All Questions
Tagged with at.algebraic-topology fundamental-group
106 questions
3
votes
1
answer
84
views
Concerning the Spanier group relative to an open cover
Let $\mathcal{U} = \{ U_i \; |\; i\in I \}$ be an open covering of $X$. Spanier defined $\pi (\mathcal{U}, x)$ to be the subgroup of $\pi_1 (X, x)$ which contains all homotopy classes having ...
- 7,203
3
votes
1
answer
173
views
Approximation of homotopy avoiding a point in $\mathbb{R}^3$
For a proof that $\mathbb{R}^3\setminus \mathbb{Q}^3$ is simply connected using Baire category theorem I need to approximate an homotopy $H : [0,1]\times \mathbb{S}^1 \to \mathbb{R}^3$ from a loop $\...
- 28k
6
votes
1
answer
237
views
Example similar to the Griffiths twin cone but with fundamental group that allows surjection onto $\mathbb Z$
The Griffiths twin cone is an example of a wedge sum of two contractible spaces being non-contractible. Namely, it is the wedge sum $\mathbb G=C\mathbb H\vee_p C\mathbb H$ of two coni over the ...
- 7,203
62
votes
9
answers
9k
views
Fundamental groups of noncompact surfaces
I got fantastic answers to my previous question (about modern references for the fact that surfaces can be triangulated), so I thought I'd ask a related question. A basic fact about surface topology ...
- 2,274
4
votes
1
answer
270
views
Invariant lifts of a closed curve on a surface of genus > 1
I am learning some things about surfaces of genus greater than $1$, and I am trying to answer this question :
Let $S$ be a compact and orientable surface of genus $g \geq 2$, and $c$ a closed curve ...
- 1,033
8
votes
2
answers
721
views
Galois categories for topological spaces?
Can the theory of Galois categories (as developed in SGA1) be modified to produce the usual fundamental group of a topological space (maybe assumed to be path connected and locally path connected)?
...
- 303
16
votes
0
answers
784
views
What would be the simplest analog of Langlands in algebraic topology?
It is oversimplified, I know, but just as a superficial analogy, one may think of the fact that abelianization of the fundamental group is the first homology group, as some remote relative of class ...
- 18.4k
19
votes
2
answers
1k
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Can one compute the fundamental group of a complex variety? Other topological invariants? [duplicate]
Given a system of polynomial equations with rational coefficients, is there an algorithm to compute the geometric fundamental group of the variety defined by these equations? I'm interested in both ...
- 96.4k
3
votes
1
answer
429
views
A projective (or free) $\mathbb{Z}\pi_1$-module
Suppose that $Z$ is a finite wedge of spheres containing circles and there exist maps $f:Y\to Z$ and $g:Z\to Y$ so that $g\circ f\simeq 1_Y$. Assume that there exists a map $h:X\to Y$ which induces ...
- 103
9
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Computing `$\pi_1 S^1$` using groupoids
I believe it is possible to compute $\pi_1 S^1$ by applying the groupoid version of the Seifert-Van Kampen Theorem (in the version presented in May's Concise Course) to a covering of the circle by ...
- 12.3k
17
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Is there a relationship between a quotient group of the fundamental group of X and the fundamental group of a quotient topology of X?
Let ($X$, $x_0$) be a topological space with a base point, and denote the fundamental group of $X$ as $\pi_1(X)$. Let $N$ be a normal subgroup of $\pi_1(X)$.
Does there necessarily exist an ...
- 5,040
9
votes
1
answer
657
views
Must an inverse limit of simply connected groups be simply connected?
While the fundamental group $\pi_1$ preserves products, it is not true in general that an inverse limit of simply connected topological spaces is simply connected. I would like to know if similar ...
- 7,203
17
votes
1
answer
574
views
Simply connected slices
Assume $\Omega$ is an open set in $\mathbb R^3$
such that the intersection of $\Omega$ with any horizontal plane is simply connected.
Can you prove that $\Omega$ is simply connected?
(Note that ...
- 45k
5
votes
1
answer
353
views
Fundamental groups of open sets in $R^n$ with $n=3,4$
It is well known that every finitely presented group may be realised as fundamental group of some closed $4$-manifold.
What groups can be obtained as fundamental groups of open subsets of $R^4$? I'...
- 96.4k
119
votes
6
answers
10k
views
What properties make $[0,1]$ a good candidate for defining fundamental groups?
The title essentially says it all. Consider the category $\mathfrak{Top}_2$ of triples $(J,e_0,e_1)$ where $J$ is a topological space, and $e_i \in J$. There is an obvious generalization of the ...
- 43
9
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Under what conditions is the induced map of etale fundamental groups surjective?
Let $f:X \to Y$ be a morphism of schemes. I am interested in sufficient conditions on $f$ which would ensure that the induced map $\pi_1^{et}(X) \to \pi_1^{et}(Y)$ of etale fundamental groups is ...
CommunityBot
- 1
4
votes
1
answer
375
views
What is kernel $\phi:G\rightarrow \pi_1(X/G,p(x_0))$?
Let $G$ be a discontinuous group (this means that it acts discontinuously with finite stabilizers) of homeomorphisms of a simply connected, locally compact metric space $X$. Let $p:X\rightarrow X/G$ ...
- 12.3k
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What is the algebraic fundamental groups of $SO(n)$ and $Sp(2n)$?
Let $k$ be an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero. and let $$\sigma: SL_n(k)\rightarrow SL_n(k)$$
be an involution.
My questions are:
How could one calculate the fundamental group of $...
- 14.2k
4
votes
1
answer
573
views
A lower-dimensional algebraic topology problem between homology group and fundamental group
Let
\begin{equation}
A\stackrel{\alpha}{\longrightarrow}B\stackrel{\beta}{\longrightarrow}C\quad\quad (1)
\end{equation}
be a short sequence of (abelian or nonabelian) groups and homomorphisms. We say ...
CommunityBot
- 1
5
votes
2
answers
399
views
Conjugation of homogeneous spaces
Let $X$ be a smooth irreducible algebraic variety
over the field of complex numbers ${\mathbb{C}}$.
Let $x\in X({\mathbb{C}})$.
Let $\tau$ be an automorphism of ${\mathbb{C}}$ (not necessarily ...
CommunityBot
- 1
2
votes
0
answers
317
views
A homomorphism in the long exact sequence of a fibration for a homogeneous space of a Lie group
Let $G$ be a connected Lie group, and let $H\subset G$ be a (closed) Lie subgroup, not necessarily connected. Set $X=G/H$.
The fibration $j\colon G\to X$ with fiber $H$ induces an exact sequence
$$
\...
CommunityBot
- 1
27
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Teaching the fundamental group via everyday examples
This question is a "prequel" to a similar question about homology. Both questions were inspired by seeing a talk, by Tadashi Tokieda, about the interesting physics that appears in toys.
What ...
CommunityBot
- 1
2
votes
3
answers
651
views
question about the induced homomorphism of etale fundamental groups
Background/Setup
For any connected scheme $S$, let $\text{FEt}_S$ denote the category of finite etale $S$-schemes. Let $f : X\rightarrow Y$ be a morphism of connected schemes, then for any finite ...
- 10.7k
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
On the fundamental group of closed 3-manifolds
I know that every finitely presented group can be realized as the fundamental group of a compact, connected, smooth manifold of dimension 4 (or higher). In dimension 2 there are strong restriction on ...
- 5,259
28
votes
2
answers
6k
views
What group is $\langle a,b \,| \, a^2=b^2 \rangle$?
In teaching my algebraic topology class, this group showed up as part of an easy fundamental group computation: $\langle a,b\mid a^2=b^2\rangle$. My first instinct was that this must be $\mathbb{Z}*\...
- 66.3k
6
votes
2
answers
595
views
Fundamental group of a manifold with an $S^1$-action
Let $M$ be a compact connected manifold with an $S^1$-action. Suppose that $S^1$ has a fixed point in $M$. Is it true that $\pi_1(M)=\pi_1(M/S^1)$?
I is there some reference or a short proof of this ...
- 66.3k
10
votes
1
answer
761
views
fundamental groups of smooth projective variety.
Is there a discrete group G which is the fundamental group of a compact Kahler
manifold but which is not the fundamental group of any smooth projective complex algebraic variety?
It is known that ...
CommunityBot
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
368
views
fundamental group and torus action
Let $T$ be the complex torus acting on a complex connected algebraic variety $X$
and let $p \colon X\rightarrow Y$ be a good quotient for this action.
For any $y\in Y$ we have a sequence $p^{-1}(y) \...
- 4,920
1
vote
1
answer
1k
views
Computing the fundamental group of a flag variety
Let $G$ be a compact and connected and simply connected Lie group and $\mathfrak{g}$ be its Lie algebra and $x\in\mathfrak{g}^*$. How can we compute the fundamental group of $G/G_x$ where $G_x$ is ...
CommunityBot
- 1
1
vote
1
answer
438
views
When is the class of functions between sets a set?
I'm reading the paper 'The big fundamental group, big Hawaiian earrings and the big free groups'. The authors state that the class of homotopy equivalences of loops in the space he dubs as the big ...
- 35.5k
20
votes
0
answers
617
views
On a homological finiteness condition
Assumption: $X$ is a connected CW complex, and $H_{\ast}(X;\mathbb{Z})=\bigoplus_{n \geq 0} H_n (X; \mathbb{Z})$ is finitely generated.
Question: does there exist a finite CW complex $Y$ and a map $f:...
- 20.9k
16
votes
6
answers
6k
views
Fundamental group of the line with the double origin.
In the simplest cases, the fundamental group serves as a measure of the number of 2-dimensional "holes" in a space. It is interesting to know whether they capture the following type of "hole".
This ...
CommunityBot
- 1
1
vote
1
answer
379
views
Finding the 2nd homotopy group $\pi_2(G^\mathbb{C}/P)$
Let $G$ be a compact connected and simply connected Lie group and $G^\mathbb{C}$ be the complexification of Lie group (with is diffeomorphic with $G^\mathbb{C}\cong T^*G$) then I am looking for ...
- 4,920
1
vote
1
answer
151
views
A formula for isotropy group $\pi_1(G_a)$
Let $G$ be a compact Lie group and $T$ be its maximal tours, and $a\in \mathfrak{g}^*$. and $G_a$ be the isotropy group of $G$ then $T\subset G_a$ and we know that $\pi_1(T)=\mathbb{Z}^n$. My ...
- 4,920
13
votes
0
answers
863
views
About maps inducing bijections on homotopy classes
Let us assume that $f:X \to Y$ is a map of connected CW complexes, having the following property: if $K$ is a finite CW complex, then the induced map $f_{\ast}:[K,X] \to [K,Y]$ on \emph{free} homotopy ...
CommunityBot
- 1
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Computing fundamental groups of the complement of plane curves
This paper of Zariski contains this statement: If $C$ is a curve in $\mathbb{CP}^2$, and $L$ is a generic line, then the injection $L\setminus C \hookrightarrow \mathbb{CP}^2\setminus C$ induces an ...
- 5,359
14
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Are acyclic subcomplexes of finite contractible 2-complexes contractible?
Let $Y$ be a contractible finite simplicial 2-complex.
Let $X$ be an acyclic subcomplex of $Y$ (i.e. $X$ connected, $H_1(X)=0$, $H_2(X)=0$).
Is $X$ contractible? (Equivalently, is $\pi_1(X)$ trivial?)...
CommunityBot
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8
votes
3
answers
943
views
Smooth projective varieties with infinite abelian fundamental group and finite $\pi_2$
Let $X$ be a smooth projective complex algebraic variety of general type. Suppose that the (topological) fundamental group of $X$ is an infinite abelian group and that $\pi_2(X^{an})$ is finite.
What ...
- 19.4k
7
votes
2
answers
2k
views
The fundamental group of a $3$-manifold with a boundary of genus $>0$
Let $M$ be an orientable $3$-manifold with connected boundary $\Sigma_g$, a surface of genus $g>0$.
I would like to find a reference to the following two statements.
1) $\pi_1(M)\ne 0$.
2) $\...
- 31.2k
1
vote
1
answer
307
views
The fundamental group of an $S^1$-quotient
Let $M$ be a compact manifold with an $\mathbb S^1$-action that fixes a point on $M$.
Is it correct that $\pi_1(M/S^1)=\pi_1(M)$?
I believe this is correct and is a corollary of some well-known ...
- 11.1k
16
votes
2
answers
3k
views
The fundamental group of a closed surface without classification of surfaces?
The fundamental group of a closed oriented surface of genus $g$ has the well-known presentation
$$
\langle x_1,\ldots, x_g,y_1,\ldots ,y_g\vert \prod_{i=1}^{g} [x_i,y_i]\rangle.
$$
The proof I know ...
- 15.4k
8
votes
6
answers
4k
views
connected compact semisimple lie group finite fundamental group
I was told that the fundamental group of a connected, compact, semisimple Lie group is finite, with the outline of a possible way to prove this fact. Is there any source however that fleshes this out ...
- 2,974
36
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Is the fundamental group functor a left-adjoint?
Theorem 1B.9 in Hatcher's Algebraic Topology says that for a (pointed) connected CW complex $X$ and group $G$, there is a bijection $\text{Hom}(\pi_1(X), G) \cong [X,K(G,1)]$, where $\pi_1(X)$ is the ...
- 12.3k
13
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Manifolds with prescribed fundamental group and finitely many trivial homotopy groups
Fix $G$, a finitely generated presented group.
It is known that for every $k > 3$ there is a closed $k$-manifold whose fundamental group is $G$. Similarly, there is a topological space with ...
- 3,165
6
votes
3
answers
1k
views
$\pi_1$ Sequence of Topological Groups
Consider a connected topological group $G$ (not necessarily Lie). You have some maps $G\times G\to G$, such as projection to either summand, or multiplication $(g,h)\mapsto gh$. Now let's look at a ...
CommunityBot
- 1
16
votes
0
answers
645
views
Codimension Two Embeddings in Goodwillie-Weiss Manifold Calculus, and the Difficulty of Fundamental Groups
In manifold calculus, there are various analyticity estimates which run into trouble for codimension two embeddings. For instance, the functor $\operatorname{Emb}(M,N)$ is analytic in $M$ if $\dim M \...
- 3,351
8
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Homology of Covering Spaces
Let $A$ be a subgroup of a group $G$. Then since $A$ is a subgroup of the fundamental group $\pi_1(K(G,1))=G$, there is a covering space $p\colon Y\to K(G,1)$ with $p_*(\pi_1(Y))=A$. So the homology ...
- 4,898
17
votes
3
answers
4k
views
What is π_1(BG) for an arbitrary topological group $G$?
The classifying space $BG=|Nerve(G)|$ of an arbitrary topological group $G$ does not necessarily have the homotopy type of a CW-complex but the fundamental group should still be accessible. What is $\...
- 12.3k
31
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Can the fundamental group of any manifold be realized as the fund grp of a finite space?
Recently, I was asked to calculate the fundamental group of the space $X= \{a,b,c,d\}$ with open sets generated by $\{ a, c, abc, acd \}$.
Turns out, $\pi_1(X)\cong \mathbb Z$ and in fact, $X$ is the ...
- 6,034
9
votes
1
answer
266
views
Branch cuts of $GL_n^+(\mathbb{R})$
Branch cuts
Let $GL_n^+(\mathbb{R})$ denote the group of $n\times n$ real matrices with positive determinant. Topologically, $GL_n^+(\mathbb{R})$ is connected, and
$$ \pi_1(GL_2^+(\mathbb{R})) = \...
CommunityBot
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