All Questions
2,364 questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
14
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0
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318
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Do Sullivan's and Wilkerson's algebraic group structures on rational homotopy automorphisms coincide?
For a 1-connected space $X$ with the homotopy type of a finite CW-complex, the homotopy automorphisms $\pi_0\,\mathrm{hAut}(X)$ are known to have the structure of an arithmetic group up to finite ...
14
votes
0
answers
788
views
Covering image of a connected CW-complex need not be a CW-complex
This question is already asked here MSE, and there is an answer based on some conjecture (probably still open). I am posting the same question for a counterexample (if any, not based on such unsolved ...
14
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0
answers
404
views
Computations using "Stover's spectral sequence"
In this article from 1990, Stover describes a specral sequence which converges to the higher homotopy groups of the homotopy colimit of a diagram $\underline{X}$ of topological spaces.
The second ...
14
votes
0
answers
225
views
Hauptvermutung for non-manifolds
The Hauptvermutung proposes the following: if two finite simplicial complexes are homeomorphic then they are PL-homeomorphic, meaning that they have a common refinement.
People are mostly interested ...
14
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0
answers
378
views
When is a map of topological spaces homotopy equivalent to an algebraic map?
My question is simple, but I don't expect there are any simple answers.
Let $X$ and $Y$ be a pair of schemes, and let $X(\mathbb{C})$ and $Y(\mathbb{C})$ denote their respective spaces complex points....
14
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0
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245
views
How many cells are needed in a simplicial structure of $\mathbb{S}^n$ to induce all of $\pi_n(\mathbb{S}^m)$
Serre proved, that for (allmost) all $n,m\in\mathbb{N}$ the homotopy groups $\pi_n(\mathbb{S}^m)$ are finite, so - using simplicial approximation - for $n, m$ fixed there is a finite cell ...
14
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0
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338
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Are there Alexander-Whitney maps in geometric homology?
When $X$ is a smooth manifold, Lipyanskiy defines a chain complex whose homology is isomorphic to singular homology -
let's say $GC_*(X)$ - generated by maps $\sigma: M \to X$ from compact $k$-...
14
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0
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272
views
Homotopy type of spaces of functions with few critical points
Given a closed manifold $M$ and an integer $k\geq 0$, let $G_k(M)$ denote the space of smooth functions $f:M\to\mathbb R$ with at most $k$ critical points.
To what extend has the topology of the ...
14
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0
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414
views
Does the category of G-spectra know G?
I was recently in the situation of having access to the category of $G$-modules (for some group $G$ which I had forgotten), as just a category, i.e. no monoidal structure, together with the forgetful ...
14
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315
views
Uniqueness of connected cover of Morava K-theory
Let $k(n)$ denote the connected cover of Morava $K$-theory $K(n)$ at the prime $2$ and in particular $n=2$. It is known that $$ H^*(k(n)) = A//E(Q_n), $$
where $A$ is the Steenrod algebra and $Q_n$ is ...
14
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0
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830
views
What does convergence of a Bousfield-Kan spectral sequence say about the homotopy type of the totalization?
Given a cosimplicial space or spectrum $X^\bullet$, there is an associated Bousfield-Kan spectral sequence. This starts out as the bigraded object obtained by taking homotopy groups of each $X^n$ and ...
14
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0
answers
574
views
Reference for a proof of the fiberwise Stokes theorem
The fiberwise Stokes theorem says that given a differential form on a smooth fiber bundle whose fibers have boundary,
the difference between the fiberwise integral of the differential and the ...
14
votes
0
answers
660
views
Who stated and proved the "Hopf lemma" on bilinear maps?
If $A\otimes B\rightarrow C$ is a nondegenerate linear map, where $A, B, C$ are vector spaces over an algebraically closed field, then $\dim C\ge \dim A + \dim B -1$.
Nondegenerate here means that ...
14
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0
answers
799
views
How to see the quaternionic hopf map generates the stable 3-stem?
I am looking for a direct proof that the quaternionic hopf map generates (after suspension) the 3rd stable homotopy group of spheres. There are some related MO questions, for example:
third-stable-...
14
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Finite dimensional real division algebras
A celebrated theorem of Milnor and Kervaire asserts that any finite dimensional (not necessarily associative, unital) division algebra over the real numbers has dimension 1,2,4 or 8. This result is ...
13
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0
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318
views
Is there an analogue of Steenrod's problem for $p>2$?
An element $\alpha \in H_k(X; \mathbb{Z})$ is said to be realisable if there is a $k$-dimensional connected, closed, orientable $k$-dimensional submanifold $Y$ such that $\alpha = i_*[Y]$. The ...
13
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0
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388
views
Does the existence of an almost complex structure solely depend on the topology of the manifold?
To be precise, let $M$ and $N$ be two 2n-dimensional smooth, closed manifolds that are homeomorphic. If $M$ admits an almost complex structure, can we deduce that $N$ also admits an almost complex ...
13
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0
answers
223
views
Examples of manifolds with first nontrivial SW-class in degree 16 or bigger
As a module over the Steenrod algebra, $H^{\ast}(BO;\mathbb F_2) = \mathbb F_2[w_1, w_2, w_3, \dots]$ is generated by $w_{2^t}, t \geq 0$. Thus, the first nontrivial SW-class of any vector bundle $\xi ...
13
votes
0
answers
864
views
A step in Toda's computation of a Cotor
I am trying to understand a proof from Toda's paper Cohomology of classifying spaces. The step I am stuck on is at page 96. Here is the setup.
We work with cohomology with $\mathbb{F}_2$ coefficients. ...
13
votes
0
answers
340
views
Morava K-theory of loop spaces of spheres
Some time ago I cam across the paper "What we still don't know about loop spaces of spheres" by Ravenel:
https://people.math.rochester.edu/faculty/doug/mypapers/loop.pdf
which concerns ...
13
votes
0
answers
479
views
Structures between PL and smooth
Let $X$ be a topological manifold of dimension at least five. The Kirby-Siebenmann invariant $ks(X)\in H^4(X,\mathbb{Z}_2)$ is an obstruction to the existence of a PL structure on $X$. If it vanishes, ...
13
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0
answers
319
views
Exotic smooth structures on Fano manifolds
If two Fano projective manifolds are homeomorphic are they diffeomorphic?
There are examples with one manifold being Fano and the other of general type (Barlow surfaces). Moreover, the number of ...
13
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0
answers
330
views
One periodic cohomology theories?
Is there a classification of one periodic cohomology theories? In other words, spaces $X$ such that $\Omega X \simeq X$? For example, $X=*$ and $X= K(G,0) \times K(G,1) \times \dots$ are examples. ...
13
votes
0
answers
391
views
Looking for an invariant similar to algebraic K-theory
I'm wondering if there is an invariant, similar to algebraic K-theory, topological hochshild homologic, topological cyclic homology etc... that has the following properties:
a) It attach to each small ...
13
votes
0
answers
483
views
Examples of non-proper model structure
I have recently been thinking about left and right semi-model categories and in which case they can be promoted to Quillen model structure, and I have come to the conclusion that that absolutely all ...
13
votes
0
answers
318
views
How does quotienting by a finite subgroup act on the framed-cobordism class of a group manifold?
Let $G$ be a connected simple connected compact Lie group, and $\Gamma \subset G$ a finite subgroup. Then (the underlying manifold of) $G$ can be framed by right-invariant vector fields, and this ...
13
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0
answers
290
views
A geometric interpretation of the odd-primary Kervaire elements
Let $\Omega^\mathrm{fr}_\ast \cong \pi_\ast S$ denote the graded ring of cobordism classes of framed manifolds, which, by the Pontryagin-Thom construction, is isomorphic (as a graded ring) to the ...
13
votes
0
answers
260
views
Alexander modules and weight filtrations
$\def\Ext{\mathrm{Ext}}$I have the following situation: I have a complex algebraic variety $X$. I want to compute the weight filtration on various abelian covers $Y \to X$. As a concrete example, take ...
13
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0
answers
564
views
Cohomology of a blow-up of a real algebraic variety
Let $X$ be a complex algebraic variety, $Z \subset X$ a closed subvariety, $\mathrm{Bl}_Z X$ the blow-up and $E$ the exceptional divisor. There is an isomorphism of cohomology groups
$$ H^k(X(\mathbf ...
13
votes
0
answers
287
views
Actions of $\mathbb Z/2\mathbb Z$ on algebraically closed fields and even-dimensional spheres and parallel between Galois theory and covering theory
It is well known that there is a parallel between Galois theory and covering theory. So I wonder whether there is a deep similarity between the following two facts:
Artin-Schreier theorem. The only ...
13
votes
0
answers
371
views
What is the cup-product structure like on a hyperbolic 5-manifold?
Let $X$ be a hyperbolic 5-manifold. Can there be any class in $H^2(X;\mathbf{Z})$ that is torsion and whose square in $H^4(X;\mathbf{Z})$ is not zero?
For example, are there hyperbolic 5-manifolds ...
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$...
13
votes
0
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251
views
Is every simply connected finite complex the classifying space of a finite monoid
On page 323 of Fiedorowicz, "Classifying Spaces of Topological Monoids and Categories" it was stated that "it seems likely that any finite simply connected complex should [have the same weak homotopy ...
13
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0
answers
561
views
When does an $E_\infty$ algebra come from a commutative differential graded algebra?
Suppose that $K$ is an $E_\infty$-algebra on a space $X$ (more generally, any ringed topos; also, feel free to assume that $X$ is a point). That is, $K$ is a cochain complex of sheaves on $X$, endowed ...
13
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0
answers
1k
views
Fundamental group of the complement homogeneous variety in $\mathbb{C}P^{n-1}$
Let $f,g:\mathbb{C}^n\to \mathbb{C}$ are two irreducible homogeneous polynomials. If there is a homeomorphism $h:\mathbb{C}^n\to \mathbb{C}^n$ such that $h(X)=Y$ and $h(0)=0$, where $X=f^{-1}(0)$ and $...
13
votes
0
answers
476
views
Singular cohomology of $BG$ and Borel cohomology of $G$
Stasheff, in "Continuous Cohomology of Groups and Classifying Spaces", attributes the following result to Wigner.
For $A$ a discrete abelian group and $G$ a finite dimensional locally compact, $\...
13
votes
0
answers
408
views
Does the de Rham version of Cohen's theorem hold in the $\infty$-setting?
One of the first results that one needs to prove in the theory of chiral algebras is a de Rham version of Cohen's theorem on the homology of $C_n$ spaces. This is achieved in Beilinson-Drinfeld's book ...
13
votes
0
answers
411
views
Topological type of Brieskorn manifolds
Let us consider the complex hypersurface and suppose that $n\geq 3$:
$$F(d,n)=\{(z_0,\ldots,z_n)\in \mathbb{C}^{n+1}:z_0^d+z_1^d+\ldots+z_n^d=0\}$$
and the link $V(d,n)=F(d,n)\cap S^{2n+1}_{\epsilon}$ ...
13
votes
0
answers
680
views
Singular chains generated by manifolds with corners --- does it really work?
Usually we define singular homology via the complex of singular chains:
$$C_\ast(X)=\bigoplus_{n\geq 0}\mathbb Z\langle\sigma:\Delta^n\to X\rangle$$
where the right hand side denotes the free abelian ...
13
votes
0
answers
863
views
About maps inducing bijections on homotopy classes
Let us assume that $f:X \to Y$ is a map of connected CW complexes, having the following property: if $K$ is a finite CW complex, then the induced map $f_{\ast}:[K,X] \to [K,Y]$ on \emph{free} homotopy ...
13
votes
0
answers
783
views
What's so difficult about $\pi_{15}(SO)$?
Regarding the table of $SO(n)$s-of-origin in Davis+Mahowald (if you can get MathSciNet), is there a good reason that it should take longer for $\pi_{15}(SO)$ to be representable than $\pi_{19}(SO)$, ...
12
votes
0
answers
257
views
When do (or don't) residue fields generate the derived category of a ring?
Let $R$ be a commutative ring, and $D(R)$ its derived category of unbounded chain complexes. I'm interested in when the residue fields $k(\mathfrak{p}) = \mathrm{Frac}(R/\frak p)$ for $\mathfrak p \in ...
12
votes
0
answers
482
views
What is the infinity category of subspaces of $\mathbb{R}^n$?
Let $\mathcal{J}$ denote the topological category of finite-dimensional real inner product spaces with linear isometric embeddings. The space of morphisms $\mathcal{J}(\mathbb{R}^k, \mathbb{R}^n)$ is ...
12
votes
0
answers
384
views
What are some examples of 3-dualizable $(\infty,2)$ categories?
From the cobordism hypothesis, we know that (the space of) symmetric monoidal functors from the $(\infty,3)$ category of framed cobordisms into a symmetric monoidal $(\infty,3)$ category is the same ...
12
votes
0
answers
493
views
Proofs of Serre's theorem on simply-connected finite CW complexes
A famous result due to Serre states that any simply-connected finite CW complex with non-trivial $\mathbb{Z}_2$ homology has infinitely many non-zero homotopy groups. (In fact, Serre proves more than ...
12
votes
0
answers
222
views
Spin 6-fold with signature $\pm 16$
Does there exist a spin (i.e. $\frac{c_{1}}{2} \in H^{2}(M,\mathbb{Z})$) smooth complex projective $6$-fold with signature $\pm 16$?
The motivation is the Rochlin-Ochanine theorem, which says that $16$...
12
votes
0
answers
879
views
Chromatic blueshift and Tate cohomology
Let $R$ be an $L_n$-local ring spectrum. Then one knows that the Tate construction $R^{tC_p}$ (with respect to the trivial $C_p$-action on $R$) is $L_{n-1}$-local; this "blueshift" result is ...
12
votes
0
answers
241
views
Does cohomology ring determine a compact symmetric space?
Suppose that $M_1, M_2$ are compact connected symmetric spaces with isomorphic integer cohomology rings. Does it follow that $M_1$ is diffeomorphic to $M_2$?
The only result I am aware of is this ...
12
votes
0
answers
408
views
The $\infty$-category of $n$-manifolds and open embeddings determined homotopically from that of topological manifolds?
Let $\mathrm{Diff}_n$, $\mathrm{PL}_n$, $\mathrm{Top}_n$ denote the $\infty$-categories of $n$-manifolds which are respectively smooth/PL/topological, and open embeddings (for instance by taking the ...
12
votes
0
answers
500
views
The homotopy theory presented by a Waldhausen category
Waldhausen introduced his categories for the purposes of defining algebraic $K$-theory of suitable categories. From a modern perspective, it looks like he was really doing two things at once:
...