Neumann–Wahl Milnor fiber conjecture

Let $(X,o)$ be a splice type singularity with an integral homology sphere link. Let its splice diagram $\Gamma$ be obtained by splicing two other splice diagrams $\Gamma_a$ and $\Gamma_b$, and let the associated splice type singularities have Milnor fibers.

Milnor fiber conjecture. The Milnor fiber of $(X,o)$ is obtained by a four-dimensional splicing operation from the Milnor fibers associated to $\Gamma_a$ and $\Gamma_b$.

The conjecture gives an inductive description of Milnor fibers of splice type singularities and is intended to support the Casson invariant conjecture. The paper presents a more precise formulation using splicing along surfaces, but the supplied status information does not establish a resolution.