Homology three-spheres and surgery obstructions

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Tye Lidman, University of Texas, Austin
Fine Hall 314

The Lickorish-Wallace theorem states that every closed, connected, orientable three-manifold can be expressed as surgery on a link in the three-sphere. It is natural to ask which three-manifolds can be obtained by surgery on a knot in the three-sphere. We discuss a new way to obstruct integer homology spheres from being surgery on a knot and give some examples. This is joint work with Jennifer Hom and Cagri Karakurt.