All Questions
151 questions
9
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Charts needed for an atlas
I just read this question link and asked myself, if there is any easy way to decide how many charts you actually need to cover a given compact manifold in $\mathbb{R}^3$, maybe at least in this ...
- 231
9
votes
2
answers
892
views
What is this analogy between manifolds and bundles (or schemes and locally free sheaves)?
There's a kind of analogy between the way manifolds work and the way bundles work. Let me try to give some examples of the analogy (although there may be better ones). I'll stick to smooth manifolds ...
- 63.9k
9
votes
1
answer
656
views
Chern-Simons forms, characteristic numbers, and boundary terms?
For any principal $G$-bundle $P \to M$ with principal connection $\omega$, given a $G$-invariant polynomial $p: \mathfrak{g} \to \mathbb{R}$ we can construct a form $p(F_\omega)$ on $P$ which descends ...
- 6,025
9
votes
0
answers
338
views
Is $\beta^{*}(w_{2k-2}) = 0$ for an open orientable $2k$-manifold?
This question is motivated by the vector field question I asked recently. Panagiotis Konstantis answered this question for odd manifolds and I am trying to figure out the even case.
Let $M$ be a ...
- 1,726
9
votes
0
answers
570
views
In terms of sheaf cohomology, what does Bott & Tu's relative de Rham cohomology $H^\bullet(f)$ compute for $f: S \to M$ a smooth map?
Given a map $f: S \to M$ of smooth manifolds, Bott & Tu define on page 78 a complex by $\Omega^q(f)=\Omega^q(M) \oplus \Omega^{q-1}(S)$ and $d(\omega, \theta)=(d\omega, f^*\omega - d\theta)$ where ...
- 6,025
8
votes
1
answer
690
views
Does an oriented $S^3$ fiber bundle admit the structure of a principal $SU(2)$-bundle?
Let $S \to X$ be an $S^3$-fiber bundle over a smooth manifold $X$. If $S$ is an oriented manifold does this fiber bundle admit the structure of an $SU(2)$-principal bundle?
There is a similar theorem ...
- 1,716
8
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Where can I find a full proof of the Chern-Gauss-Bonnet theorem ?
Hello,
I am looking for a proof for the Chern-Gauss-Bonnet theorem. All I have found so far that I find satisfactory is a proof that the euler class defined via Chern-Weil theory is equal to the ...
- 83
8
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What is the relation between Lefschetz fixed point theorem and Poincare-Hopf theorem on vector fields?
In Dubrovin/Fomenko/Novikov Modern geometry--Methods and applications, Part II, the (Poincare-)Hopf theorem is treated in section 15.2 (see theorem 15.2.7 on page 129), while the Lefschetz theorem on ...
- 16.6k
8
votes
1
answer
426
views
Orbifolds are Thom-Mather stratified spaces
Where can I find a proof of (or if it is even true) that an (effective) orbifold is a Thom-Mather stratified space?
edit: after some search, I found the proof should be contained in either
GIBSON, C....
- 803
8
votes
1
answer
228
views
Isomorphisms of Pin groups
My goal is to identify the $Pin$ group
$$
1 \to Spin(n) \to Pin^{\pm}(n) \to \mathbb{Z}_2 \to 1
$$
such that $Pin^{\pm}(n)$ are isomorphisms to other more familiar groups.
My trick is that to look at ...
- 10.5k
8
votes
0
answers
245
views
+300
Maps with small fibers between manifolds of equal dimension
The following question is an attempt to revise this one into what I intended.
Important revisions are shown in bold.
Are there any known examples of a compact Riemannian manifold $M$ with (possibly ...
- 501
8
votes
1
answer
452
views
Non-algebraic Kähler threefolds with abelian $\pi_1$ of arbitrarily large rank
Do there exist non-algebraic Kähler threefolds with abelian $\pi_1$ of arbitrarily large rank?
user164740
7
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is there a sensible notion of a winding number of a closed curve in $\mathbb{R}^n$, $n\geq 3$, with respect to a point not lying on it?
I have been browsing "Topological Degree Theory and Applications" by Cho, Chen and O'Regan as well as "Mapping Degree Theory" by Outerelo and Ruiz, but I have not been able to quite answer myself the ...
- 7,127
7
votes
1
answer
692
views
Homotopically trivial vs isotopically trivial diffeomorphisms
Let $M$ be a manifold. Let's say $M$ is smooth, connected, oriented. We can also assume that $M$ is closed if that makes things easier.
Let $\mathit{Diff}(M)$ denote the group of diffeomorphisms of $...
- 1,347
7
votes
1
answer
238
views
Diffeomorphisms pushing forward vector field to any non-zero multiple
Is there a closed smooth manifold $M$ such that for each real $x\neq 0$ there is a nowhere vanishing vector field $v$ on $M$ and a diffeomorphism $\phi:M\to M$ such that $\phi_*v=xv$?
user164740
7
votes
1
answer
202
views
Lipschitz bounds and homotopy groups of diffeomorphism groups
Let $M$ denote a closed Riemannian manifold. Let $\mathrm{Diff}_0^L(M)$ denote the supspace of the identity component of the diffeomorphism group $\mathrm{Diff}_0(M)$ of diffeomorphisms with Lipschitz ...
- 1,174
7
votes
1
answer
349
views
Differential geometry without the Hausdorff condition or the second axiom of countability
I would like to know how the standard differential geometry of manifolds would change if we didn't assume the Hausdorff condition and/or the second axiom of countability. There are some simple things ...
- 2,816
7
votes
1
answer
272
views
How does one identify flow lines on a vector bundle with those on the base in Morse theory?
In Chapter 4.2 of Schwarz's book on Morse homology there is a brief discussion of Morse theory on the total space of a smooth vector bundle $E \to M$. In particular, one can take the Morse function $...
- 205
7
votes
0
answers
350
views
Do smooth maps with nowhere-maximal rank have small image?
I’m trying to better understand the concept of “maps with small image” as used by Lipyanskiy in his construction of “geometric homology” in https://arxiv.org/abs/1409.1121. Lipyanskiy utilizes ...
- 5,534
7
votes
0
answers
226
views
The limitation of $G$ and loop group $\Omega G$ in Atiyah's and Donaldson's work on Instantons
In Atiyah's work [Ref. 1], Atiyah states that "Essentially we shall show (at least for $G$ a classical
group and probably for all $G$) that Yang-Mills instantons in 4D can be naturally identified with ...
- 10.5k
7
votes
0
answers
484
views
manifold branched covering space for orbifolds
An orbifold structure on some topological space $X$ is a covering of $X$ with local quotient charts $V/G$, where $V$ is some connected manifold and $G$ effectively acts on $V$ via a finite group of ...
6
votes
2
answers
817
views
Can a Morse function define a unique structure on a closed manifold?
I was thinking about the doubt that if $M$ and $N$ are closed manifold and if there exists two Morse function $f$ and $g$ respectively on $M$ and $N$ with the following property that they both have ...
- 3,751
6
votes
3
answers
561
views
Smale's theorem for $C^1$ diffeomorphisms of the sphere
In 1926 Kneser showed that homeomorphisms of $\mathbf{S}^2$ admit a retraction into the orthogonal group $O(3)$. Smale extended this result to Diffeomorphisms of $\mathbf{S}^2$ in 1958; however, in ...
- 7,194
6
votes
2
answers
402
views
"canonical" framing of 3-manifolds
In Witten's 1989 QFT and Jones polynomial paper, he said
Although the tangent bundle of a three manifold can be trivialized, there is no canonical way to do this.
So if I understand correctly, ...
- 447
6
votes
2
answers
859
views
Lifting sections of a projective bundle to a vector bundle
Let $E\to M$ be a smooth $\mathbb{K} = \mathbb{R}, \mathbb{C}$ - vector bundle over a possibly non-compact connected manifold $M$. Denote by $\mathbb{P}(E) \to M$ its projectivization, which is ...
- 2,816
6
votes
1
answer
384
views
Deforming a section to a section without zeros
Let $M$ be an oriented manifold of dimension $n$. Suppose furthermore that $E$ is an oriented vector bundle of rank $n-1$ over $M$. Let $s$ be a section of $E$ transversal to the zero section in $E$. ...
- 2,830
6
votes
0
answers
129
views
Are there isospectrally equivalent exotic spheres?
Let $X$ and $Y$ be two different exotic spheres. Are there metrics $g$ and $h$ on $X$ and $Y$, respectively, such that the laplacians of $(X,g)$ and $(Y,h)$ have the same spectrum?
I would be happy ...
6
votes
0
answers
297
views
Regarding homology of fiber bundle
Let $f: X\to Y$ be a smooth map between smooth manifolds, both connected. Let $Y=\cup_{i=1}^k Y_i$ be a finite union of disjoint locally closed submanifold $Y_i$ such that $f^{-1}(Y_i)\to Y_i$ is ...
- 585
6
votes
0
answers
132
views
On the weak homotopy type of a differentiable (Chen) space
Suppose that $M$ is a differentiable space in the sense of Chen (cf. https://ncatlab.org/nlab/show/Chen+space ).
Assume that $M$ also has the structure of a topological space and that the two ...
- 18.8k
6
votes
0
answers
622
views
Gompf's invariant of $2$-plane fields
I am interested in low dimensional contact topology. These days I read "Handlebody construction of Stein surfaces" written by R. E. Gompf, and study an invariant $\theta (\xi)$. This invariant is ...
- 369
5
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Vector bundles, finitely generated projective module?
Let $B$ be a Tychonoff space and let $\mathbb{R}(B)$ denote the ring of continuous real valued functions on $B$. For any vector bundle $\xi$ over $B$, let $S(\xi)$ denote the $\mathbb{R}(B)$-module ...
- 151
5
votes
1
answer
379
views
Conversion formula between "generalized" Stiefel-Whitney class of real vector bundles: O(n) and SO(n)
$O(n)$ is an extension of $\mathbb{Z}_2$ by $SO(n)$,
$$1\to SO(n) \to O(n)\to \mathbb{Z}_2 \to 1.$$
Below we denote the Stiefel-Whitney class of real vector bundle $V_G$ of the group $G$ as:
$$
w_j(...
- 10.5k
5
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Triviality of the adjoint and endomorphism bundles
Let $P$ be be a principal bundle over a manifold $M$ with structure group $G$, where $G$ is a Lie group. Let $E = P\times_{\rho} \mathbb{R}^{k}$ be a vector bundle associated to $P$ through a faithful ...
- 2,816
5
votes
1
answer
2k
views
The space of homotopy classes of maps of products of spheres
Proposition 17.6.1 of "Differential form in Algebraic Topology" by Bott and Tu proves the following beautiful result:
$[S^{q}, X]\simeq \frac{\pi_{q}(X,x)}{\pi_{1}(X,x)}$
where $S^{q}$ is the $q$-...
- 2,816
5
votes
2
answers
249
views
Patching up two trivial fibre bundles induces homology equivalence
I was wondering to ask this question may be it's a silly one. I could not prove or disprove it.
Let $X,Y$ be smooth connected manifolds. Let $X=X_1\cup X_2$ ($X_i$'s sub-manifold of $X$) and $X_1 \cap ...
- 585
5
votes
1
answer
503
views
Every unorientable 4-manifold has a $Pin^c$, $Pin^{\tilde c+}$ or $Pin^{\tilde c-}$ Structure
The precise statement on J. W. Morgan's "The Seiberg-Witten Equations and Applications to the Topology of Smooth Four-Manifolds (MN-44)" that 4-manifold $X$ admits a Spinc structure (Lemma 3.1.2) ...
- 10.5k
5
votes
1
answer
408
views
A question related to fiber bundle
Let $f:\mathbb{C}^3 \to \mathbb{C}$ be a morphism of varieties such that it is a smooth fiber bundle. Can I say that the fiber is $\mathbb{C}^2$?
- 1,177
5
votes
2
answers
308
views
Is this subset of matrices contractible inside the space of non-conformal matrices?
Set $\mathcal{F}:=\{ A \in \text{SL}_2(\mathbb{R}) \, | \, Ae_1 \in \operatorname{span}(e_1) \, \, \text{ and } \, \, A \, \text{ is not conformal} \,\}$, and
$\mathcal{NC}:=\{ A \in M_2(\mathbb{R}) \...
- 6,741
5
votes
1
answer
248
views
Multisignature and homeomorphism type
In classical surgery theory, there is a map
$$L_{n+1}(\pi_1M)\to S(M^n)$$
Element in $L_{n+1}(\pi_1M)$ is realized as surgery obstruction of a surgery problem to $M\times I$ with one boundary piece ...
- 101
5
votes
0
answers
121
views
How to see $\delta_2(\hat{\chi}(V))=\chi(V)$ in differential cohomology?
I'm reading the paper "Differential Characters and Geometric Invariants" by Cheeger and Simons. In Page 62 the authors defined the differential Euler character $\hat{\chi}(V)\in \hat{H}^{2n-...
- 9,019
5
votes
0
answers
133
views
On the vertical cohomology of a fibered manifold
Let $\pi:Y\rightarrow X$ be a $C^\infty$ fibered manifold (all constructions, unless otherwise stated are over the smooth manifold category) with $\Omega_k$ the sheaf of (smooth) $k$-forms on $Y$.
...
- 3,292
5
votes
0
answers
135
views
Smoothing a continuous section in 1-jet bundle
Here is a question I encountered when reading the book "Convex Integration Theory by D.Spring". My question lies in the second paragraph to the proof of theorem 4.2($C^{0}$-dense $h$-principle).
I ...
- 51
4
votes
2
answers
619
views
Is it true that all sphere bundles are some double of disk bundle?
Let's consider a smooth sphere bundle over a smooth manifold with structure group is equal to the diffeomorphism group of sphere. Then, can we say that this is a double of some disk bundle? Thank you ...
4
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Differential characters, Chern-Simons forms, and differential cohomology
I've read through the classic Chern-Simons paper where they introduce the Chern-Simons forms. These are differential forms whose exterior derivative gives you the characteristic forms for any given ...
- 6,025
4
votes
2
answers
347
views
good reference on brieskorn manifold
I am trying to learn something on the Brieskorn manifold (interested in the topological property)
Can the Mathoverflow Experts give me some good refencece (in English)?
By the way,is there an ...
- 153
4
votes
1
answer
486
views
Every _______ $d$-manifold has an $S$-structure
I am looking for some analogous nontrivial but known statements and references about statements of the form:
Every _______ $d$-manifold has an $S$-structure.
Here _______ is a placeholder for ...
- 10.5k
4
votes
1
answer
222
views
Smooth covers pulling back a cohomology class to any algebraic multiple
Fix an algebraic integer $x\neq 0$. Does there exist a closed smooth manifold $M$ with a class $\rho\in H^{1}_{\mathrm {dR} }(M)$ and a smooth covering map $\phi:M\to M$ such that $\phi^*\rho=x\rho$?
user164740
4
votes
1
answer
304
views
Atiyah-Bott-Shapiro generalization to $U(n) \to ({Spin(2n) \times U(1)})/{\mathbf{Z}/4}$ for $n=2k+1$
Atiyah, Bott, and Shapiro paper on Clifford Modules around page 10 shows two facts.
1 - There is a lift $U(n) \to Spin^c(2n)$ from $U(n) \to SO(2n)\times U(1)$. Also an embedding (injective group ...
- 317
4
votes
1
answer
398
views
(Non)-exoticness of a diffeomorphism of a sphere
Suppose you have a standard sphere $S^n$ and a "standard" $S^{n-2}\subset S^n$. I am really thinking about $S^{n}\subset \mathbb{R}^{n+1}$ the usual sphere, and $S^{n-2}=S^n\cap \{x_0=x_1=0\}$. Let $S^...
- 1,452
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