All Questions
10 questions
9
votes
2
answers
711
views
For which spaces $S^n$ ($n\geq 2$) is a universal covering space?
I know that $S^n$ $(n\geq 2)$ is a universal covering space for itself and $\mathbb{RP}^n$. But my question is, for which spaces (up to homotopy equivalence) is $S^n$ ($n\geq 2$) a universal covering ...
- 1,182
2
votes
1
answer
282
views
Lifting of a proper map in the cover is a proper map
Let $M$ be an orientable surface without boundary$($I am not assuming $M$ is compact, it can be non-compact$)$. Let $\Phi: M\to M$ be a proper homotopy-equivalnce$($A proper homotopy-equivalence can ...
- 265
3
votes
0
answers
226
views
Is the category of covering spaces always a topos?
It is well knows that for a nice (locally path connected, semi-locally simply connected) topological spaces, the category of covering spaces over $X$ is equivalent to the functor category $\left[\Pi_1\...
- 438
4
votes
0
answers
397
views
Contractibility and orientation double cover
Question. Let $M$ be a triangulated non-orientable 3-manifold with non-orientable boundary. (It is possible to assume that the boundary is the Klein bottle.) Let $\ell$ be a non-orientable loop on the ...
- 976
23
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Does anyone know a basepoint-free construction of universal covers?
Let $X$ be a real manifold (for simplicity). The standard construction of the universal cover $\varphi: \widetilde{X} \longrightarrow X$ involves fixing a basepoint $p \in X$ and considering homotopy ...
- 4,164
5
votes
2
answers
457
views
Finite etale covers of products of curves
Probably this question can be phrased in a much greater generality, but I will just state it in the generality I require. I work over $\mathbb{C}$.
Let $C_1, C_2 \subset \mathbb{P}^1$ be non-empty ...
- 21.4k
3
votes
1
answer
84
views
Concerning the Spanier group relative to an open cover
Let $\mathcal{U} = \{ U_i \; |\; i\in I \}$ be an open covering of $X$. Spanier defined $\pi (\mathcal{U}, x)$ to be the subgroup of $\pi_1 (X, x)$ which contains all homotopy classes having ...
- 1,182
4
votes
1
answer
270
views
Invariant lifts of a closed curve on a surface of genus > 1
I am learning some things about surfaces of genus greater than $1$, and I am trying to answer this question :
Let $S$ be a compact and orientable surface of genus $g \geq 2$, and $c$ a closed curve ...
- 41
8
votes
2
answers
721
views
Galois categories for topological spaces?
Can the theory of Galois categories (as developed in SGA1) be modified to produce the usual fundamental group of a topological space (maybe assumed to be path connected and locally path connected)?
...
- 3,284
27
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Teaching the fundamental group via everyday examples
This question is a "prequel" to a similar question about homology. Both questions were inspired by seeing a talk, by Tadashi Tokieda, about the interesting physics that appears in toys.
What ...