Three-dimensional topology includes two vast domains: the study of geometric structures on 3-manifolds and the study of topological invariants of 3-manifolds, knots, etc. This book belongs to the second domain. We shall study an invariant called the maximal abelian torsion and denoted T. It is defined for a compact smooth (or piecewise-linear) manifold of any dimension and, more generally, for an arbitrary finite CW-complex X. The torsion T(X) is an element of a certain extension of the group ring Z[Hl(X)]. The torsion T can be naturally considered in the framework of simple homotopy theory. In particular, it is invariant under simple homotopy equivalences and can distinguish homotopy equivalent but non homeomorphic CW-spaces and manifolds, for instance, lens spaces. The torsion T can be used also to distinguish orientations and so-called Euler structures. Our interest in the torsion T is due to a particular role which it plays in three-dimensional topology. First of all, it is intimately related to a number of fundamental topological invariants of 3-manifolds. The torsion T(M) of a closed oriented 3-manifold M dominates (determines) the first elementary ideal of 7fl (M) and the Alexander polynomial of 7fl (M). The torsion T(M) is closely related to the cohomology rings of M with coefficients in Z and ZjrZ (r ;::: 2). It is also related to the linking form on Tors Hi (M), to the Massey products in the cohomology of M, and to the Thurston norm on H2(M).

"This is an excellent exposition about abelian Reidemeister torsions for three-manifolds."

Zentralblatt Math

"The present monograph covers in great detail the work of the author spanning almost three decades. [Establishing an explicit formula given a 3-manifold] is a truly remarkable feat This monograph contains a wealth of information many topologists will find very handy. Many of the new points of view pioneered by Turaev are gradually becoming mainstream and are spreading beyond the pure topology world. This monograph is a timely and very useful addition to the scientific literature."

--Mathematical Reviews

Inhalt
I Generalities on Torsions.- I.1 Torsions of chain complexes and CW-spaces.- I.2 Combinatorial Euler structures and their torsions.- I.3 The maximal abelian torsion.- I.4 Smooth Euler structures and their torsions.- II The Torsion versus the Alexander-Fox Invariants.- II.1 The first elementary ideal.- II.2 The case b1 ? 2.- II.3 The case b1 = 1.- II.4 Extension to 3-manifolds with boundary.- II.5 The Alexander polynomials.- III The Torsion versus the Cohomology Rings.- III.1 Determinant and Pfaffian for alternate trilinear forms.- III.2 The integral cohomology ring.- III.3 Square volume forms and refined determinants.- III.4 The cohomology ring mod r.- IV The Torsion Norm.- IV.1 The torsion polytope and the torsion norm.- IV.2 Comparison with the Thurston norm.- IV.3 Proof of Theorem 2.2.- V Homology Orientations in Dimension Three.- V.1 Relative torsions of chain complexes.- V.2 Induced homology orientations.- V.3 Homology orientations and link exteriors.- V.4 Homology orientations and surgery.- VI Euler Structures on 3-manifolds.- VI.1 Gluing of smooth Euler structures and the class c.- VI.2 Euler structures on solid tori and link exteriors.- VI.3 Gluing of combinatorial Euler structures and torsions.- VII A Gluing Formula with Applications.- VII.1 A gluing formula.- VII.2 The Alexander-Conway function and surgery.- VII.3 Proof of Formula (I.4.e).- VII.4 The torsion versus the Casson-Walker-Lescop invariant.- VII.5 Examples and computations.- VIII Surgery Formulas for Torsions.- VIII.1 Two lemmas.- VIII.2 A surgery formula for ?-torsions.- VIII.3 A surgery formula for the Alexander polynomial.- VIII.4 A surgery formula for ?(M) in the case b1(M) ? 1.- VIII.5 Realization of the torsion.- IX The Torsion Function.- IX.1 The torsion function, basic Euler structures,and gluing.- IX.2 Moments of the torsion function.- IX.3 Axioms for the torsion function.- IX.4 A surgery formula for the torsion function.- IX.5 Formal expansions in Q(H) with applications.- X Torsion of Rational Homology Spheres.- X.1 The torsion and the first elementary ideal.- X.2 The torsion versus the linking form.- X.3 The torsion versus the cohomology ring mod r.- X.4 A gluing formula.- X.5 A surgery formula.- X.6 The torsion function and its moments.- XI Spinc Structures.- XI.1 Spinc structures on 3-manifolds.- XI.2 The torsion function versus the Seiberg-Witten invariants.- XI.3 Spin structures on 3-manifolds.- XII Miscellaneous.- XII.1 Torsions of connected sums.- XII.2 The torsion versus the Massey products.- XII.3 Genus estimates for ?r-surfaces.- Open Problems.