All Questions
2,365 questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
141
votes
0
answers
13k
views
Grothendieck-Teichmüller conjecture
(1) In "Esquisse d'un programme", Grothendieck conjectures
Grothendieck-Teichmüller conjecture: the morphism
$$
G_{\mathbb{Q}} \longrightarrow Aut(\widehat{T})
$$
is an isomorphism.
Here $...
- 7,527
83
votes
0
answers
3k
views
Which finite abelian groups aren't homotopy groups of spheres?
Someone asked me if all finite abelian groups arise as homotopy groups of spheres. I strongly doubted it, and I bet ten bucks that $\mathbb{Z}_5$ is not $\pi_k(S^n)$ for any $n,k$. But I don't know ...
- 22.3k
63
votes
0
answers
2k
views
Are there periodicity phenomena in manifold topology with odd period?
The study of $n$-manifolds has some well-known periodicities in $n$ with period a power of $2$:
$n \bmod 2$ is important. Poincaré duality implies that odd-dimensional compact oriented manifolds ...
- 118k
50
votes
0
answers
12k
views
Atiyah's paper on complex structures on $S^6$
M. Atiyah has posted a preprint on arXiv on the non-existence of complex structure on the sphere $S^6$.
https://arxiv.org/abs/1610.09366
It relies on the topological $K$-theory $KR$ and in ...
- 9,870
48
votes
0
answers
17k
views
What is the current understanding regarding complex structures on the 6-sphere?
In October 2016, Atiyah famously posted a preprint to the arXiv, "The Non-Existent Complex 6-Sphere" containing a very brief proof $S^6$ admits no complex structure, which I immediately read and ...
- 2,995
46
votes
0
answers
2k
views
What is the "real" meaning of the $\hat A$ class (or the Todd class)?
In the Atiyah-Singer index theorem as well as in the Grothendieck-Riemann-Roch theorem, one encounters either the $\hat A$-class or the Todd class, depending on the context. I want to focus on the ...
- 6,813
46
votes
0
answers
6k
views
Cochains on Eilenberg-MacLane Spaces
Let $p$ be a prime number, let $k$ be a commutative ring in which $p=0$, and let
$X = K( {\mathbb Z}/p {\mathbb Z}, n)$ be an Eilenberg-MacLane space.
Let $F$ be the free $E_{\infty}$-algebra over $k$ ...
- 17.8k
41
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Is there anything to the obvious analogy between Joyal's combinatorial species and Goodwillie calculus?
Combinatorial species and calculus of functors both take the viewpoint that many interesting functors can be expanded in a kind of Taylor series. Many operations familiar from actual calculus can be ...
- 64k
41
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Homotopy type of TOP(4)/PL(4)
It is known (e.g. the Kirby-Siebenmann book) that $\mathrm{TOP}(n)/\mathrm{PL}(n)\simeq K({\mathbb Z}/2,3)$ for $n>4$. I believe it is also known (Freedman-Quinn) that $\mathrm{TOP}(4)/\mathrm{PL}(...
- 6,210
36
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Functor that maps to both $KO^n$ and $KO^{-n}$
(my question is also meaningful for complex K-theory, but since Kn(X) is always isomorphic to K-n(X), it's less interesting)
I start by recalling the analytic definition of KO-theory:
The following ...
- 43.2k
33
votes
0
answers
2k
views
Is there a (discrete) monoid M injecting into its group completion G for which BM is not homotopy equivalent to BG?
For a (discrete) monoid $M$, the classifying space $BM$ is the
geometric realization of the nerve of the one object category whose
hom-set is $M$. (This definition gives the usual classfiying space
...
- 5,309
33
votes
0
answers
2k
views
Is there software to compute the cohomology of an affine variety?
I have some affine varieties whose cohomology (topological, with $\mathbb{C}$ coefficients) I would like to know. They are very nice, they are all of the form $\mathbb{A}^n \setminus \{ f=0 \}$ for ...
- 156k
32
votes
0
answers
3k
views
Microlocal geometry - A theorem of Verdier
(1) In "Geometrie Microlocale", Verdier states the following theorem.
Theorem: Let $E$ be a vector space and $F$ a constructible complex on $E$.
Then for $\ell$ a linear form on $E$, we have a ...
- 7,527
31
votes
0
answers
868
views
The central insight in the proof of the existence of a class of Kervaire invariant one in dimension 126
I understand from a helpful earlier MO question that the techniques leading to the celebrated resolution of the Kervaire invariant one problem in the other candidate dimensions yield no insight on ...
- 2,995
31
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Todd class as an Euler class
Let $X$ be a relatively nice scheme or topological space.
In various physics papers I've come accross, the Todd class $\text{Td}(T_X)$ is viewed as the Euler class of the normal bundle to $X\to LX$. ...
- 5,711
31
votes
0
answers
2k
views
When is a compact topological 4-manifold a CW complex?
Freedman's $E_8$-manifold is nontriangulable, as proved on page (xvi) of the Akbulut-McCarthy 1990 Princeton Mathematical Notes "Casson's invariant for oriented homology 3-spheres".
Kirby showed that ...
- 3,901
30
votes
0
answers
2k
views
Why do Clifford algebras determine $KO$ (and $K$-)-theory?
In the paper "Clifford modules" by Atiyah-Bott-Shapiro, they construct a family of Clifford algebras $C_k$ over the real numbers, so that $C_k$ is the algebra associated to a negative definite form on ...
- 25.6k
29
votes
0
answers
3k
views
Why do polytopes pop up in Lagrange inversion?
I'd be interested in hearing people's viewpoints on this. Looking for an intuitive perspective. See Wikipedia for descriptions of polytopes and the Lagrange inversion theorem/formula (LIF) for ...
28
votes
0
answers
1k
views
On the (derived) dual to the James construction.
Background
If $X$ is a based space then the James construction on $X$ is the space $J(X)$ given by
$$
X \quad \cup \quad X^{\times 2} \quad \cup \quad X^{\times 3} \quad \cup \quad \cdots
$$
in ...
27
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Spectral sequences as deformation theory
I believe that running the spectral sequence of a filtered complex / spectrum $ \cdots \to F_n \to F_{n+1} \to \cdots$ can be viewed as doing deformation theory in some very primitive "derived ...
- 64k
27
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Computational complexity of topological K-theory
I am a novice with K-theory trying to understand what is and what is not possible.
Given a finite simplicial complex $X$, there of course elementary ways to quickly compute the cohomology of $X$ with ...
- 666
25
votes
0
answers
922
views
Does the Tate construction (defined with direct sums) have a derived interpretation?
Any abelian group M with an action of a finite group $G$ has a Tate cohomology object $\hat H(G;M)$ in the derived category of chain complexes. There are several ways to define this. One is as the ...
- 52.7k
24
votes
0
answers
836
views
The $(\infty, 1)$-category of all topological spaces, including the bad ones
[Edit: Corrected some false claims and modified questions accordingly.]
Let $\mathcal{S}$ be the cocomplete $(\infty, 1)$-category generated by a point.
This is conventionally known as the $(\infty, 1)...
- 15.9k
24
votes
0
answers
1k
views
p-Adic String Theory and the String-orientation of Topological Modular Forms (tmf)
I am going to ask a question, at the end below, on whether anyone has tried to make more explicit what should be, it seems to me, a close relation between p-adic string theory and the refinement of ...
- 19.8k
23
votes
0
answers
720
views
Which proofs of the fundamental theorem of algebra are "essentially the same" vs. "essentially different"?
The classic MO thread Ways to prove the fundamental theorem of algebra contains $60$ proofs of FTA, and I'm sure there are many more in the literature. It would be nice to have some way to organize ...
- 118k
23
votes
0
answers
464
views
Topological loops vs. algebro-geometric suspension in Hochschild homology
Let $k$ be a base commutative ring, and let $A$ be a (unital but not necessarily commutative) $k$-algebra. The cone on $A$ is the ring $CA$ of infinite matrices $(a_{ij})_{i,j \geq 1}$ that are ...
- 6,069
23
votes
0
answers
590
views
What is the symmetric monoidal functor from Clifford algebras to invertible K-module spectra?
There ought to be a symmetric monoidal functor from the symmetric monoidal $2$-groupoid whose objects are Morita-invertible real superalgebras (precisely the Clifford algebras), morphisms are ...
- 118k
23
votes
0
answers
784
views
Characteristic classes for $E_8$ bundles
$\DeclareMathOperator\B{B}\DeclareMathOperator\SU{SU}$Given a principal $E_8$ bundle $P\rightarrow X$ one can take the
adjoint representation $\rho :E_8\rightarrow \SU(\mathbb C^{248})$
and form the ...
- 694
22
votes
0
answers
424
views
Unoriented bordism and homology, reference?
The following has undoubtedly been known to the experts for years, but I only noticed it the other day. Can anyone give a reference?
One can prove Thom's theorem to the effect that every mod $2$ ...
- 55.9k
22
votes
0
answers
866
views
Bar construction vs. twisted tensor product
One may study the cohomology of a space $E$ expressed as a homotopy pullback of $X$ and $Y$ over $Z$ using either the Eilenberg-Moore spectral sequence or the Serre spectral sequence for the fibration ...
- 985
22
votes
0
answers
676
views
Are there "chain complexes" and "homology groups" taking values in pairs of topological spaces?
Throughout this question, notation of the form $(X,A)$ denotes a sufficiently nice pair of topological spaces. I think for most of what I'm saying here, it is enough to assume that the inclusion $A \...
- 15.5k
22
votes
0
answers
3k
views
Origins of the Nerve Theorem
Recently, I've read two papers which have cited the Nerve Theorem, one crediting Borsuk with the result and another Leray. Here is the question:
Who was the first to prove the Nerve Theorem?
- 15.5k
22
votes
0
answers
2k
views
Is the equivariant cohomology an equivariant cohomology?
Suppose a finite group $G$ acts piecewise linearly on a polyhedron $X$. Then there are two kinds of equivariant cohomology (or homology).
$\bullet$ With coefficients in a $\Bbb Z G$-module $M$. A ...
- 5,575
22
votes
0
answers
969
views
Poincaré-Hopf and Mathai-Quillen for Chern classes?
One. The Poincaré-Hopf theorem is usually stated as a formula for the Euler characteristic of the tangent bundle TM. Is there a version for Euler classes, of oriented real vector bundles?
It seems ...
- 27.9k
21
votes
0
answers
865
views
Does the Witten genus determine $\mathrm{tmf}$ (or $\mathrm{TMF}$)?
$\newcommand\specfont[1]{\mathrm{#1}}$$\newcommand\MSpin{\specfont{MSpin}}\newcommand\KO{\specfont{KO}}\newcommand\KU{\specfont{KU}}\newcommand\MString{\specfont{MString}}\newcommand\tmf{\specfont{tmf}...
- 6,777
21
votes
0
answers
777
views
Is the mapping class group of $\Bbb{CP}^n$ known?
In his paper "Concordance spaces, higher simple homotopy theory, and applications", Hatcher calcuates the smooth, PL, and topological mapping class groups of the $n$-torus $T^n$. This requires an ...
- 9,580
21
votes
0
answers
717
views
If $X\times Y$ is homotopy equivalent to a finite-dimensional CW Complex, are $X$ and $Y$ as well?
Is there a space $X$ that is not homotopy equivalent to a finite-dimensional CW complex for which there exists a space $Y$ such that the product space $X\times Y$ is homotopy equivalent to a finite-...
- 211
21
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Can we describe equivariant vector bundles of free group action in terms of descent theory (Barr-Beck theorem)?
It is well known that for a compact topological group $G$ acts (say, from the right) freely on a compact space $X$. Then the category of equivariant complex vector bundles on $X$, $\text{Vect}_G(X)$, ...
- 9,019
21
votes
0
answers
1k
views
What is the current knowledge of equivariant cohomology operations?
In Caruso's paper, "Operations in equivariant $Z/p$-cohomology," http://www.ams.org/mathscinet-getitem?mr=1684248, he shows that the integer-graded stable cohomology operations in $RO(\mathbb{Z}/p)$-...
- 865
20
votes
0
answers
445
views
Which classes in $\mathrm{H}^4(B\mathrm{Exceptional}; \mathbb{Z})$ are classical characteristic classes?
Let $G$ be a compact connected Lie group. Recall that $\mathrm{H}^4(\mathrm{B}G;\mathbb{Z})$ is then a free abelian group of finite rank. Let us say that a class $c \in \mathrm{H}^4(\mathrm{B}G;\...
- 54.6k
20
votes
0
answers
789
views
Is the determinant of cohomology a TQFT?
If $M$ is an oriented $d$-manifold, let $D(M)$ denote the top exterior power of $H^*(M,\mathbf{C})$. Then $D(M_1 \amalg M_2) = D(M_1) \otimes D(M_2)$. Is there a good recipe for a map $D(M) \to D(N)$...
- 4,949
20
votes
0
answers
617
views
On a homological finiteness condition
Assumption: $X$ is a connected CW complex, and $H_{\ast}(X;\mathbb{Z})=\bigoplus_{n \geq 0} H_n (X; \mathbb{Z})$ is finitely generated.
Question: does there exist a finite CW complex $Y$ and a map $f:...
- 20.9k
19
votes
0
answers
649
views
Bernoulli & Betti numbers (of manifolds) and the prime 34511
The purpose of this question is to resolve a mystery surrounding the prime 34511 that has got me bogged down for a while now. If you only care about the number theory and not the motivation coming ...
- 11.9k
19
votes
0
answers
410
views
are there high-dimensional knots with non-trivial normal bundle?
Does there exist a smooth embedding $\varphi\colon S^k\to S^n$ such that $\varphi(S^k)$ has non-trivial normal bundle?
I looked at some of the old papers by Kervaire, Haefliger, Massey, Levine but I ...
- 2,797
19
votes
0
answers
661
views
Homotopy type of the affine Grassmannian and of the Beilinson-Drinfeld Grassmannian
The affine Grassmannian of a complex reductive group $G$ (for simplicity one can assume $G=GL_n$) admits the structure of a complex topological space. More precisely, the functor $$X\mapsto |X^{an}|$$ ...
- 455
19
votes
0
answers
2k
views
Hodge star and harmonic simplicial differential forms
Is there a notion of harmonic forms and Hodge theory for Sullivan's piecewise smooth differential forms on a simplicial set?
Let me recall some background.
Hodge Theory on a Riemannian manifold
A ...
- 6,229
19
votes
0
answers
773
views
Folk Functorial Figuring
In the CRM Proceedings & Lecture Notes Volume 50 "A Celebration of the Mathematical Legacy of Raoul Bott" Herbert Shulman writes (p. 48):
"[Bott] taught many of us to think functorially, like ...
- 2,684
19
votes
0
answers
504
views
Other examples of computations using transfer of structure from the chains to the homology?
There is a `long' history of transfer (up to homotopy!) of algebraic structure from a dg _ algebra A to its homology H(A) (e.g. Kadeishvili for the associative case and Heubschmann for the Lie case). ...
- 3,880
18
votes
0
answers
251
views
About the equivariant analogue of $G_n/O_n$
Let $BO_n$ and $BG_n$ be the classifying spaces for rank $n$ vector bundles and for spherical fibrations with fiber $S^{n-1}$, respectively, and let $G_n/O_n$ be the homotopy fiber of $BO_n\to BG_n$.
...
- 55.9k
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