On the detection of knotted spheres by their traces in high dimensions

Abstract

For every $n\ge 4$, we demonstrate the existence of non-isotopic smooth $(n-2)$-knots in $S^n$ with diffeomorphic traces by generalising the RBG link construction to all dimensions. Conversely, we prove that for every $n\ge 4$, the unknot in $S^n$ is detected by the diffeomorphism type of its surgery and hence by its trace.

46 pages, 6 figures, comments welcome!