Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: We prove that topological isotopy implies smooth isotopy for neat surfaces with common nonempty boundary in a smooth orientable 4-manifold, in the presence of a geometric dual in the boundary. Together with our earlier work on surface smoothing, this shows that the natural map from smooth isotopy classes to topological isotopy classes of such surfaces with prescribed boundary is bijective.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Authors: Cha, Jae Choon, Kim, Byeorhi
Institution: Pohang University of Science and Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Geometry and Topology
Field: Mathematics
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: National Research Foundation
OpenAlex ID: W7214283008