All Questions
Tagged with at.algebraic-topology gr.group-theory
288 questions
6
votes
2
answers
331
views
Epimorphisms from the genus $2$ surface braid group to finite groups
This question is somehow related to my previous MO question Explicit description of a subgroup of the braid group $\mathsf{B}_2(C_2)$; for the reader convenience, let me write down again the relevant ...
- 66.3k
6
votes
1
answer
456
views
Restrictions on $\pi_1(X)$ of geometric origin (Kähler groups as example)
There's and old and extensively studied question about characterisation of fundamental groups of smooth compact Kähler manifolds. Restrictions imposed by Kählerness are somewhat fragile, and if we ...
- 4,600
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
6
votes
2
answers
447
views
Why additional constraint is need for this two groups to be isomorphic?
I'm reading AMS's book Papers on Topology, which collects Poincare's papers on topology.
However, the first paper stops me.
In the paper, he considered the group generated by transformations in $\...
- 351
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
6
votes
2
answers
749
views
Explicit computation of the Burnside ring
I would like to see explicit computations of the Burnside ring $A(G)$ when $G$ is a small Abelian group, such as $G=\mathbb{Z}/2,\mathbb{Z}/2^n,\mathbb{Z}/p^n$ where $p$ is an odd prime and $n\...
- 3,173
6
votes
1
answer
316
views
Groups with unusual cohomological dimension of direct product
$\DeclareMathOperator\cd{cd}$Are there any known examples of non-free groups with a property that $\cd(G)+1 = \cd(G \times G)$, or, less restrictive, $G, H$ with $\cd \neq 1, \infty$ such that $\cd(H)+...
- 4,600
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 ...
6
votes
2
answers
436
views
Presentation of the fundamental group of a complex variety
Let $X$ be a connected smooth complex algebraic variety and $Z=\bigcup_{i=1}^r Z_i$ be a union of smooth connected hypersurfaces, satisfying that each two intersect transversally. Assume for ...
- 541
6
votes
1
answer
312
views
A Tate resolution for $\Sigma_p$ - Reference request
Below I will describe a mod $p$ Tate resolution for the symmetric group $\Sigma_p$, i.e. a $\mathbb{Z}$-graded periodic acyclic chain complex $C^*$ of finitely generated modules over $\mathbb{F}_p[\...
- 56.9k
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 ...
- 17.5k
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;...
- 63
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 ...
6
votes
1
answer
309
views
For which rings R is SL_n(R) a virtual duality group
A famous theorem of Borel and Serre says that if $R$ is the ring of integers in an algebraic number field, then $\text{SL}_n(R)$ satisfies virtual Bieri-Eckmann duality. In other words, there exists ...
- 61
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
6
votes
1
answer
406
views
Connection between Stalling's end theorem and Seifert-van Kampen Theorem
Stalling`s end Theorem (a group has more than one end iff it splits over a finite subgroup) and the Seifert-van Kampen Theorem (the fundamental group of a 'decomposable' space is a free amalgamated ...
- 721
6
votes
0
answers
484
views
Does a finitely generated aspherical group have an aspherical presentation with a finite generating set?
Let $G$ be a finitely generated group. Suppose $G$ has an aspherical presentation with a countably infinite generating set. Does $G$ have an aspherical presentation with a finite generating set?
Here ...
5
votes
2
answers
666
views
HNN extensions which are free products
which HNN-extensions are free products? this question is related with another still unsolved about Nielsen-Thruston-reducibility and connected-sum-irreducibility of 3d-torus- bundles...
- 345
5
votes
1
answer
512
views
What are the cohomological dimensions of ${\rm Aut}(F_n)$, ${\rm Out}(F_n)$, ${\rm SL}_n(\mathbb{Z})$ over the rationals ℚ and integers ℤ?
$\DeclareMathOperator\Aut{Aut}\DeclareMathOperator\Out{Out}\DeclareMathOperator{\cd}{cd}\DeclareMathOperator\SL{SL}$For a group $G$, the cohomological dimension of $G$ over the ring $R$, denoted by $\...
- 331
5
votes
1
answer
964
views
1D TQFT in Freed-Hopkins-Lurie-Teleman
In the first section of Freed-Hopkins-Lurie-Teleman they construct a one-dimensional Topological Quantum Field Theory.
$F(\circ_+)$ is a vector space and $F(\circ_-)$ is the dual.
$F(\circ-\circ)$ is ...
- 22.8k
5
votes
1
answer
629
views
What is known about maximal free subgroups of surface groups?
Let $\Gamma_g=< a_1,...,a_g,b_1,...,b_g | \prod_{i=1}^g [a_i,b_i]>$ (a surface group). What is known about maximal free subgroups of $\Gamma_g$ for $g>1.$ (I.e. free subgroups which are not ...
- 2,390
5
votes
2
answers
573
views
Are homotopy braid groups residually nilpotent?
A group is called residually nilpotent if given any non-identity element, there is a normal subgroup not containing that element, such that the quotient group is nilpotent. It is known that pure braid ...
- 1,108
5
votes
3
answers
411
views
Computability and complexity of computing $|Hom(G,H)|$ for finitely presented groups G, H.
In the general case, I want to say that determining $|Hom(G,H)|$ is incomputable, arguing that you could use the number to test for simplicity of a presentation, but I am new to this area and I keep ...
5
votes
2
answers
754
views
explicit linear representations of fundamental groups of surfaces
I am looking for an explicit representation of the fundamental group of a closed orientable surface of genus >1. I guess they should be abundant in degree 2. Did anyone see the explicit matrix ...
- 1,050
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
5
votes
1
answer
207
views
homological 2 dimensional groups
In a Commentarii Mathematici Helvetici paper by Benno Eckman and Heinz Müller in 1980 (volume 50, pages 510-520) proved that poincaré Duality Groups of dimension 2 with positive first ...
- 2,630
5
votes
2
answers
252
views
Monoid of continuous self-maps of (real) surfaces
Let $S$ be a closed surface of genus $g > 0$ and $[S,S] = Hom(\pi_{1}(S),\pi_{1}(S))$ be the monoid of (homotopy classes of) continuous maps from $S$ to itself. Consider the semi-group $A$ of ...
- 6,995
5
votes
1
answer
264
views
Bases of surface groups
Let $\Gamma_g$ be a surface group of genus $g \geq 2$. A $2g$-tuple $(x_1,y_1, \dots,x_g,y_g) \in \Gamma_g^{2g}$ will be called a Surface Basis if we have the presentation $$\Gamma_g = \langle x_1, ...
- 11.3k
5
votes
1
answer
314
views
abelian and nonabelian parts of Aut($\widehat{F_2}$)
Let $F$ be the free profinite group on two generators. Let $\text{IA}(F) := \ker\left(\text{Aut}(F)\rightarrow GL_2(\widehat{\mathbb{Z}})\right)$, the group of "IA automorphisms" of $F$. (I'm also ...
- 10.7k
5
votes
1
answer
428
views
Centralizers in the universal central extensions of the alternating groups?
For $n \ge 8$ the Schur multiplier $H_2(BA_n, \mathbb{Z})$ (where $A_n$ denotes the alternating group) stabilizes to $\mathbb{Z}_2$, and hence there is a universal central extension $\widetilde{A}_n$ ...
- 118k
5
votes
1
answer
232
views
Finite index subgroups of the mapping class group with geometric meaning
I have got a question that is perhaps not precise in a mathematical sense.
Is there a classification of all coverings of the moduli space of Riemann surfaces which are moduli spaces themselves, that ...
- 471
5
votes
1
answer
384
views
Which groups have undetectable third U(1)-cohomology?
Let $G$ be a finite group. A categorical Schur detector for $G$ is a set $\mathcal{S}$ of proper subgroups $S \subsetneq G$ such that the total restriction map
$$ \mathrm{rest}_{\mathcal{S}} : \mathrm{...
- 54.6k
5
votes
0
answers
171
views
Spectral sequence construction of Euler class of group extension
Let $A$ be an abelian group equipped with an action of a group $G$ and let
$$1 \longrightarrow A \longrightarrow \Gamma \longrightarrow G \longrightarrow 1$$
be an extension of group inducing the ...
- 51
5
votes
0
answers
249
views
Aspherical space whose fundamental group is subgroup of the Euclidean isometry group
Let $M$ be a smooth, compact manifold without a boundary, with its universal covering $\tilde{M} = \mathbb{R}^n$. If there exists an injective homomorphism $h: \pi_1(M) \rightarrow O(k) \ltimes \...
- 661
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{...
- 317
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
5
votes
0
answers
636
views
Do the ternary braid groups arise in algebraic topology?
Let $TB_{n}$ be the group defined by the presentation with generators $t_{1},...,t_{n-2}$ and relations $t_{i}t_{i+1}t_{i+2}t_{i}=t_{i+2}t_{i}t_{i+1}t_{i+2}$
and $t_{i}t_{j}=t_{j}t_{i}$ whenever $|i-j|...
5
votes
0
answers
222
views
Nilpotent Localization in Group Theory
Algebraic topologists have invented a very pretty technique of localizing nilpotent groups. (Garth Warner covers the topic in his book manuscript Topics in Topology and Homotopy Theory). For ...
- 6,870
4
votes
1
answer
523
views
Is automorphism on a compact group necessarily homeomorphism? How about N-dimensional torus？ [closed]
Is automorphism on a compact group necessarily homeomorphism? I don't think so，but I think it is possible on the N-dimensional torus.
- 83
4
votes
1
answer
625
views
Is there an algorithm for computing Schur multiplier?
Suppose we are given group $G=\langle a_1,\ldots,a_n \mid R_1=1,\ldots R_m=1 \rangle$. Is there an algorithm which computes a finite presentation for the Schur multiplier, i.e. second homology group $...
- 1,281
4
votes
2
answers
337
views
A Karrass-Solitar theorem for surface groups
Let $\Gamma_g$ be a surface group of genus $g \geq 2$. That is, there is a presentation $$\Gamma_g = \langle x_1, y_1, \dots, x_g, y_g \vert \prod_{i = 1}^{g}[x_i,y_i] = 1\rangle$$
Is there a ...
- 11.3k
4
votes
2
answers
292
views
$\mathrm{String}/\mathbb{CP}^{\infty}=\mathrm{Spin}$ or a correction to this quotient group relation
We know that there is a fiber sequence:
$$
\dotsb \to B^3 \mathbb Z \to B \mathrm{String} \to B \mathrm{Spin} \to B^4 \mathbb Z \to \dotsb.
$$
Is this fiber sequence induced from a short exact ...
- 447
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
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
4
votes
1
answer
365
views
Topological interpretation for groups of type $FP_2$
A group $G$ is of type $FP_2$ if it admits a partial projective resolution of $\mathbb{Z}G$-modules $$ P_2 \rightarrow P_1 \rightarrow P_0 \rightarrow \mathbb{Z} \rightarrow 0$$ with each $P_i$ being ...
4
votes
1
answer
394
views
$SO(3)$ 2-cocycle trivialized to a 2-coboundary in $SU(2)$?
I was trying to understand this interesting question by example.
Let me follow their previous discussion and ask: Let a generic nontrivial 2-cocycle $\omega_2^G(g_1,g_2) \in H^2(G,\mathbb{R}/\mathbb{...
- 755
4
votes
1
answer
207
views
Groups homology with coefficients fitting into filtration or exact sequence
Let $G$ be a group. I have two questions about the homology of $G$:
Consider a finite exact sequence
$$0 \rightarrow M_1 \rightarrow \cdots \rightarrow M_m \rightarrow 0$$
of $G$-modules. How are ...
- 43
4
votes
1
answer
328
views
Algebraic K-groups and braids
This is (I think) a reference request:
Are there calculations of any algebraic K-groups for the (group ring of) the Artin braid groups?
- 1,180
4
votes
0
answers
453
views
Problem 1.8 from Kirby's list
Context
I looked through a book called "Problems in Low-Dimensional Topology", where Rob Kirby lists a set of problems. He provides a list of problems, states their conjectures, and ...
4
votes
0
answers
425
views
Non-triviality of map $S^{24} \longrightarrow S^{21} \longrightarrow Sp(3)$
Let $\theta$ be the generator of $\pi_{21}(Sp(3))\cong \mathbb{Z}_3$, (localized at 3).
How to show the composition
$$S^{24}\longrightarrow S^{21}\overset{\theta}\longrightarrow Sp(3)$$
is non-trivial ...
