HOMOLOGY 3-SPHERES IN CODIMENSION THREE

Abstract

For smooth embeddings of an integral homology 3-sphere in the 6-sphere, we define an integer invariant in terms of their Seifert surfaces. Our invariant gives a bijection between the set of smooth isotopy classes of such embeddings and the integers. It also gives rise to a complete invariant for homology bordism classes of all embeddings of homology 3-spheres in the 6-sphere. As a consequence, we show that two embeddings of an oriented integral homology 3-sphere in the 6-sphere are isotopic if and only if they are homology bordant. We also relate our invariant to the Rohlin invariant and accordingly characterize those embeddings which are compressible into the 5-sphere.