Stable diffeomorphism implies diffeomorphism for homology 4-spheres
Let satisfy the hypotheses of the preceding Kirby-calculus formulation, except that is required only to generate rather than . Suppose that is obtained from by moves (1)--(4) and their inverses, with equally many occurrences of move (4) and its inverse. Stable-destabilization conjecture. The link can also be obtained from using only moves (1)--(3). Equivalently, stable diffeomorphism should imply diffeomorphism for the corresponding integral homology 4-spheres. The source notes that this would imply that homology 4-spheres admit no exotic smooth structures, but calls the stronger assertion probably dubious.
References
Primary source
Michael Freedman, Robert Gompf, Scott Morrison and Kevin Walker, “Man and machine thinking about the smooth 4-dimensional Poincaré conjecture”, arXiv:0906.5177 (2009).
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