All Questions
Tagged with at.algebraic-topology gr.group-theory
288 questions
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 ...
- 81
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 ...
- 2,083
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:
$$...
- 10.5k
2
votes
0
answers
106
views
Minimal symmetry of a fibre bundle
Let $F \to E \to B$ be a topological fibre bundle with fibre $F$ and base $B$. It can be characterized by a map $B \to BAut(F)$. If it can also be characterized as a map $B \to BG$ (or say $G$ is a ...
- 5,230
8
votes
1
answer
387
views
Outer automorphism group of Brieskorn homology sphere?
In this post, it is discussed how a Brieskorn homology sphere $\Sigma(a_1,a_2,a_3)$ with $\displaystyle \frac{1}{a_1}+ \frac{1}{a_2}+ \frac{1}{a_3} < 1$ is an aspherical manifold with a ...
- 309
6
votes
1
answer
426
views
What is known about the discrete group cohomology $H^2(\mathrm{SL}_2(\mathbb C), \mathbb C^\times)$?
The cohomology ring of $\mathrm{SL}_2(\mathbb C)$ as a topological group is straightforward (it's generated by a Chern class), but what is known in the discrete case? I'm particularly interested in $H^...
- 2,533
7
votes
1
answer
288
views
A finitely presented group whose rational cohomology is not nilpotent
Does there exist a finitely presented (preferably $\text{FP}_{\infty}$) group $\Gamma$ and an element $\alpha \in \text{H}^{\ast>0}(B\Gamma;\mathbf{Q})$ that is not nilpotent?
If non-discrete ...
- 11.9k
16
votes
1
answer
505
views
How many cells needed to build the classifying space $BG$?
Let $G$ be a finitely presented group of cohomological dimension $n$.
Apart from the unresolved ambiguity pertaining to the Eilenberg--Ganea conjecture, it is known that we can find an $n$-dimensional ...
- 11.9k
5
votes
1
answer
384
views
Which groups have undetectable third U(1)-cohomology?
Let $G$ be a finite group. A categorical Schur detector for $G$ is a set $\mathcal{S}$ of proper subgroups $S \subsetneq G$ such that the total restriction map
$$ \mathrm{rest}_{\mathcal{S}} : \mathrm{...
- 54.6k
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 ...
- 479
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 ...
- 353
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 $...
- 451
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 ...
user164740
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 ...
- 903
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 ...
- 27.2k
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 ...
- 208
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 $B$ ...
- 530
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
$$NH=\Bbbk[y_i,\partial_{j}]...
- 719
14
votes
2
answers
789
views
Restriction of a branched cover to its branch locus
Assume that we have a smooth, compact, complex surface $X$, and a smooth and irreducible divisor $B \subset X$. Let $G$ be a finite group. For every group epimorphism $$\varphi \colon \pi_1(X-B) \to G,...
- 66.3k
37
votes
1
answer
1k
views
If $A$, $B$ are abelian groups such that $\mathrm{Hom}(A, G) \cong \mathrm{Hom}(B, G)$ for all abelian groups $G$, must $A$ and $B$ be isomorphic?
$\DeclareMathOperator\Hom{Hom}$The question is in the title. If the isomorphism $\Hom(A, G) \cong \Hom(B, G)$ is natural in $G$ then this is just the Yoneda Lemma. If $A$ and $B$ are finitely ...
- 1,141
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{...
- 137
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$ ...
- 233
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^...
- 5,405
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}\...
- 1,003
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 ...
- 54.6k
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. ...
- 225
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 ...
- 12.3k
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 ?
- 717
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 ...
- 1,150
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 ...
- 383
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
$$
...
- 901
7
votes
0
answers
333
views
Positive instances of the Eilenberg-Ganea conjecture with families
The original Eilenberg-Ganea conjecture, which remains unsettled, can be formulated as: any (discrete) group $G$ of cohomological dimension $\operatorname{cd}(G)=2$ has geometric dimension $\...
- 35.9k
6
votes
1
answer
218
views
Free linear group actions on spheres with "strong" angle preservation
Suppose $G$ is a finite group and that $\rho: G\rightarrow O(d)$ is a faithful orthogonal representation, with action on $\mathbb{R}^d$ denoted $\cdot$. Let's say that $\rho$ is "strongly" angle ...
- 157
12
votes
2
answers
583
views
Do there exist acyclic simple groups of arbitrarily large cardinality?
Recall that a group $G$ is acyclic if its group homology vanishes: $H_\ast(G; \mathbb Z) = 0$. Equivalently, $G$ is acyclic iff the space $BG$ is acyclic, i.e. $\tilde H_\ast(BG;\mathbb Z) = 0$.
In ...
- 63.9k
18
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Fundamental group of punctured simply connected subset of $\mathbb{R}^2$
(This question is originally from Math.SE where it was suggested that I ask the question here)
Let $S$ be a simply connected subset of $\mathbb{R}^2$ and let $x$ be an interior point of $S$, meaning ...
- 2,889
17
votes
1
answer
998
views
Where should I search for computations of group cohomology rings of not-too-complicated finite groups?
A computation I'm trying to make uses as input the cohomology rings of not-too-complicated finite groups in low
degrees, and I'd like to determine where to search for preexisting computations.
...
- 6,881
3
votes
1
answer
225
views
Quotient of normalizers is the fixed points of a homogeneous space
Let $G$ be a finite group, with subgroups $A \leqslant H$. Is there an isomorphism of $N_G A$-sets (or just sets)
$$ N_G A / N_H A \cong (G/H)^A ?$$
This dropped out of some calculations of Mackey ...
- 401
4
votes
0
answers
96
views
When are extensions of algebraically good groups algebraically good?
Let $G$ be a discrete group. The pro-algebraic completion of $G$ is a pro-algebraic group $G^{\mathrm{alg}}$ together with a morphism $s:G\to G^{\mathrm{alg}}$ which is initial among all morphisms ...
- 1,635
8
votes
0
answers
285
views
Are the braid groups good in the sense of Toën?
In this question it is asked whether the mapping class groups are 'good' in relation to pro-finite completion. Helpfully, one of the answers gives a link to a proof that the braid groups are good ...
- 1,635
6
votes
1
answer
422
views
A finite p-group question: can this happen?
Let all groups here be finite $p$--groups.
Given $K<H$, let $r(K,H)$ be the smallest $r$ such that there exists a chain of subgroups $K=L_0 \lhd L_1 \lhd \cdots \lhd L_r = H$, such that each $L_i/...
- 11.1k
17
votes
1
answer
1k
views
A finite 2-group containing the dihedral group of order 16?
The dihedral group $D_{16}$ of order 16 has a presentation $D_{16}= \langle a,t \ | \ a^2=t^8=atat=e\rangle$.
Question: Does there exist a finite 2-group $G$ containing $D_{16}$ as a subgroup, and ...
- 11.1k
15
votes
1
answer
629
views
Characteristic classes of symmetric group $S_4$
For the symmetric group $S_3$, it is classically known that \begin{equation} H^*(S_3;\mathbb{Z})\cong \mathbb{Z}[x,y]/(2x,6y,x^2-3y), \end{equation} where $|x|=2$ and $|y|=4$. Moreover, $x$ can be ...
- 439
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
First homology group of the general linear group
The abelianization of the general linear group $GL(n,\mathbb{R})$, defined by $$GL(n,\mathbb{R})^{ab} := GL(n,\mathbb{R})/[GL(n,\mathbb{R}), GL(n,\mathbb{R})],$$ is isomorphic to $\mathbb{R}^{\times}$....
- 323
7
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Automorphism group of the special unitary group $SU(N)$
Let us consider the automorphism group of the special unitary group $G=SU(N)$.
We know there is an exact sequence:
$$
0 \to \text{Inn}(G) \to \text{Aut}(G) \to \text{Out}(G) \to 0.
$$
For $G=SU(2)...
- 2,147
3
votes
2
answers
291
views
How many non-isomorphic extensions with kernel $S^1$ and quotient cyclic of order $p$?
I want to determine how many non-isomorphic extensions (as group they are non-isomorphic) are possible of the form $1 \to \mathbb{S}^1 \to G \to (\mathbb{Z}_p)^k \to 1$, where $G$ is a compact lie ...
- 123
1
vote
1
answer
312
views
Topological Invariants for Group
Let $\mathbf{Grp}$ be the category of groups and $\mathbf{Top}$ be the category of topological spaces. To each group $(G, \circ_G)$, we can associate a topological space $(G,\tau_G)$ the basis for ...
user57432
1
vote
0
answers
57
views
$\omega$-nilpotent cover of a recurrent surface
Theorem. Any $\omega$-nilpotent cover of a recurrent Riemannian manifold is Liouville.
$\omega$-nilpotent ($\Gamma=\bigcup_{i=1}^{\infty}Z_{i}$, $Z_{i}$ normal in $\Gamma$, where $Z_{n+1}$ maps to ...
- 391
7
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Classifying space of semidirect product of groups
Assume that $G$ and $H$ are two groups and $G\rtimes _\phi H$ is their semidirect product. My question is, how does the classifying space $B(G\rtimes_\phi H)$ of $G\rtimes _\phi H$ relate to $BG$ and $...
- 2,535
4
votes
0
answers
136
views
Second homology of finitely presented group with free abelianisation
It is known that for a presented group $G=F/N$ we have
$$H_2(G;\mathbb{Z}) \cong \frac{[F,F]\cap N}{[F,N]}.$$
In general, the right side seems to be difficult to calculate. I am in the special ...
- 1,623