All Questions
Tagged with 3-manifolds gt.geometric-topology
423 questions
8
votes
1
answer
660
views
On trivial mapping class group of 3-manifolds
What are some examples of knots $K\subset S^3$ such that the mapping class group of $S^3_{1/n}(K)$ is trivial? I guess for hyperbolic knots with no symmetry in the complements are good candidate as ...
- 3,751
3
votes
1
answer
239
views
Does the Weeks manifold have the smallest volume among all finite volume oriented hyperbolic 3-manifolds?
It is a result of Chinburg-Friedman-Jones-Reid that the arithmetic hyperbolic 3-manifold of smallest volume is the Weeks manifold.
There is also a result of Milley that says that if $N$ is a closed ...
- 33
3
votes
1
answer
173
views
Do taut foliations leafwise branch covering S^2 yield foliations by circles?
In this paper, Danny Calegari shows that taut foliations in (let's say closed for simplicity) 3-manifolds are precisely those which admit a map $f: M \to S^2$ which restricts to a branched cover on ...
- 187
6
votes
2
answers
395
views
Dual surfaces of a first cohomology class of a 3-manifold
Let $M$ be closed 3-manifold and $\alpha\in H^1(M;\mathbb Z_2)$ an arbitrary element. (In my case we know that $M$ is non-orientable and $\alpha^3=0$.) It is well known that there is a closed 2-...
- 1,095
10
votes
0
answers
288
views
Contact structures associated to taut foliations
Eliashberg and Thurston showed that a taut foliation may be deformed to tight (positive and negative) contact structures. Vogel proved that for a taut foliation without torus leaves, the associated ...
- 68.9k
10
votes
3
answers
493
views
Small examples of exceptional hyperbolic Dehn Filling of hyperbolic manifolds
For experimental purposes, I would like to have a small (i.e. triangulated with few tetrahedra) example of a manifold $M$ with the following properties:
$M$ is a hyperbolic manifold with finite ...
- 829
9
votes
1
answer
296
views
The works of González-Acuña and Duchon from 70s and 80s
I would like to access the following two works of González-Acuña from 1970:
González-Acuña, F. Dehn’s construction on knots. Bol. Soc. Mat. Mexicana (2) 15 (1970), 58–79.
and
González-Acuña, F. On ...
- 1,292
6
votes
1
answer
184
views
Uniqueness of the set of decomposing spheres in prime decomposition of a 3-manifold
At the end of Section 1.1 of 3-manifold groups it is written that "the decomposing spheres are not unique up to isotopy, but two different sets of decomposing spheres are related by ‘slide ...
- 63
3
votes
1
answer
75
views
Conjugacy of topological actions on aspherical three manifolds to isometric actions
Edited: Due to work of Raymond and Scott, there exist diffemorphisms (of certain three-dimensional nil-manifolds) whose $n$th power is diffeotopic to the identity, but which are not themselves ...
- 2,630
3
votes
1
answer
187
views
Morse functions inducing Heegaard diagrams
Let $(\Sigma, \alpha, \beta)$ be a Heegaard diagram for a 3-manifold $M$, corresponding to a Heegaard splitting $M = H_1 \cup_\Sigma H_2$. There may be many self-indexing Morse functions $f: M \to \...
- 31
7
votes
2
answers
366
views
Boundary of a $4$-manifold and the fundamental group
I am trying to learn $4$-manifolds with boundaries and I don't know much about this topic so these questions may be silly. Given a $4$-manifold $M$ with a boundary say $N$,
Assume $\pi_1(N)$ is known,...
- 1,177
8
votes
0
answers
432
views
The figure eight knot complement in $S^3$
Recently I have been going through the book Hyperbolic Knot Theory by Jessica Purcell. Exercise 5.4 (on page 101) gives us a presentation of the fundamental group of $S^3 - K$ where $K$ is the figure-...
- 111
3
votes
0
answers
223
views
Can Whitehead manifold admit a properly discontinuous cocompact group action?
Can classical contractible manifolds such as Whitehead manifold admit a properly discontinuous cocompact group action?
Here "properly discontinuous" doesn't have to be fixed point free, but ...
- 2,083
11
votes
1
answer
386
views
How wild can an open topological 3-manifold be if it has a compact quotient?
Let $M$ be an open, simply connected, 3-manifold. Suppose $M$ admits a properly discontinuous, co-compact topological action by a finitely generated group.
Question 1: If $M$ is 1-ended, must it be ...
- 1,926
4
votes
0
answers
172
views
Survey or good reference of taut foliations
I am interested in the topology of foliations.
In particular, I want to understand taut foliations, or projectively Anosov flows, and Anosov flows.
I guess that
A. Candel and L. Conlon, Foliations I (...
- 73
4
votes
1
answer
177
views
Complex length of geodesic added in hyperbolic Dehn surgery
Suppose $M$ is a cusped finite-volume hyperbolic $3$-manifold, say with a single cusp for simplicity. Following [NZ, Section 4] we can parametrize deformations of the hyperbolic structure with a ...
- 2,533
3
votes
1
answer
76
views
Given a Heegaard splitting $M = V\cup_F W$, then $V\setminus N(D_1)$ is ambient isotopic to $V\cup N(D_2)$ for a meridian pair $\{D_1,D_2\}$
I sincerely apologize if MathOverflow is not the appropriate place to ask this question. I also tried consulting M.SE but it seems that this question gained little to no interest .
Consider a ...
- 173
1
vote
1
answer
134
views
Annulus theorem for pseudomanifolds
Lets say I take an arbitrary closed and smooth $d$-manifolds $\mathcal{M}$. Now, it is a well-known fact that whenever I take two (sufficiently nice embedded) closed $d$-balls $B_{1}$ and $B_{2}$ in $\...
- 1,429
11
votes
0
answers
179
views
Natural knot homology
All knot homology theories I've seen share a flaw: their definitions explicitly use some combinatorial choices (such as a diagram presentation). The coin, however, has two sides and the other one is ...
3
votes
0
answers
59
views
Nonuniqueness of Heegaard surfaces for submanifolds of $S^3$
Let $M^3$ be some compact submanifold of $S^3$ with connected boundary. I am interested in the failure of the analog of Waldhausen's theorem for $M^3$ - namely, I would like examples of such $M$ ...
- 5,349
9
votes
2
answers
351
views
Gordon's approach: slice knots and contractible $4$-manifolds
Let $K \subset S^3$ be a slice knot. Then it bounds a smooth embedded disk $D \subset B^4$. Let $S^3_{p/q}(K)$ denote a $3$-manifold obtained by $p/q$-surgery on $K \subset S^3$.
The following theorem ...
- 606
6
votes
1
answer
324
views
Computation of $\pi_1$ for a Mazur manifold and its boundary
If we attach a $4$-dimensional $1$-handle $D^1 \times D^3$ to a $4$-dimensional $0$-handle $B^4$, we obtain $S^1 \times D^3$. The null homologous knot in $S^1 \times S^2$ indicated in the picture ...
- 606
3
votes
0
answers
241
views
Standard sutured (?) Heegaard splitting
I am trying to make sense of what is going on in [Cas16] in terms of diagrams. Let me sum up the construction a bit, where $n\leqslant k$ are integers and $b\geqslant 1$ as well.
$C_{k,b,n}$ denotes ...
- 283
4
votes
1
answer
384
views
A (not existing) self-homeomorphism of the figure eight knot complement
I was recently looking at the figure eight knot complement $M$, as a once-punctured torus bundle over the surface with monodromy
$
A=\begin{pmatrix}
2 & 1 \\
1 & 1 \end{pmatrix} $
and its ...
- 111
3
votes
1
answer
363
views
Volume of hyperbolic 3-manifolds with toroidal boundary
A hyperbolic 3-manifold has finite volume if and only if it is either closed or has toroidal boundary and it is not homeomorphic to $T^2\times I$.
This statement is from 3-Manifold Groups, page 18 (...
- 502
5
votes
1
answer
318
views
Irreducible 3-manifold with boundary of genus greater than 1
Let $M$ be an irreducible 3-manifold with incompressible boundary of genus > 1.
When is $M$ homotopy equivalent to an Eilenberg-MacLane space? Or it is never true?
- 223
5
votes
1
answer
375
views
Integral surgeries on $3$-manifolds
Let $K$ be a knot in $S^3$. Let $N(K)$ be a tubular neighborhood of $K$, a solid torus. On $\partial N(K)$, we may specify a preferred longitude $\lambda$, i.e., a simple closed curve whose linking ...
- 606
9
votes
1
answer
424
views
Non-isotopic homology spheres in $S^4$ with equal complements?
Are there two diffeomorphic smoothly embedded homology 3-spheres $M_1^3, M_2^3 \subset S^4$ that have diffeomorphic complements but such that $M_1$ and $M_2$ are not isotopic? I would be interested in ...
- 5,349
3
votes
1
answer
202
views
How to find the JSJ decomposition in the plumbing tree model of a graph manifold?
A graph manifold can be obtained by plumbing circle bundle over surfaces, where the number in the plumbing tree denotes the Euler number of the bundle (see the picture for an example). The boundary of ...
- 673
14
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Quotient of solid torus by swapping coordinates on boundary
Let $T$ be the solid 2-torus and let $\sim$ be the equivalence relation on $T$ generated by the relation $\{(\alpha,\beta) \sim (\beta,\alpha) \mid \alpha, \beta \in S^1\}$ on the boundary $\partial T=...
- 1,813
6
votes
1
answer
370
views
"Classification" of (orientable) 3-manifolds with genus-g-surface as their boundary
This is in some sense a generalization of the question I asked some time ago. I am very sorry if this question is too basic for MathOverflow, but I just started learning about some more detailed ...
- 1,429
7
votes
1
answer
636
views
Knots: locally flat, PL and smooth
In the classical dimension (knots in $S^3$), it is considered standard (I think?) that the following sets are in bijective correspondence:
locally flat knots up to ambient isotopy;
PL-knots up to PL ...
- 1,033
7
votes
1
answer
354
views
Decomposition of manifolds with toroidal boundary
Let $\mathcal{M}$ be a compact, connected, oriented 3-manifolds with non-empty connected boundary $\partial\mathcal{M}$. Then, following this article, it is stated that $\mathcal{M}$ can be written as
...
- 1,429
14
votes
1
answer
937
views
Classification of 3-dimensional manifolds with boundary
It is well-known that every closed, connected and orientable 3-manifold $\mathcal{M}$ can uniquely be decomposed as
$$\mathcal{M}=P_{1}\#\dots\# P_{n}$$
where $P_{i}$ are prime manifolds, i.e. ...
- 1,429
12
votes
0
answers
229
views
3-manifolds with stacked links
Stacked spheres
A triangulation of a 2-dimensional sphere is called a stacked sphere if it is obtained inductively from the boundary of a 3-simplex by deleting a 2-face (triangle) $T$ adding a new ...
- 24.7k
17
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Examples of the Thurston geometries with transitive Lie group action
Here are some examples of compact homogeneous 3 manifolds for different Thurston geometries:
(1) Spherical: $\mathbb{S}^3 \cong \mathrm{SU}_2$ modulo any finite subgroup
(2) Euclidean: 3 torus $\...
- 4,081
3
votes
2
answers
344
views
Hyperbolic volume of hyperbolic knots
Let $G$ be a torsionfree kleinian group. Is there necessary an sufficient conditions on $G$ to be a knot group ?
It seems that there is some necessary conditions:
$H_{1}(BG) = \mathbb{Z}$
$H_{2}(BG) ...
- 223
23
votes
2
answers
7k
views
Shing-Tung Yau's doubts about Perelman's proof
[EDITED to make the question more suitable for MO. See meta.mathoverflow.net for discussion about re-opening.]
According to Wikipedia, Shing-Tung Yau expressed some doubts about Perelman's proof of ...
5
votes
1
answer
249
views
Which elements of the fundamental group can be realized as transversals of a taut foliation?
Specifically in a closed, orientable 3-manifold. I'm not necessarily looking for a complete answer, as I don't expect one. Is there prior literature on this question? Also interested in this question ...
- 187
2
votes
1
answer
176
views
A graph manifold without an orientation reversing involution?
Is there a graph manifold (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graph_manifold) that doesn't admit an orientation reversing involution? If so, what would be a simple example?
- 14.3k
3
votes
1
answer
157
views
Formula for the Casson invariant in terms of the linking form
The paper 'Trisections, intersection forms and the Torelli group' by Peter Lambert-Cole quotes the following formula for the Casson invariant of a knot $K$ in a homology $3$-sphere in terms of the ...
- 361
3
votes
1
answer
152
views
Reference request: Stallings-Epstein-Waldhausen construction
I am looking for a reference for the Stallings-Epstein-Waldhausen construction (constructing an incompressible surface in a 3-manifold from a nontrivial splitting of the fundamental group).
I know of ...
- 125
4
votes
1
answer
195
views
Ideal triangulation of hyperbolic 3-manifold with generic mapping class group
I am from physics background so I apologize in advance if my question is trivial.
Kojima proves for every finite group $G$, there is a hyperbolic 3-manifold such that its mapping class group equals $G$...
- 63
7
votes
1
answer
249
views
Expositions of Stallings's fibration theorem
In his famous paper
Stallings, John,
On fibering certain 3-manifolds. 1962 Topology of 3-manifolds and related topics (Proc. The Univ. of Georgia Institute, 1961) pp. 95–100 Prentice-Hall, Englewood ...
- 353
7
votes
1
answer
372
views
Two details from Stallings's proof of the sphere theorem
EDIT: After a little prompting by Mark Grant, I answered the first question in the comments. The second question remains open.
Let $M$ be a compact $3$-manifold with $\pi_2(M) \neq 0$. The sphere ...
- 353
4
votes
2
answers
306
views
Quadratic cusp shape
Which hyperbolic $3$-manifolds are known to have quadratic cusp shape?
Explanations: Cusps of hyperbolic $3$-manifolds are products torus x interval. They lift to horoballs in hyperbolic $3$-space, ...
- 10.4k
12
votes
1
answer
679
views
Revisiting Gordon-Luecke theorem
$\DeclareMathOperator\Diff{Diff}\DeclareMathOperator\GL{GL}$Here is an proof-sketch of a strengthened Gordon-Luecke theorem. This is presumably known, but is it written down somewhere? I am also ...
- 44.4k
8
votes
2
answers
283
views
Is there a simple formula to compute the Casson invariant of an homology $3$-sphere from its Heegaard diagram?
Let $(S_g,\boldsymbol{\alpha}_1,\boldsymbol{\alpha}_2)$ be a Heegaard diagram of a Heegaard splitting $\Sigma=H_g \cup_{\phi_1\phi_2^{-1}}H_g$ of an integral homology sphere $\Sigma$, i.e. $S_g$ is a ...
- 361
3
votes
1
answer
115
views
$\pi_1(M^3)$ containing a normal infinite cyclic subgroup
Let $M^3$ be a compact $3$-manifold such that $\pi_1(M)$ contains a normal subgroup isomorphic to $\mathbb Z$.
Can we show either $\pi_1(M)$ is torsion-free or $\pi_1(M)=\mathbb Z \oplus \mathbb Z_2$ ...
- 891
3
votes
2
answers
216
views
$P^2$-irreducibility of a $3$-manifold
A $3$-manifold $M$ is called $P^2$-irreducible if it is irreducible and there is no $2$-sided $P^2$ contained in $M$.
Can we show $M$ is $P^2$-irreducible iff $\pi_2(M)=0$?
Notice that one direction ...
- 891