimension. so that

can be chosen

the simplicial

neighbourhood

of Q x 0 in

the second derived

derived

is Q x [0, r] for some of the first derived

small

t.

Neighbourhoods decomposition
induces

in this

second

of vertices

give a handle
procedure

of Q x /on
a cancelling

Q x [0, f], the cylindrical

collapsing

immediately

procedure taking

for the handles.

Define

c: Q x I > Q x I to be the collar factor and the linear data

defined

by

c to be the identity factor.

on the first

map of / onto

[0, t] on

the second

We now have

the necessary

for defining
cancelling

a homeomorphism
procedure.

h: Q x I> Q x I associated

with c and the handle

Lemma
described This for each over each

3.

If h: Q x I> Q x i is a homeomorphism
then follows h is isotopic to the identity that

associated

with the data

above, result simplex A x I.

keeping

Q x 0 fixed. so that h(A x I) = A x I inductively particular ho-

from the fact

h can be chosen

A in Q x 0, so that Furthermore,

the isotopy

can be constructed which

by Lemma

2, it is immaterial

meomorphism
Although straightforward,
tain

h is constructed
these results

from the given

on homeomorphisms

data.
of Q x I to itself is advisable.
there exists

are basically that in cercb: Q x I

a certain
(see

amount

of caution
[ll])

It is known
a homeomorphism

circumstances

Siebenmann

* Q x I, which homeomorphism.
identity

is the identity

on Q x 0 and which of collars

results

is not isotopic

to the identity that tp is the

By the uniqueness
by standard

it can be assumed
on subdivisions,

on Q x [0, t] and,

including

the theo-

rem of J. H. C. Whitehead

[13, Theorem

6], Q x I can be triangulated

so that,

for

each simplex A in Q x 0, A x I V
(A x 0) U 0(0 Q x I to Q x 0.

(A x 0) u (dA x I), and cp(cf>~lAx I) \s

two ways of simplicially
derived,

(dA) x I).
This

Hence

we obtain
gives,

collapsing
decom-

triangulation

via its second

a handle

position

of Q x I on c(Q x ) where

c maps

Qxl

onto Q x [0, t] as before.

The

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420
two collapsing lection

C. KEARTON AND W. B. R. LICKORISH

procedures give two handle cancelling procedures

[August

of the same homeomor-

col-

of handles.

The first

is associated

(via c) with the identity

phism, and the second

Theorem
so that

with cfe.
that Q x / is triangulated as a combinatorial
a closed combinatorial

1. Suppose
Q x 0.

q-manifold
m-mani-

Q x I \s

Let M be a subcomplex,

fold,

which

is locally

unknotted

in the interior

of Q x I.

Then

there

is a homeo-

phism h: Q x I Qx/
for a collared handle

such that h~ : M Q x I is a critical

of M, associated with

level embedding
derived han-

decomposition

the second

dle decomposition Proof.

with

some

pairs

of handles the second

cancelled. derived of the triangulation of Q x I

As already

mentioned,

gives

rise

to the handle

decomposition
that there

of Q x I on Q x [0, i], for some

is a cancelling procedure for these

small

t,

and the collapsing Given

implies

handles. from of
han-

c: Q x I Q x [0, t], an associated procedure

each

h: Q x I gx/is This

constructed

the cancelling
homeomorphisms

as previously
of which stretches

described.
a collar

h is the composition
of cancelling

over a pair

dles

Hp and Hp

, say.

Now

Hp is the neighbourhood

in the second

derived

sub-

division

of the barycentre
a p-handle

of a p-simplex
of M contained

of Q.

If this

simplex
unknotting

belongs

to M, then
as a apof

Hp contains standard ply to Hp

(by the local of Lemma 1.

hypothesis) considerations

subhandle, , which

as in the statement is the neighbourhood

Similar

of the barycentre

of a (p + l)-simplex

Q, which
contains
meets

has the p-simplex

a handle of M which
either 1.

as a face.
cancels
Lemma It is then

If this

(p + l)-simplex
of M. Thus
the collar that

is in M then
if Hp U Hp
over

Hp

the p-handle
1 in stretching immediate

M we can apply to Lemma

Hp U Hp h has the re-

or

the addendum quired

the resulting

properties. As an application of Theorem 1 we prove in the following theorem that there

exist

noncollapsible

triangulations

of the -ball.

Theorem
72 > 3, such

2.
that

For any given

the kth derived

integer

k, there

exists

a triangulation

of the n-ball,

subdivision

of the triangulation

is not simplicially

collapsible.
Proof. It is well known that the group of the trefoil knot is the group with

presentation

{a, b: aba = bab\,

with the same

and that,
group.

by spinning
Denote this

this

knot [2], a knot of S"~

in S" is produced

knot by A, and let mA denote

the sum of 272 copies

222Ais not the whole
fewer than

of A.

It is shown, by Goodrick
272 + 1 generators.

[5], that the 222th(Alexander)

Thus this group has

ideal of the group of

no presentation with

of the group ring.

Now consider

the knot

222Aas a polyhedron

Sn~2

contained

in the interior

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1972]
of a ball vertices
[l], B"

PIECEWISE LINEAR CRITICAL LEVELS AND COLLAPSING

B" (rather in the than S"), where 773 is so large that it exceeds the number

421
of

&th derived

of the boundary
so that Sn~

of an (n l)-simplex.
is a subcomplex, this

By Armstrong
subcomplex being

can be triangulated

isomorphic

to the boundary

of an (72- 1/-simplex.

Suppose

the &th derived

of B"

is simplicially
erality, that
ing Theorem

collapsible
o ~

to a point
. Excising

P.

It may be assumed,
.0

without

loss
that

of gen,

P B" - Sn~
1, there

a very small
h: S"~

neighbourhood

N of P and ush~ :

is a homeomorphism

x I> Bn N such

S"~ ated

* S"~

x 7 is a critical

levelembedding

for a handle of Sn~2. This

decomposition has fewer than

associm 0-

with the th derived

of the triangulation

handles.
culating
(Sn~

Now an immediate
the group
x I) h~

generalisation
in S

of the methods
shows
with

used

by Fox [4] for calgroup of

of

of a knot of S
has

that

the fundamental
for each

S"~2

a presentation

one generator

0-handle

the critical
tradiction.

level
Hence

embedding,
of the group

and one relation

of Bn was

for each
than

1-handle.
777 generators,

Therefore
which
collapsible.

there
is a con-

is a presentation

of 772Awith fewer

the triangulation

not simplicially

Theorem 3. Let Mm and Qq be closed

Q x I be a concordance
e~

P.L. manifolds,
unknotted
exists

m < q, let e: M x I
embedding such that
h: Q x I

of M in Q (i.e.
Then

a locally
there

(Q x t) = Al x t for t = 0 or 1).

a homeomorphism

Qxl

such

that h is isotopic
for some cancelling

to the identity
decomposition

rel Q x 0, and h~
of M on a collar

e is a critical
of M x 0.

level

embedding

Proof.
ly, by results

The proof

of this

theorem
collars

is very similar
[6, Chapter

to that of Theorem

1.
that

First-

on compatible

Vl] it may be assumed

e(x, u) = (eQx, u) for all is defined by (e Ax),

x e M and all u < tQ for some 0). It may also

small

rQ, where after a small

eQ: M Q move of

0) = e(x,

be assumed,

e into general

position,

that the projection

Q x [tQ, l] > Q x tQ is nondegenerate

on e(M x [tQ, l]).

is a subcomplex

Triangulate
of Qxl,

Al x 7 and Q x / so that e is simplicial,

M x [O, tQ]. Subdivide so that

Q x [O, rQ]
the projec-

and Al x / \s

tion
these

Q x > Q x 0 is simplicial,
are the triangulations

and take
There

the subdivision
is then

induced

by e of Al x /;
collapse Qxl

we need.

a cylindrical

\s

Q x 0, so starting

with a collar

c: Q x I * Q x [O, r], t < tQ, we can form a

with c and the cancelling
of Qxl, defined

homeomorphism
for the handles

h: Q x IQxl
of the second

associated
derived

procedure

subdivision

by the col-

lapse.

This

h is isotopic
to the handles

to the identity,
of the second

by Lemma
so that derived h~

3, rel Q x 0.
e is in critical

Exactly
level

as in
position some

the proof of Theorem with respect

1, h can he chosen

subdivision

of AI x 7, with

pairs
those

of handles
corresponding

cancelled.

However,

the only handles

of a p-simplex are collapsed

that are cancelled

and a (p + l)-simplex, away together

are
such

to the barycentres e o these

that the images

under

simplexes

in the

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422
collapsing procedure.

C. KEARTON AND W. B. R. LICKORISH

But the collapse is cylindrical and

[August

Q x {tQ, l] Q x tQ is

nondegenerate both belong

to the handle

on e(M x UQ, l]), so such to M x [0, t0].

decomposition

a pair of simplexes level

derived

occur position

only when they with respect

of M x

Hence,

h~ le is in critical

of Mx / on the second

neighbourhood

[0, tQ].
Now, the triangulation
plicially erty.

of M x / is a subdivision
subdivision

of one which

collapses
restore this

simprop-

to M x [O, t A], and a further Hence by subdividing

of M x / would decomposition

the handles

of the given

of M x I on

M x [0, t A, we have replacing the handle But if we have bedding so that,

a cancelling by a handle embedded an isotopy,

decomposition. decomposition in a level the handles

(Subdivision of it relative of Q x I, it is easy of a subdivision

of a handle to its attaching to adjust

involves tube.) this emare

a handle after

of that handle

embedded
manoeuvre

in critical

level
6],

fashion.

Hence

the result

is proved.
the triangulation

In fact,
theorem

this

last

can be avoided

by a dexterous

use

of the subdivision

of J. H. C.

Whitehead

[13, Theorem

For we may subdivide

of Q x I used

above so that M x I V M x [O, ig], e is simplicial,

ter collapse
handle moves. lapsing

and Q x I V Q x 0, the laton Q. The

cancels without any handle col-

being

cylindrical

with respect

to some P.L. cell structure

decomposition

of M x I must now be one which a simplex

Note that the way in which sequence is unrelated from this

of M x I appears

in the first

to the way it appears method, concerning

in the second,

so no informaa pair

tion is obtainable,

the possibility

of having

of cancelling
Theorem critical level

handles

of M x I in adjacent

levels

of Q x I.

3 says that the embedding e can be ambiently isotoped to become a embedding. It is natural to ask whether, given an e > 0, this isoso as to be an e-isotopy. with the possible In the proof during The isotopies exception of Lemma used in the proof of h to the a simplex of

topy can be constructed of the theorem identity given

are all small, by Lemmas

of the isotopy 3, if A were

2 and 3.

of Q x 0, A x I always Lemma 2, assuming ed with a cylindrical Thus

remained

in itself

the isotopy. cancelling isotoped triangulation

In the proof procedure (star

that it is referring collapsing, by taking

to a handle

associatA) x I.

A x I is never a fine enough

outside

it can be ensured, that no point theorem

of Q x I in the first in the 'direction' of

instance, the whole

is moved more than e by the isotopies

lost control of distances

the Q component.

We have

in the / direction.

However,

clearly

works

for any cobordism

in place

of M x I, so we can

divide
to each
ambient

Q x I into a number of consecutive

e(M x /) meets each slab

slabs

of the form Q x [a, ], where

and apply the theorem

ct. < e, so that

in a cobordism

slab

in turn.

The result

is a true e-version

of the theorem,

i.e.

h is e-

isotopic

to the identity. unknotted concordance between

Now let

e: M x I Q x I be a locally

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1972]
embeddings

PIECEWISE LINEAR CRITICAL LEVELS AND COLLAPSING

eQ and e, : A> Q and suppose q m > 3. We can isotope e to a

423

critical

level

embedding

with respect

to a cancelling

handle

decomposition of these for a pair

and hanof can-

then apply dles level

Rourke's

technique eQ is ambient

immediately isotopic handle

Repeating

and use the cancelling to ey, In this method,

to show that

celling

handles
embedding

of Mxl,

an isotopy

of e is constructed
structure
this for each

to send

e to a critical
to the structure
results in

for the collared

pair cancelled.

corresponding

with the given

pair of handles

a final embedding
e |MxO=(t?0x on the collar

e , ambient
id) | Al x 0.

isotopic
However,

to e, with
the handle

e (M x I) = (eQ x id) (M x /) and

cancelling procedure for Al x /

of Al x 0 in Al x / produced
of a cylindrical

in Theorem
collapse.

3 can be taken
Application

to be associ2 and 3

ated with a subdivision

of Lemmas

shows

that

(e')~ covering

(eQ x id): Mxl theorem, e

Mx/ is ambient

is isotopic isotopic

to the identity,

and thus

by

an isotopy

to eQ x id.

If now e is within
that the critical the details that eQ

e of the imbedding level embedding proof

en x id: Al x /* Q x I, then we may assume is also within e of eQ x id. It is expected in this that,

when

of Rourke's

are published,

they will apply

situation

to show

and

are ambient result

f-isotopic.

In that

case
exists

we should
a 8 such

have

an alternative a proper
proper

proof
embed-

of Miller's
of a ball

[9] that

in codimension

three

or more, given

embedding

in a ball and an e > 0, there a 8 of the first being is ambient constructed

that any other embedding

ding within

e-isotopic conewise).

to the first

(the rele-

vant e-concordance

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701-704.
2. 3.

MR 36 #4565.
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License or copyright restrictions may apply to redistribution; see http://www.ams.org/journal-terms-of-use

424

C. KEARTON AND W. B. R. LICKORISH

Notices Amer. Math. Soc. 14 (1967), 942-943. Abstract #67T-674.

12. A. G. Tristram,
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MR

DEPARTMENT OF PURE MATHEMATICS, UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND

Current address (C. Kearton): Department of Mathematics, Princeton University,

Princeton,

New Jersey

08540

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