Algorithmic Topology and Classification of 3-manifolds: v. 9 (Algorithms and Computation in Mathematics)

This self-contained book by a leading topologist is devoted to algorithmic low-dimensional topology, a branch of mathematics that has recently been undergoing an intense development. The book contains plenty of important fundamental material, which is carefully presented, and also some of the author's own original contributions. For the first time ever, it gives a full exposition of the complexity theory of 3-manifolds and a complete proof of the solution of the homeomorphism problem for Haken manifolds.

Written in a clear and succinct manner the book adopts a lively style, with a lot of useful pictures, making it enjoyable for those who like visual topology. The proofs are careful and detailed. This book fills a gap in the existing literature and will become a standard reference for algorithmic 3-dimensional topology both for graduate students and researchers.

From the reviews of the 1st edition:

"This book provides a comprehensive and detailed account of different topics in algorithmic 3-dimensional topology, culminating with the recognition procedure for Haken manifolds and including the up-to-date results in computer enumeration of 3-manifolds. Originating from lecture notes of various courses given by the author over a decade, the book is intended to combine the pedagogical approach of a graduate textbook (without exercises) with the completeness and reliability of a research monograph...

All the material, with few exceptions, is presented from the peculiar point of view of special polyhedra and special spines of 3-manifolds. This choice contributes to keep the level of the exposition really elementary.

In conclusion, the reviewer subscribes to the quotation from the back cover: "the book fills a gap in the existing literature and will become a standard reference for algorithmic 3-dimensional topology both for graduate students and researchers".

R. Piergallini, Zentralblatt für Mathematik 1048 (2004)

For this 2nd edition, new results, new proofs, and commentaries for a better orientation of the reader have been added.