Sparse handlebody decompositions and non-finiteness of $g_3=0$

Abstract

We prove that a PL manifold admits a handle decomposition into handles of index $\le k$ if and only if $M$ is $k$-stacked, i.e., it admits a PL triangulation in which all $(d-k-1)$-faces are on $\partial M$. We use this to solve a problem posed in 2008 by Kalai: In any dimension higher than four, there are infinitely many homology-spheres with $g_3=0$.

5 pages; revised version; improved exposition; fixed typos. This preprint will be later merged into a survey "Combinatorial Aspects of PL Topology", in preparation