Lectures on three-manifold topology : expository lectures from the CBMS regional conference ; Blacksburg - Va., October 8-12, 1977

This manuscript is a detailed presentation of the ten lectures given by the author at the NSF Regional Conference on Three-Manifold Topology, held October 1977, at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The purpose of the conference was to present the current state of affairs in three-manifold topology and to integrate the classical results with the many recent advances and new directions. Contents......Page 2 Introduction......Page 3 I. Loop theorem-sphere theorem: The Tower Construction......Page 11 II. Connected sums......Page 28 III. 2-manifolds embedded in 3-manifolds......Page 40 IV. Hierarchies......Page 61 V. Three-manifold groups......Page 75 VI. Seifert fibered manifolds......Page 93 VII. Peripheral structure......Page 119 VIII. Essential homotopies (The annulus-torus theorems)......Page 140 IX. Characteristic Seifert pairs......Page 169 X. Deforming homotopy equivalences......Page 205 Bibliography......Page 254 Index......Page 260 Cover......Page 262 A manuscript that presents a detailed presentation of the ten lectures given by the author at the NSF Regional Conference on Three-Manifold Topology, held October 1977, at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.