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8 votes
1 answer
414 views

Augmentation ideal of a free group

If $F$ is a free group then it has cohomological dimension one, which implies that the augmentation ideal $IF=\operatorname{ker}(\epsilon:\mathbb{Z}G\to \mathbb{Z})$ of its group ring is a projective $...
3 votes
0 answers
128 views

Salvetti complexes and cohomology of affine completion of Artin groups $E_6$ and $E_7$

After the solution of the Brieskorn-Arnold Pham conjecture on the asphericity of a space for affine Artin groups by Paolini and Salvetti MR4243019 (arXiv), I would like to know if there are ...
11 votes
1 answer
455 views

Asking whether there is a compact Lie group containing affine symplectic group

The affine symplectic group is interesting and important in physics. However, the Lie group is noncompact. In order to have some good properties (Basically, we need some good behavior of Haar measure) ...
4 votes
0 answers
320 views

Finite subgroup of $\mathrm{SO}(4)$ which acts freely on $\mathbb{S}^3$

Let $\Gamma$ be a finite subgroup of $\mathrm{SO}(4)$ acting freely on $\mathbb{S}^3$. It is known that all such $\Gamma$ can be classified. Is there any characterization of $\Gamma$ such that $\Gamma$...
6 votes
1 answer
244 views

Rational cohomological dimension of a locally finite group

$\DeclareMathOperator\cd{cd}$Recall that the rational cohomological dimension of a group $G$ is the supremum of the set of integers $k$ such that there exists a $\mathbb{Q}[G]$-module $M$ with $H^k(G;...
5 votes
0 answers
199 views

Outer and inner automorphism of $\mathrm{Pin}$ groups

$\DeclareMathOperator\Inn{Inn}\DeclareMathOperator\Aut{Aut}\DeclareMathOperator\Out{Out}\DeclareMathOperator\Pin{Pin}\DeclareMathOperator\Spin{Spin}\DeclareMathOperator\SO{SO}\DeclareMathOperator\PSO{...
8 votes
0 answers
128 views

What are the stable cohomology classes of the "orthogonal groups" of finite abelian groups?

Let $A$ be a finite abelian group, and equip it with a nondegenerate symmetric bilinear form $\langle,\rangle : A \times A \to \mathrm{U}(1)$. Then you can reasonably talk about the "orthogonal ...
8 votes
0 answers
238 views

Is there a finite group with nontrivial $H^2$ but vanishing $H^4$, $H^5$, and $H^6$?

Is there a finite group $G$ such that the group cohomology $\mathrm{H}^2_{\mathrm{gp}}(G; \mathbb{Z}/2)$ is nontrivial but $\mathrm{H}^4_{\mathrm{gp}}(G; \mathbb{Z}/2)$, $\mathrm{H}^5_{\mathrm{gp}}(G;...
8 votes
2 answers
507 views

Contractible Rips complex from non-hyperbolic group

I heard that the Rips complexes associated to the Cayley graphs of hyperbolic groups are contractible for a sufficiently large radius. Is the converse true? Namely, if a group is non-hyperbolic, then ...
9 votes
3 answers
735 views

Judging whether a finitely presented group is a 3-manifold group?

Given a finitely presented group $G$, how many necessary conditions do people know for $G$ to be isomorphic to the fundamental group of some closed connected 3-manifold? (e.g. residually finite)
3 votes
1 answer
231 views

Reference request: functoriality of $\underline{E}$ and $\underline{B}$

For any group $G$, the universal example for proper $G$-actions, $\underline{E}G$, is a proper $G$-space such that for any other proper $G$-space $X$, there exists a map (unique up to $G$-equivariant ...
9 votes
1 answer
308 views

How small can the support of a nontrivial $\mathbb F_p$-cocycle on $C_p$ be?

Let $p$ be a prime, and let $\phi : C_p^n \to \mathbb F_p$ be an $\mathbb F_p$-valued $n$-cocycle on $C_p$ (the cyclic group of order $p$) which is not an $n$-coboundary, i.e. $\phi$ represents a ...
18 votes
0 answers
1k views

What is the strongest nerve lemma?

The most basic nerve lemma can be found as Corollary 4G.3 in Hatcher's Algebraic Topology: If $\mathcal U$ is an open cover of a paracompact space $X$ such that every nonempty intersection of ...
3 votes
0 answers
282 views

Commutator length of the fundamental group of some grope

A popular way to describe a grope as the direct limit $L$ of a nested sequence of compact 2-dimensional polyhedra $L_0 \to L_1 \to L_2 \to \cdots$ obtained as follows. Take $L_0$ as some $S_g$, an ...
3 votes
0 answers
257 views

Braids with an infinite number of strings

Has anyone developed a theory for braids with an infinite number of strings?
13 votes
0 answers
586 views

Finite groups inside an infinite group with the same homology

Suppose we have a triple of groups $G,H,K$ satisfying the following conditions: $G$ and $H$ are finite groups and $K$ is an infinite group. there exist two monomorphisms $G \rightarrow K \leftarrow H$...
3 votes
0 answers
547 views

Aut/Inn/Out Automorphism Groups of the unitary group $𝑈(𝑁)$

Given a group $G$, we denote the center Z$(G)$, we like to know the automorphism group Aut($G$), the outer automorphism Out($G$) and the inner automorphism Inn($G$). They form short exact sequences: $$...
2 votes
0 answers
106 views

Minimal symmetry of a fibre bundle

Let $F \to E \to B$ be a topological fibre bundle with fibre $F$ and base $B$. It can be characterized by a map $B \to BAut(F)$. If it can also be characterized as a map $B \to BG$ (or say $G$ is a ...
8 votes
1 answer
387 views

Outer automorphism group of Brieskorn homology sphere?

In this post, it is discussed how a Brieskorn homology sphere $\Sigma(a_1,a_2,a_3)$ with $\displaystyle \frac{1}{a_1}+ \frac{1}{a_2}+ \frac{1}{a_3} < 1$ is an aspherical manifold with a ...
6 votes
1 answer
426 views

What is known about the discrete group cohomology $H^2(\mathrm{SL}_2(\mathbb C), \mathbb C^\times)$?

The cohomology ring of $\mathrm{SL}_2(\mathbb C)$ as a topological group is straightforward (it's generated by a Chern class), but what is known in the discrete case? I'm particularly interested in $H^...
7 votes
2 answers
957 views

Computations in group cohomology

Hello, Given a finitely presentable group $G$, I'm interested in the cup-product from $H^1$ to $H^2$ with real coefficients. I want to know if this is explicitly computable (with a computer) with a ...
7 votes
1 answer
288 views

A finitely presented group whose rational cohomology is not nilpotent

Does there exist a finitely presented (preferably $\text{FP}_{\infty}$) group $\Gamma$ and an element $\alpha \in \text{H}^{\ast>0}(B\Gamma;\mathbf{Q})$ that is not nilpotent? If non-discrete ...
5 votes
1 answer
384 views

Which groups have undetectable third U(1)-cohomology?

Let $G$ be a finite group. A categorical Schur detector for $G$ is a set $\mathcal{S}$ of proper subgroups $S \subsetneq G$ such that the total restriction map $$ \mathrm{rest}_{\mathcal{S}} : \mathrm{...
16 votes
1 answer
505 views

How many cells needed to build the classifying space $BG$?

Let $G$ be a finitely presented group of cohomological dimension $n$. Apart from the unresolved ambiguity pertaining to the Eilenberg--Ganea conjecture, it is known that we can find an $n$-dimensional ...
14 votes
2 answers
789 views

Restriction of a branched cover to its branch locus

Assume that we have a smooth, compact, complex surface $X$, and a smooth and irreducible divisor $B \subset X$. Let $G$ be a finite group. For every group epimorphism $$\varphi \colon \pi_1(X-B) \to G,...
3 votes
1 answer
225 views

Quotient of normalizers is the fixed points of a homogeneous space

Let $G$ be a finite group, with subgroups $A \leqslant H$. Is there an isomorphism of $N_G A$-sets (or just sets) $$ N_G A / N_H A \cong (G/H)^A ?$$ This dropped out of some calculations of Mackey ...
6 votes
1 answer
658 views

Generalized Birman exact sequence for surfaces with boundaries

Let $S_g^n$ be a surface of genus g with n boundaries and let $Mod(S_g^n)$ be its mapping class group. We will also denote by $S_{g,m}^n$ a surface of genus g with n boundaries and m punctures. The ...
4 votes
0 answers
164 views

non-abelian tensor products of several groups

R. Brown and J-L. Loday had defined the tensor product of two arbitrary groups acting on each other. Let $G,H$ be groups with actions on each other on the right. each group act on itself by ...
0 votes
1 answer
676 views

Second homotopy group of the wedge sum of $S^2$ with the presentation complex of a finitely generated group

I am reading a paper which makes the following claim: let $G$ be a finitely presented group, and let $X$ be the presentation complex of $G$. Let $X' = X \vee S^2$ be the wedge sum of $X$ with the ...
7 votes
3 answers
586 views

Dimension of classifying space of a group

If $N$ is a normal subgroup of a group $G$ such that $G/N= \mathbb{Z}$. Suppose that the classifying space of $G$ is a finite CW-complex of dimension $n$. Does it follow that the classifying space of $...
2 votes
0 answers
167 views

Any abelian group embeds into a Chow group

Let $G$ be an abelian group. Must there exist a perfect field $k$, a smooth projective geometrically connected $k$-scheme $X$ and an integer $i\geq 0$ such that $G$ embeds into the integral Chow group ...
9 votes
0 answers
372 views

Groups with trivial outer automorphism group and prescribed center?

Given an arbitrary abelian group $A$, can we find a group $G$ such that $\mathrm{Out}(G)=\mathrm{Aut}(G)/\mathrm{Inn}(G)=1$, and $Z(G)\simeq A$? Why is this interesting? Given a group $G$, we have ...
5 votes
1 answer
336 views

"Simplicial complex" product of groups?

Let $X=(V,E)$ be a graph, and to each vertex $v \in V$, associate a group $G_v$. The graph product of the groups $G_v$ (as defined e.g. here) is $F/R$; the quotient of the free product of the $G_v$ by ...
17 votes
1 answer
575 views

Group cochains invariant under the action of the symmetric group

Let $G$ be a finite group and $A$ an abelian group. Recall the cochain groups $$ C^k = \{f: G^k \to A\} $$ and the coboundary map $$ \delta : C^k \to C^{k+1} $$ $$ (\delta f)(g_1, \ldots, ...
8 votes
1 answer
513 views

Equivariant (co)homology of flag manifolds, convolution algebra and nil hecke algebra?

For a complex reductive group $G$ and its Borel subgroup $B$, it seems to be well-known that the equivariant homology group $H^G_*(G/B\times G/B)$ forms a nil-Heck algebra $$NH=\Bbbk[y_i,\partial_{j}]...
12 votes
1 answer
625 views

Any group is a quotient of an acyclic group?

As far as I know, for any group $G$ there exists an acyclic group $H$ such that $G$ is a subgroup of $H$. I am wondering about the dual situation. Is any group $A$ a quotient of an acyclic group $B$ ...
24 votes
3 answers
4k views

Subgroups of free abelian groups are free: a topological proof?

There is a well-known topological proof of the fact that subgroups of free groups are free. Many people, myself included, think it is easier and more natural than the purely algebraic proofs which ...
85 votes
23 answers
11k views

Solving algebraic problems with topology

Often, topologists reduce a problem which is - in some sense - of geometric nature, into an algebraic question that is then (partiallly) solved to give back some understanding of the original problem. ...
1 vote
0 answers
60 views

Restricted wreath product as fundamental group of a space with coinciding Reidemeister and Nielsen numbers

I am studying a group $\mathbb{Z}_n \wr \mathbb{Z}^k$, where $\wr$ denotes the restricted wreath product: $$ \mathbb{Z}_n \wr \mathbb{Z}^k = \bigoplus_{x\in\mathbb{Z}^k}(\mathbb{Z_n})_x\rtimes\mathbb{...
1 vote
0 answers
113 views

Question on models for $EG$ for a $G$-CW complex

I am having trouble finding information on a definition in P. Hanham's PhD thesis paper. recall that given a discrete group $G$ a $G$-CW-complex $X$ is a CW-complex equipped with a topological $G$ ...
5 votes
0 answers
140 views

Reference request: Name or use of this group of diffeomorphisms of the disc

Let $k \in \{0,\infty\}$, $G\subseteq \operatorname{Diff}^k(D^n)$ be the set of diffeomorphisms $\phi:D^n\to D^n$ of the closed $n$-disc $D^n$ (with its boundary) satisfying the following: $ \phi(S_r^...
13 votes
1 answer
289 views

Powers of the Euler class, torsion free subgroup of Homeo($S^1$)

For any subgroup $G$ of $\text{Homeo}(S^1)$, we have the Euler class $\chi$ in the group cohomology $H^2(G;\mathbb{Z})$. One can think of this class as the pullback of the generator of $H^2(\mathrm{B}\...
7 votes
2 answers
494 views

How does the Steenrod algebra act on $\mathrm{H}^\bullet(p^{1+2}_+, \mathbb{F}_p)$?

Let $p$ be an odd prime. The $\mathbb F_p$ cohomology of the cyclic group of order $p$ is well-known: $\mathrm{H}^\bullet(C_p, \mathbb F_p) = \mathbb F_p[\xi,x]$ where $\xi$ has degree 1, $x$ has ...
12 votes
1 answer
522 views

Realizing inner automorphisms on Eilenberg-MacLane spaces

Let $G$ be a discrete group and let $(X,x_0)$ be a based Eilenberg-MacLane space for $G$, so there is a fixed isomorphism $\pi_1(X,x_0) = G$ and the universal cover $\widetilde{X}$ is contractible. ...
15 votes
1 answer
512 views

fundamental groups of complements to countable subsets of the plane

This question is a follow-up of this MSE post and a comment by Henno Brandsma: Question 1. Let $S$ be the set of isomorphism classes of fundamental groups $\pi_1(E^2 - C)$, where $C$ ranges over all ...
4 votes
1 answer
276 views

Shifting the group homology of a topological group?

Let $G$ be a topological group. It has a classifying space $BG$, which has homology groups $H_{*}BG$. Changing the topology of $G$ affects the space $BG$ and hence its homology groups. For example ...
14 votes
2 answers
906 views

Acyclic group and finite CW-complex

Is there a nontrivial example of an acyclic group $G$ such that its corresponding Eilenberg space $K(G,1)$ is homotopy equivalent to a finite CW-complex ?
8 votes
3 answers
628 views

A question on Hawaiian earring group

I have asked this question in MSE but have not got any satisfactory answer, so I am asking it here. Any idea on how to approach this problem will be highly appreciated. Consider the Hawaiian earring. ...
9 votes
1 answer
386 views

Different definitions of formality for groups

Let $X$ be a space with fundamental group $G$. Recall that the de Rham fundamental group of $X$ is the inverse limit of the Malcev completions of the nilpotent truncations of $G$. This has a Lie ...
1 vote
0 answers
132 views

Nilpotency of topological groups

A group $G$ is said to be nilpotent if $G$ has a central series of finite length, that is, a series of normal subgroups $$ \{1\} = G_0 \triangleleft G_1 \triangleleft \cdots \triangleleft G_n = G $$ ...