The prism manifold realization problem

Abstract

The spherical manifold realization problem asks which spherical three-manifolds arise from surgeries on knots in $S^3$. In recent years, the realization problem for C, T, O, and I-type spherical manifolds has been solved, leaving the D-type manifolds (also known as the prism manifolds) as the only remaining case. Every prism manifold can be parametrized as $P(p,q)$, for a pair of relatively prime integers $p>1$ and $q$. We determine a complete list of prism manifolds $P(p,q)$ that can be realized by positive integral surgeries on knots in $S^3$ when $q<0$. The methodology undertaken to obtain the classification is similar to that of Greene for lens spaces.

55 pages, 4 figures, and 5 tables