All Questions
Tagged with at.algebraic-topology gt.geometric-topology
1,145 questions
3
votes
0
answers
150
views
Cell structure on the function space $\operatorname{Hom}(X,Y)$
By the Theorem of Milnor in his paper "On spaces having the homotopy type of a CW-complex", the function space $\operatorname{Hom}(X,Y)$ (with the compact-open topology) is homotopy ...
- 140
10
votes
1
answer
659
views
Are there any tests for knowing whether a topological space admits a CW structure?
We know that for n $\ge$ 5, a manifold admits a piecewise linear structure if and only if its Kirby-Siebenmann class vanish and Galewski and Stern showed the existence of a similar invariant to test ...
- 168
2
votes
1
answer
380
views
Is it always possible to connect the endpoints of a smooth injective path, so the resulting path is smooth, closed and simple?
Motivation
The motivation for this question arises from the following problem: Is there a closed, simple, and infinitely differentiable path on the (complex) plane such that every straight line has a ...
3
votes
0
answers
119
views
Signature vs commensurability
If a closed oriented $4n$-dimensional manifold $M$ has an orientation-reversing homeomorphism, then the signature $\sigma(M)$ of the intersection form vanishes. More generally, $\sigma(M) = 0$ if $M$ ...
- 41
4
votes
0
answers
177
views
Basis of topology on space of properly embedded smooth manifolds
In A Short Exposition of the Madsen-Weiss Theorem, Hatcher discusses (starting at p.6) a basis for a topology on the space $\mathcal{C}^n$, the space of all smooth oriented $d$-dimensional ...
- 141
5
votes
1
answer
378
views
Why is this Brieskorn manifold a rational homology sphere?
In Némethi's book "Normal surface singularities", Example 5.1.17, there is a formula to find the Seifert invariants of a Brieskorn complete intersection $\Sigma(a_1,...,a_n)$. I am ...
- 197
8
votes
1
answer
224
views
Can increasing the winding number of a 2-cell make a CW complex embeddable?
Let $X$ be a 2-dimensional CW complex and let $c\subset X$ be a 2-cell attached along a simple closed loop $\gamma$ in the 1-skeleton $X^{(1)}$.
For a natural number $n\ge 2$ consider the operation of ...
- 13.6k
25
votes
1
answer
582
views
Does every oriented $3$-dimensional submanifold of $\mathbb{R}^6$ bound an oriented $4$-dimensional submanifold?
In my recent research, I encountered the following problem about embeddings. Let $M^3$ be a closed compact oriented smooth $3$-dimensional submanifold of $\mathbb{R}^6$. Does there exist a compact ...
- 587
9
votes
0
answers
159
views
Is there a closed aspherical manifold with infinitely many symmetries and without essential immersed tori?
The precise question is the following:
Is there a closed aspherical manifold $M$ of dimension $n\geq 3$ such that Out($\pi_1(M)$) is infinite and $\pi_1(M)$ does not contain $\mathbb Z \times \mathbb ...
- 10.5k
7
votes
1
answer
435
views
What are the covering spaces of $\mathbb{Q}$?
Let $X = \mathbb{Q}$, topologized as a subset of the real line. Is there a reasonable description of the covering spaces of $X$?
Here is something more precise. One way of constructing covers $p: \...
- 395
5
votes
0
answers
92
views
For spaces $U$ and discrete sets $I,J$, are maps $f\colon U \times I \rightarrow U \times J$ commuting with the projection to $U$ covering spaces?
Let $U$ be a topological space, let $I$ and $J$ be discrete sets, and let $f\colon U \times I \rightarrow U \times J$ be a continuous map that commutes with the projection onto the first factor. In ...
- 395
6
votes
1
answer
206
views
A stable splitting of linear surjections
Some computations I've been doing in Weiss calculus predict the following stable splitting of the space of linear surjections: $\Sigma^\infty_+ \mathrm{Sur}(\mathbb{R}^n,\mathbb{R}^{m_1+m_2})$
as the ...
- 5,839
5
votes
1
answer
380
views
Proving the Cork Theorem
I am reading Kirby's paper paper "Akbulut's corks and h-cobordisms of smooth simply connected 4-manifolds" and I have a question about how to actually prove the cork theorem from the results ...
1
vote
0
answers
61
views
Map from simplex to itself that preserves sub-simplices: revisited
Here it is proved that, if $f$ is a continuous map from an $n$-simplex $\Delta$ to itself, that maps each sub-simplex of $\Delta$ to itself, then $f$ must be onto $\Delta$ (surjective).
I would like ...
- 3,549
4
votes
1
answer
253
views
Intersection pairing on non-compact surface
Let $S$ be a smooth oriented connected $2$-manifold. We have an algebraic intersection pairing $\omega\colon H_1(S) \times H_1(S) \rightarrow \mathbb{Z}$. If $S$ is compact, then this is ...
- 43
14
votes
0
answers
326
views
When can we extend a diffeomorphism from a surface to its neighborhood as identity?
Let $M$ be a closed and simply-connected 4-manifold and let $f: M^4 \to M^4$ be a diffeomorphism such that $f^*: H^*(M;\mathbb{Z})\to H^*(M;\mathbb{Z})$ is the identity map. Moreover, let $\Sigma \...
- 3,751
13
votes
1
answer
518
views
Low dimensional homotopy groups of $\operatorname{Top}(4)$
$\DeclareMathOperator\Top{Top}$I would like to compute $\pi_3\Top(4)$ and $\pi_4\Top(4)$. It is known that $\Top(4)/O(4) \rightarrow \Top/O$ is 5-connected and
$$
\pi_k(\Top/O) =
\begin{cases}
...
2
votes
0
answers
116
views
Generalized Stokes's theorem and the relationship of volume to surface area of objects of arbitrary genus
In this post I saw that it could be explained with the Generalized Stokes's theorem why the derivative of the area of a circle is equal to the boundary of the circle (the circumference):
$$C=\frac{d}{...
- 131
1
vote
0
answers
48
views
Connected pre-images spanning $n$-cubes under dimension reducing maps
Let $I^n = [0,1]^n$ be the $n$-dimensional hypercube. For a continuous function $f: I^n \to \mathbb{R}^m$ with $m < n$, we're interested in the existence of points $p \in \mathbb{R}^m$ whose ...
user530766
3
votes
1
answer
431
views
Detecting a PL sphere and decompositions
Question 1. A PL $n$-sphere is a pure simplicial complex that is a triangulation of the $n$-sphere. I'm looking for a computer algorithm that gives a Yes/No answer to whether a given simplicial ...
- 903
8
votes
0
answers
118
views
Defining convex sums locally on the sphere?
$S^1$ and the torus $T^2$ are spaces in which convex combinations don't make sense globally but do locally. Despite their standard representations in $\mathbf{R}^2$ and $\mathbf{R}^3$ respectively not ...
- 637
2
votes
1
answer
179
views
Model structures on simplicial presheaves of piecewise-linear manifolds
Let $\mathbf{PL}$ denote the category of piecewise-linear manifolds. The goal is to embed $\mathbf{PL}$ into a category of simplicial presheaves, endow it with a model structure, and then localize it ...
user528837
4
votes
1
answer
276
views
Preserving simple-connectedness under intersection complexes
Given a simplicial complex $X$, and a family of its subcomplexes $\{U_i\}_{i\in I}$, we define the corresponding intersection complex to be the simplicial complex $X_U$ with vertex set $I$ where $A \...
- 1,926
8
votes
1
answer
557
views
Relation between 16 $\mathbf{CP}^2$ and $\overline{K3}$
In bordism theory and algebraic topology, 4d spin bordism group is generated by $K3$ surface, while 4d $SO$ bordism group generated by $\mathbf{CP}^2$.
$K3$'s 4-manifold signature is $- 16$
and $\...
- 447
15
votes
1
answer
541
views
Where is the Steenrod Realization problem at?
I'm wondering if there is a more modern reference out there for the Steenrod Realization Problem than the book of Connor and Floyd?
Realizing homology classes in a manifold via embedded submanifolds, ...
- 44.4k
1
vote
0
answers
57
views
extendability of fibre bundles on manifolds with same dimensions
Let $M$ be an $m$-manifold. Let $M'\subseteq M$, where
$M'$ is also an $m$-manifold.
Let $N$ be an $n$-manifold. Let $N'\subseteq N$, where
$N'$ is also an $n$-manifold.
Suppose there is fibre ...
- 123
6
votes
1
answer
373
views
Fivebrane bordism $\Omega_d^{\mathrm{Fivebrane}}$
$\newcommand{\Fr}{\mathrm{Fr}}\newcommand{\Fivebrane}{\mathrm{Fivebrane}}\newcommand{\String}{\mathrm{String}}\DeclareMathOperator\Spin{Spin}\DeclareMathOperator\SO{SO}\DeclareMathOperator\GL{GL}$What ...
- 10.5k
0
votes
1
answer
135
views
Local embedding and disk in domain perturbation
Consider say $M=(\mathbb{S}^1\times\dotsb\times \mathbb{S}^1)-q$ ($n$-times). Assume that $B$ is an $n$ disk in $M$ (for instance, thinking of $\mathbb{S}^1$ as gluing $-1$ and $1$, the cube $B=[-\...
1
vote
0
answers
132
views
The equation of cubic surface
I was studying the nature of singularities of cubic hypersurface on $\Bbb P^{n+1}$. The chosen form was
$$f(x_0,x_1 \dots , x_{n+1})=x_0^3+x_1^3+\dotsb+x_{n+1}^3-c(x_0+x_1+\dotsb+x_{n+1} )^3=0.$$
I ...
- 21
3
votes
3
answers
537
views
Fundamental group of a generalized connected sum
Let $M$ and $N$ be two $n$ dimensional connected closed manifolds with $n \ge 3$, and let $S$ be a $(n-1)$ dimensional closed submanifold common to $M$ and $N$. Consider the connected sum of $M$ and $...
- 311
1
vote
0
answers
61
views
Necessary or sufficient conditions for the $k$-fold intersection to be empty in a covering with a "tree structure"
Consider a finite collection of $d$-dimensional balls $\mathfrak{B}=\{B_1,\ldots,B_n\}$ which cover a PL $d$-manifold $M$, i.e. $M=\bigcup_{i=1}^{n}B_i$. Suppose we want to compute the Euler ...
- 159
5
votes
1
answer
430
views
Linking number and intersection number
Consider a disjoint union of two circles $A$ and $B$ smoothly embedded in $\mathbb{R}^3$ with linking number more than $1$. Suppose we know that there exists a disc $D$ in $\mathbb{R}^3$ such that $\...
- 125
0
votes
1
answer
328
views
Relationship between quotient CW-complexes after attaching cells
I have been trying to prove the following simple-looking result which I require for some work in low-dimensional topology. I expect it is likely true and in a textbook somewhere so any reference or ...
- 187
4
votes
0
answers
184
views
Obstruction to finding a Whitney disk
Let $p,q\geq 3$ be integers. Let $M$ be a compact oriented smooth $(p+q)$-manifold and $P$ and $Q$ compact submanifolds of dimensions $p$ and $q$ intersecting transversely. Assume that $M,P$ and $Q$ ...
13
votes
1
answer
580
views
Identifying two definitions of orientation on a vector space
Let $V$ be an $n$-dimensional real vector space. Here are two definitions of an orientation on $V$:
A generator of the $1$-dimensional vector space $\wedge^n V$, up to multiplication by positive ...
- 133
2
votes
0
answers
414
views
$$ \left(\frac{\text{Man}^{\text{fr}}}{\text{Cobordism}},\coprod,\times \right)\simeq \left((\text{Fin}^{\simeq},\coprod)^{\text{gp}},\times\right)?$$ [closed]
If we combine a theorem of Pontryagin and the Barratt-Priddy-Quillen theorem we get that both sides of
$$
\left(\frac{\mathrm{Man}^{\mathrm{fr}}}{\mathrm{Cobordism}},\coprod,\times \right)\simeq \left(...
- 705
7
votes
1
answer
292
views
Computing $\pi_1$ of the complement of a non-singular plane curve
The following is a well-known fact:
Theorem. The fundamental group of the complement of a non-singular curve of degree $d$ in the complex projective plane is cyclic of order $d$.
This was further ...
- 10.9k
3
votes
1
answer
132
views
Geodesic laminations on the 4-punctured sphere
Let $S_{0,4}$ be the 4-punctured sphere equipped with a hyperbolic metric of finite volume (thus all punctures are cusps). Consider $\gamma$ to be a simple geodesic of $S_{0,4}$ (not necessarily ...
- 133
3
votes
1
answer
200
views
Does the group of compactly supported diffeomorphisms have the homotopy type of a CW complex?
It is known that the group of diffeomorphisms of a compact manifold with the natural $C^{\infty}$ topology has the homotopy type of a countable CW complex. See for instance this thread: Is the space ...
- 491
5
votes
0
answers
158
views
Representing some odd multiples of integral homology classes by embedded submanifolds
Consider an $m$-dimensional compact closed orientable smooth manifold $M$ and an $n$-dimensional integral homology class $[\Sigma]$ on $M$, with $1 \le n \le m-1$. Then does there exist an odd integer ...
- 587
13
votes
1
answer
518
views
Impossibility of realizing codimension 1 homology classes by embedded non-orientable hypersurfaces
Suppose we have an $n+1$-dimensional compact closed oriented manifold $M$ and an $n$-dimensional integral homology class $[\Sigma]\in H_n(M,\mathbb{Z})$ on $M.$ Then is it true that $[\Sigma]$ mod $2$ ...
- 587
4
votes
0
answers
206
views
Reference for a folklore theorem about h-cobordisms
I've seen referenced here that if $M$ and $N$ are closed topological $n$-manifolds and $f: \mathbb{R}\times M \to \mathbb{R}\times N$ is a homeomorphism, then $M$ and $N$ are h-cobordant.
I know that ...
- 41
8
votes
0
answers
151
views
The James and Morse filtrations of homotopy groups
Denote by $JX$ the James construction on a path connected, well-pointed space $X$. This space is filtered by subspaces $X=J_1X\subseteq\dots\subseteq J_nX\subseteq\dots\subseteq JX$ and is the domain ...
- 5,596
0
votes
1
answer
376
views
Relation between trivial tangent bundle $\Leftrightarrow$ certain characteristic classes of tangent bundle vanish [closed]
We know that
framing structure means the trivialization of tangent bundle of manifold $M$.
string structure means the trivialization of Stiefel-Whitney class $w_1$, $w_2$ and half of the first ...
- 447
3
votes
0
answers
227
views
Classifying spaces beyond CW complexes
We know that for a reasonable topological group $G$ (say a compact Lie group) admits a classifying space for $G$-bundles within the category of countable CW complexes. That means, there is a space $BG$...
- 803
4
votes
0
answers
116
views
Finding inverses of certain elements in the set of normal invariants of a smooth manifold
Let, $V$ denote the Stiefel manifold of 2-frames $V_{10,2}$ . Consider the the map $S_\text{diff} (V) \xrightarrow{\eta} N_\text{diff} (V) $ in the surgery exact sequence of a smooth manifold. . ...
- 141
2
votes
0
answers
147
views
Extension of isotopies
In what follows $M$ will be a manifold (without boundary, for simplicity) and $C\subseteq M$ will denote a compact subset. In the paper Deformations of spaces of imbeddings Edwards and Kirby prove the ...
- 641
1
vote
1
answer
192
views
Lie group framing and framed bordism
What is the definition of Lie group framing, in simple terms?
Is the Lie group framing of spheres a particular type of Lie group framing? (How special is the Lie group framing of spheres differed ...
- 447
2
votes
0
answers
175
views
Minimal first Pontryagin class $p_1=1$?
From Hirzbuch theorem,
the signature of 4-manifold $\sigma = p_1/3$ with the first Pontryagin class $p_1$.
I know that the $\sigma=p_1/3 =1$ so $p_1=3$ for complex projective space $\mathbb{P}^2$.
Is ...
- 447
9
votes
2
answers
621
views
Generalization of the sphere theorem in dimension at least 4
In 1956, Papakyriakopoulos proved Dehn's lemma, loop theorem and the sphere theorem. The proofs are based on a clever technique called "tower construction". Later, Whitehead, Shaprio, ...
- 2,083