All Questions
38 questions
3
votes
1
answer
135
views
Geodesic convexity of Dirichlet Fundamental Domains
My question is motivated by this question, and this answer to it. Below, let's consider the setup in that answer:
Let $M$ be a Riemannian manifold. Let $G\times M\to M$ be a proper action of a ...
- 1,467
14
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Progress on Gromov's Conjecture of the bound of total Betti numbers
This question is a reference request.
Let $(M,g)$ be a Riemannian manifold of dimension $n$, and $b_i(M) = \dim H_i(M,\mathbb{R})$. Gromov proved it that there are constants $C(n)$ such that, if the ...
- 175
16
votes
0
answers
425
views
Is the oriented bordism ring generated by homogeneous spaces?
I am trying to find a Riemannian geometrically well-understood set of generators of the oriented bordism ring, including the torsion parts. By a set of generators, I mean that the set generates the ...
- 587
1
vote
0
answers
97
views
about codimension two foliation
Are there examples of codimension 2 foliations on closed compact 4-manifolds or 5-manifold
I am curious about examples of codimension
Are there any previous studies or lecture notes of foliation ...
- 73
4
votes
0
answers
196
views
Let $p : \tilde{M} \to M$ be the universal cover. Can we ever deduce curvature properties of $M$ from the curvature of $\tilde{M}$?
Let $M$ be a $C^{\infty}$-smooth, connected, paracompact manifold with universal cover $\tilde{M}$. Assume $M$ is not simply connected, so that the covering map $p : \tilde{M} \to M$ is not the ...
- 1,379
2
votes
0
answers
137
views
Question about spin map
I'm confused with the following definition of a spin map.
A spin map is a map $f: N\to M$ between differentiable manifolds such that their second Stiefel-Whitney classes are related $\omega_2(N)=f^*\...
- 563
5
votes
0
answers
132
views
geometry and connected sum of aspherical closed manifolds
Let $ G $ be a Lie group with finitely many connected components, $ K $ a maximal compact subgroup, and $ \Gamma $ a torsion free cocompact lattice. Then
$$
\Gamma \backslash G/K
$$
is an aspherical ...
- 4,081
2
votes
1
answer
484
views
Mapping torus of orientation reversing isometry of the sphere
$\DeclareMathOperator\SL{SL}\DeclareMathOperator\SO{SO}\DeclareMathOperator\SU{SU}\DeclareMathOperator\O{O}\DeclareMathOperator\Iso{Iso}$
Let $ f_n $ be an orientation reversing isometry of the round ...
- 4,081
0
votes
1
answer
154
views
Why does $X_0\times S^1\simeq X-X_0$? [closed]
Let $X$ be an $n$-dimensional connected smooth manifold, and let $X_0$ be an embedded $(n-2)$-dimensional compact submanifold of $X$ with the trivial normal bundle. How do we get inclusion?
$$X_0\...
- 563
6
votes
2
answers
618
views
Classifying space $\text{BU}(n)$ from the differential-geometric point of view?
The classifying space of a topological group $G$ is the quotient of $EG$ (a topological space with vanishing homotopy groups) by a proper free action of $G$. The standard notation for the classifying ...
- 71
4
votes
1
answer
381
views
Injectivity of map of fundamental groups from totally geodesic hypersurface
Let $X$ be a compact manifold of non-positive sectional curvature which carries a connected totally geodesic hypersurface $X_0\subset X$. Let $K$ be any compact subset of $X-X_0$. That's to say we ...
- 563
15
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Any shortcuts to understanding the properties of the Riemannian manifolds which are used in the books on algebraic topology
I'm now attending a reading seminar on the algebraic topology.
The seminar treats the book of Bott & Tu (Differential Forms in Algebraic Topology) and Milnor (Characteristic Classes).
In those ...
- 1,013
3
votes
0
answers
147
views
Index bounded Riemannian metrics
Let $L$ be a closed simply-connected smooth manifold with a Riemannian metric $g$. We say $g$ is index bounded if the energy functional (which is assumed to be Morse/Morse-Bott)
$$
E: C^k(L,g) \...
- 41
16
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Is there an area-preserving diffeomorphism of the disk which is nowhere conformal?
This question is a cross-post. Let $D \subseteq \mathbb{R}^2$ be the closed unit disk.
Does there exist a smooth area-preserving diffeomorphism $f:D \to D$ that does not have conformal points?
I ...
- 6,741
5
votes
1
answer
389
views
Lengths of closed geodesics on a flat vs hyperbolic punctured torus
Let $T$ be a torus (oriented closed surface of genus 1), $p\in T$, and $T^* := T - \{p\}$.
Let $\mu$ denote a flat structure on $T$. This can be obtained for example by choosing a uniformization $p_f:...
- 10.7k
2
votes
0
answers
152
views
When are automorphisms of the cohomology ring realized by isometries?
Let $(M,g)$ be a closed smooth Riemannian manifold, and denote by $G$ a closed subgroup of its isometry group. By considering the maps $g^*$ induced by elements $g\in G$ in the (de Rham) cohomology $H^...
- 5,891
4
votes
1
answer
757
views
Homotopy groups of fiber products
Let $X, Y, B$ be three smooth manifolds, and $f : X\to B$, $g : Y\to B$ submersions.
Then $X\times_BY$ exists.
(1) If $X, Y, B$ have the homotopy type of a finite CW complex, does $X\times_BY$?
(2) ...
- 180
2
votes
0
answers
132
views
Do we have estimate like $\int_\gamma \alpha \le |\alpha| \cdot |\gamma|$? [closed]
Let $(X,g)$ be a compact smooth Riemannian manifold. It is known that $H^1(X, \mathbb R)\cong \mathrm{Hom} (\pi_1(X), \mathbb R)$, namely there is a natural pairing
$$
H^1(X) \times \pi_1(X) \to \...
- 2,789
3
votes
1
answer
505
views
non-existence of global coordinates
Assume we have a smooth manifold, $M$, of dimension $n$. (An example of interest is the case when $M$ is a compact and orientable Riemann surface of genus $g$, but the question is intended to be broad....
- 277
16
votes
2
answers
605
views
What is the weakest negative curvature condition ensuring a manifold is a $K(G,1)$?
The only statement I'm sure of is that any hyperbolic or Euclidean manifold is a $K(G,1)$ (i.e. its higher homotopy groups vanish), since its universal cover must be $\mathbb H^n$ or $\mathbb E^n$. ...
- 63.9k
10
votes
3
answers
757
views
Spin-H structures
Let us define a Spin-H structure as a reduction of a SO(n)-bundle by the group: $$Spin^H (n)=Spin(n) \times SU(2)/\{ 1,-1\}$$ The Spin-H structures are analogous to the well-known Spin-C structures ...
- 187
10
votes
0
answers
192
views
k-th Pontryagin class of $\Lambda^{2k}_{\pm}$ on an oriented $4k$-manifold
If $M^{4k}$ is an oriented Riemannian $4k$-manifold, then the star-operator splits the bundle $\Lambda^{2k}$ into $\pm 1$-eigenspace bundles denoted $\Lambda^{2k}_{\pm}$.
I'm curious if anyone has ...
- 787
3
votes
0
answers
75
views
Two questions regarding flat fibre bundles and the corresponding group action on the fibre
Let $F$, $B$ be smooth, closed manifolds and $\phi:\pi_1(B) \rightarrow Aut(F)$ a smooth group action of the fundamental group of $B$ on $F$.
Consider the flat fibre bundle $E_\phi := \widetilde{B} \...
- 404
16
votes
3
answers
1k
views
SO(3) action on (simply connected) 6 manifold with discrete fixed point
If a 6-dimensional orientable smooth manifold $M$ admits a smooth effective $SO(3)$ action with discrete fixed point set, what can we say about the topology of $M$? What if we assume that in addition ...
- 591
9
votes
1
answer
517
views
What does positivity of the first Pontryagin number of a vector bundle tell us?
Some context:
In the theory of compact, oriented Riemannian Einstein 4-manifolds, there is a a fundamental topological constraint that is implied by the Einstein equations. To wit, if $\chi$ and $\...
- 787
16
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is the Gromov conjecture still open?
Today I read about Gromov's definition of minimal volume for smooth manifolds.
$$\min {\rm Vol}(M):=\inf_{|K_g|\leq1}\{{\rm Vol}(M,g)\}.$$
Gromov's conjecture states that for every closed simply ...
- 4,195
5
votes
1
answer
321
views
Simply connected manifolds with dense geodesics on the tangent bundle
A unit speed geodesic $\gamma:I\to M$ on a Riemannian manifold $M$ can be lifted to a curve $\sigma=(\gamma,\gamma')$ on $SM$, the unit sphere bundle (the unit tangent bundle) of $M$.
Let us say that ...
- 8,086
6
votes
1
answer
881
views
Question on period map, Gauss-Manin connection and complex coordinates of $\mathcal{H}^1(k)$
Let $\mathcal{L}_g$ be the space of abelian differentials on Riemann surfaces of genus $g\ge 2$ and $\mathcal{TH}_g:=\mathcal{L}_g/Diff_0^+(S_g)$ be the Teichmuller space of abelian differentials on ...
- 109
1
vote
0
answers
81
views
Possible directions of saddle connections
Let's consider a Riemann surface $X$ of genus $g\ge 2$ and $q$ a holomorphic quadratic differential on $X$. A natural parameter on $X$ is a chart for which $q=dz^2$. A $\theta$-trajectory is a maximal ...
- 11
8
votes
2
answers
589
views
Easy proof of topological property of Zoll manifolds
It is known that the cohomology ring of a Zoll manifold---a riemannian manifold all of whose geodesics are periodic with the same minimal period---must be the same as the cohomology ring of a compact ...
- 13.5k
2
votes
0
answers
179
views
About Thom Theorem (representation submanifold for $H_{n-2}(M^n)$)
Recall Thom theorem : If $M^n$ is a smooth orientable closed manifold then any homology class in $H_{n-2}(M)$ is represented by the fundamental class of a smooth submanifold.
And in the Harper and ...
- 1,100
13
votes
3
answers
851
views
Are negatively pinched manifold locally conformally flat?
One knows that hyperbolic manifolds are locally conformally flat.
How about those negatively pinched manifolds, i.e. the sectional curvature $K$ satisfy:
$$
-\Lambda \le K \le -\lambda$$
for $\Lambda&...
- 2,623
9
votes
2
answers
367
views
Is compact flat manifold cusp cross-sections of a complete finite volume hyperbolic manifold?
Let $M^{n-1}$ be a closed flat manifold. Is it true that there exists a hyperbolic manifold $N^n$ with finite volume such that $M$ is a cusp cross-section of $N$?
It was proved in "On the geometric ...
- 2,623
6
votes
1
answer
535
views
Preissmann and Byers Theorems
I'm starting to study at the elementary level the relationship between topology and geometry of a Riemannian manifold of negative curvature. The first two theorems, simple and interesting in this ...
user11178
6
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Good Surface,Bad Surface-Surface classification
Maybe this question be very simple, but I don't know why it is hard for me. Thanks for any guide and help.
We say a surface $S$ (2-dimensional metric(compact) Riemannian surface) is good (denote by $...
- 4,784
12
votes
1
answer
897
views
Analytic Torsion in the Derived Category
I recently learned about analytic torsion and about the amazing Cheeger-Muller theorem identifying analytic and Reidemeister torsion for compact Riemannian manifolds.
Now analytic torsion is defined ...
- 23k
2
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Betti Numbers (homology vs cohomology)
I'm somewhat confused about the definitions of Betti numbers for Riemannian manifolds. Working with the first Betti number as an example, I have usually taken the definition to be the rank of the ...
- 1,123
0
votes
1
answer
251
views
altering curvature on a tessellation representation of a compact surface
I have been reading about tessellation representations of compact surfaces, such as how the square tiling the plane represents the torus. For surfaces of genus > 1 (the ones that interest me), we ...
