All Questions
Tagged with at.algebraic-topology gr.group-theory
288 questions
9
votes
0
answers
420
views
Hochschild-Serre spectral sequence via explicit filtration
Let
$$1 \longrightarrow K \longrightarrow G \longrightarrow Q \longrightarrow 1$$
be a short exact sequence of groups and let $M$ be a $\mathbb{Z}[G]$-module. The Hochschild--Serre spectral ...
- 163
9
votes
0
answers
439
views
(Torsion in) homology of free nilpotent groups
It is known that for free $k$-step nilpotent group on $r$ generators $N(r, k)$ its integral homology is torsion-free in degrees $\leq 3$ (obvious for 1 and 2, Igusa&Orr computations for 3). ...
- 4,600
9
votes
0
answers
376
views
Explicit description of a subgroup of the braid group $\mathsf{B}_2(C_2)$
This is related to my previous MathOverflow question Fundamental group of $\mathrm{Sym}^2(C_g)$ minus the diagonal.
Let $C_2$ be a smooth curve of genus $2$ and $X:=\mathrm{Sym}^2(C_2)$ its second ...
- 66.3k
8
votes
1
answer
672
views
Can the Kan-Thurston theorem be turned into some kind of equivalence between groups and spaces?
I not really familiar with these subjects. I read this question and I was really surprised by the answer. My question is probably vague (so please do bear with me).
The cited question/answer ...
- 277
8
votes
2
answers
632
views
Are torus knot groups linear?
The fundamental group $T(p,q)$ of the complement of a $(p,q)$-torus knot (in $S^3$) admits the presentation $\langle a, b \mid a^p=b^q \rangle $. Is $T(p,q)$ linear, i.e., is there a faithful ...
- 81
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
8
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Almost-direct product and 1-formality
Let $G$ be a finitely presented group. To $G$ is associated in a functorial way a Malcev Lie algebra which can be constructed in several equivalent ways. Roughly speaking, it is the quotient of the ...
- 8,524
8
votes
2
answers
596
views
Infinite loop space maps into or out of BAut(F_n)
There is an inclusion $S_n \to Aut(F_n)$ from the symmetric group into the automorphism group of a free group. After applying the Quillen +-constriction, both $BS_{\infty}$ and $BF_{\infty}$ become ...
- 2,734
8
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Beyond an intro to topological graph theory...
I'm looking to find out what active areas of research there are in topological graph theory, particularly those that interface strongly with other areas of math (say, group theory, algebraic topology, ...
- 1,180
8
votes
1
answer
382
views
Second homology of mapping class group of genus 3
In a survey paper of Korkmaz it is stated that $H_2(\mathrm{Mod}_3)$ is either $\Bbb Z$ or $\Bbb Z \oplus \Bbb Z_2$, but I was not able to find out a precise computation of this group (resolving the ...
- 2,283
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 $...
- 35.9k
8
votes
1
answer
420
views
Can we algorithmically contract loops in a simply connected space?
It is well-known that the question whether a given connected simplicial complex (or simplicial set) is simply connected, is algorithmically undecidable as it can model the word problem.
Assuming ...
- 972
8
votes
1
answer
739
views
Transgressions commute with the Steenrod operations on the base and fiber in a central group extension?
The following sentence is quoted from the paper ON THE COHOMOLOGY OF SPLIT EXTENSIONS by D. J. BENSON AND M. FESHBACH:
In general, the differentials in the Lyndon-Hochschild-Serre spectral sequence
...
- 83
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
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. ...
- 1,305
8
votes
2
answers
594
views
Finiteness of non-abelian cohomology
Let $H$ be a finite group acting on a group $G$. Are there general conditions one can place on $G$ so that the set $H^1(H, G)$ is guaranteed to be finite? For instance, does finiteness hold if $G$ ...
- 183
8
votes
1
answer
532
views
Localizations of non-nilpotent spaces
For simplicity let's talk about $p$-localizations of spaces for a fixed prime $p$. Every space $X$ has a well-defined $p$-localization which can be constructed by the small object argument and which ...
- 7,656
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
8
votes
1
answer
519
views
The extension class of a finite Heisenberg group
Let $\mathbb{K}$ be a field of characteristic $\neq 2$ and let $(V, \omega)$ be a symplectic vector space. Then the Heisenberg group $\mathsf{Heis}(V, \, \omega)$ is the central extension of the ...
- 66.3k
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 ...
- 54.6k
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;...
- 54.6k
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
8
votes
0
answers
204
views
Relationship between the p-radical subgroups and the parabolics in a BN-pair generality
A theorem of Quillen says that if $G$ is a finite Chevalley group over characteristic $p$, then the poset $\mathcal{A}_p(G)$ of nontrivial elementary abelian subgroups of $G$ is homotopy equivalent (I ...
- 1,726
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 ...
- 339
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
7
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Is it possible to construct K(G, 1) out of a subgroup and its quotient?
Suppose we have a short exact sequence $1 \to K \to G \to Q \to 1$ and let $X_K$ and $X_Q$ be $K(K, 1)$ and $K(Q, 1)$, respectively. Is it possible to construct (in a "natural" way) a model of $K(G, 1)...
- 489
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
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.
$$
For $G=SU(2)...
- 2,147
7
votes
2
answers
860
views
mapping space between classifying spaces
I wanted to ask a summary of known results and references about the homotopy type of the mapping space $\mathrm{Map}(BG,BK)$ (and specially the connected components) between the classifying spaces ...
- 1,974
7
votes
2
answers
537
views
Residually finite + torsion free + finite index = finite complex?
Suppose $G$ is a residually-finite group and $H < G$ a torsion-free subgroup of finite index.
What characterizes such $G$ such that $BH$ is homotopic to a finite complex?
I believe Serre showed ...
- 2,734
7
votes
2
answers
376
views
are there finite nonabelian characteristic quotients $G$ of $F_2$ inducing a surjection $Aut(F_2)\twoheadrightarrow Aut(G)$?
Let $F_2$ be the free group of rank 2. Let $K\le F_2$ be a characteristic subgroup, such that $G := F_2/K$ is finite.
Do there exist examples of such nonabelian $G$ such that the induced map
$$Aut(...
- 7,527
7
votes
1
answer
463
views
Cohomology of the mapping class group of a non-orientable surface?
What is the low degree cohomology of the mapping class group of a non-orientable surface? More specifically, what is the universal central extension of the mapping class group of a non-orientable ...
- 12.8k
7
votes
2
answers
676
views
Is the Euler characteristic of aspherical connected 2-complexes at most 1? (No!) What can be said about subcomplexes of 2-complexes deformation retractible onto graphs.
I have several related questions, i do not know which one is more important to me, i think it would depend on their answers.
Is it true that the Euler characteristic of a finite connected aspherical ...
- 1,481
7
votes
1
answer
672
views
How does this geometric description of the structure of PSL(2, Z) actually work?
There is a beautiful way to see that the congruence subgroup $\Gamma(2)$ is free on two generators: the action of $\Gamma(2)$ on $\mathbb{H}$ is free and properly discontinuous, and there is a modular ...
- 118k
7
votes
2
answers
539
views
Injectivity of the cohomology map induced by some projection map
Given a (compact) Lie group $G$, persumably disconnected, there exists a short exact sequence
$$1\rightarrow G_c\rightarrow G\rightarrow G/G_c\rightarrow 1$$
where $G_c$ is the normal subgroup which ...
- 125
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
7
votes
2
answers
672
views
cohomological dimension of a group acting on a product
I recently came across an interesting result of Kobayashi [Corollary 5.5], a special case of which is the following: Suppose $\Gamma$ is a discrete torsion free subgroup of $SL_n(\mathbb{R})$ which ...
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
7
votes
1
answer
519
views
When do covering spaces correspond to characteristic subgroups?
Given a covering space $p \colon X \to Y$, we get an injection $p^* \colon \pi_1(X) \to \pi_1(Y)$, and we know that the image $p^*(\pi_1(X))$ is normal in $\pi_1(Y)$ if an only if $p$ is regular, that ...
7
votes
1
answer
197
views
Homology of a limit of semidirect products
Suppose I have two families of groups $A_k$ and $B_k$ indexed by the natural numbers and suppose $B_k$ acts on $A_k$. Suppose there are groups homomorphisms $A_{k+1} \rtimes B_{k+1} \to A_k \rtimes ...
- 111
7
votes
1
answer
506
views
$G$ cocycle split to a coboundary in $J$, via a group extension
Consider a generic nontrivial $d$-cocycle $\omega_d^G \in H^d(G,U(1))$ in the cohomology group of a group $G$ with $U(1)=\mathbb{R}/\mathbb{Z}$ coefficient. In otherwords, here the $d$-cocycle $\...
- 10.5k
7
votes
2
answers
590
views
Pairs of Permutations up to Simultaneous Conjugation
The conjugacy classes of $S_n$ are the cycle types since if $\tau = (\dots)(\dots)\dots(\dots)$, the conjugation $\tau \mapsto \sigma \tau \sigma^{-1}$ permutes the labels in the cycles of $\tau$.
...
- 22.8k
7
votes
1
answer
415
views
Classifying abelian (but non-central) group extensions using homotopy theory
Let $G$ be a group and let $A$ be an abelian group equipped with an action of $G$. Group extensions
$$1 \longrightarrow A \longrightarrow \Gamma \longrightarrow G \longrightarrow 1$$
inducing the ...
- 44.8k
7
votes
1
answer
859
views
How commutative is Quillen's Plus-Construction?
This question is inspired by this question about the dependence of K-theory on the order of multiplication in the ring. I did not think long about it, so maybe the answer really lies on the surface; ...
- 25.5k
7
votes
1
answer
310
views
Homotopy between posets
This is entirely a new area for me and I apologise in advance if the questions are silly.
In Quillen's paper "Homotopy properties of the posets of non-trivial $p$-subgroup of a group" (see ...
- 139
7
votes
1
answer
433
views
Associativity with infinite nesting
I was trying to understand the Eilenberg-Mazur swindle (which I learned about here) especially as it could be used to show that if $A, B$ are compact (topological) $n$-manifolds whose connect sum is $...
- 2,299
7
votes
1
answer
663
views
Explicit 2-cocycle from a 2nd cohomology group $H^2[Q_8 \times \mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}, U(1)]$
I would like to know the explicit expression of 2-cocycle from a 2nd cohomology group $H^2[Q_8 \times \mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}, U(1)]$ with $U(1)\equiv \mathbb{R}/\mathbb{Z}$ coefficient, or namely $H^2[...
- 10.5k
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
7
votes
0
answers
422
views
Very frustrated reading a proof of the faithfulness of Artin's representation of braid groups
I am reading BRAID GROUPS, FREE GROUPS, AND THE LOOP SPACE OF THE 2-SPHERE by F.R. Cohen and J. Wu and here is an extract of the paper:
(The proof is not finished yet but I am very confused by now.)
...
- 1,108
6
votes
2
answers
765
views
Cup products and the transfer map
Let $G_1$ be a finite-index subgroup of $G_2$. Let $i : H^{\ast}(G_2) \rightarrow H^{\ast}(G_1)$ be the induced map of rings. There is then a transfer homomorphism $\tau : H^{\ast}(G_1) \rightarrow ...
- 63