Questions tagged [fundamental-group]
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268 questions
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Fundamental group of the grid on $\mathbb{R}^\mathbb{N}$
The grid on $\mathbb{R}^2$ is defined by the set of points such that at most one coordinate is not an integer. With this in mind, e endow $\mathbb{R}^\mathbb{N}$ with the product topology, where $\...
3
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1
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169
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Express fundamental group of $\mathcal H/\Gamma$ by $\Gamma$
Suppose $\mathcal H$ is the upper half plane, and $\Gamma$ is an arithmetic subgroup of $\operatorname{PSL}_2(\mathbb Z)$, I want to ask can we interpret the fundamental group of $\mathcal H/\Gamma$ ...
3
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1
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Normal subgroup of the geometrical fundamental group is the normal subgroup of the arithmetic fundamental group
I asked some questions on a descending lemma in Lawrence-Venkatesh 4 days ago, but it has not received any answer. I understood (2) now but I'm still confused on (1).
I want to ask a new question here....
4
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1
answer
250
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Galois action on the pro-algebraic completion of the singular fundamental group
Let $X$ be a smooth variety over a field $K \subset \mathbb{C}$. The singular fundamental group $\pi_1(X^{\text{an}}, x)$ generally does not carry an action of the absolute Galois group $\operatorname{...
3
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0
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Pro-algebraic fundamental groups
Let $X$ be a smooth projective variety over an algebraically closed field $K$ of characteristic zero and fix a point $x\in X(K)$.
We can associate to $X$ two Tannakian categories: the category of ...
2
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0
answers
50
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Descending universal branched cover
In Lawrence-Venkatesh, they tried to descend their construction of universal branched $G$-cover $Z^\circ\to Y^2-\Delta$ in Lemma 7.4. I have several questions about the proof.
They said the commuting ...
3
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1
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254
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The simply connectedness of $\mathbb{A}^n_{\mathbb{Q}_p}$
My question is how to prove the affine $n$-space over $p$-adic number $\mathbb{Q}_p$ is simply connected.
To be precise,
Let $X$ be $p$-adically analytic manifold, $f:X\rightarrow \mathbb{A}^n_{\...
4
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1
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Fundamental group of the smooth locus of a normal algebraic surface is a quotient of that of a Zariski open subset
Let $X$ be a normal algebraic surface (over $\mathbb{C}$) and $Y$ its smooth locus, i.e., the complement of the singularities of $X$. Suppose $Z\subset Y$ is a Zariski open subset of $X$. Then is it ...
2
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0
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Is there a theory of fundamental groups for $C^*$-algebras instead of topological spaces?
Is it possible to construct a theory of fundamental groups $\pi_1 (A,a_0)$ for pointed $C^*$-algebras $(A,a_0)$ instead of pointed topological spaces $(X,x_0)$ : $\pi_0 (X,x_0)$ ?
If the answer is yes,...
3
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0
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References for variations of Seifert–van Kampen's theorem: HNN extensions and "sensible" intersections
A basic consequence of the Seifert–van Kampen theorem is the following.
Theorem: Consider a union of topological spaces $X$, $Y$ whose intersection $X\cap Y = Z$ is open connected and $\pi_1$-...
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0
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Companions for positive characteristic arithmetic representations viewed as representations of the topological fundamental group?
Suppose $X / K$ is a variety over a finitely generated field over $\mathbb{Q}$. Fix an embedding $K \subset \mathbb{C}$ and let $\pi := \pi_1(X(\mathbb{C}), x)$ be the topological fundamental group. ...
11
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1
answer
415
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Why can we take the colimit over the category of elements?
I'm trying to understand J. P. Murre's Tata notes on Grothendieck's theory of the fundamental group. For a Galois category $\mathcal C$ (which I'm taking to be locally small) with fundamental functor $...
11
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1
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270
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Example of three dimensional atoroidal Poincaré duality group with some pathology
I am looking for a 3-manifold which is closed, aspherical, orientable, and atoroidal. And additionally I want to see an example that does not admit a fixed-point-free action on a simplicial tree. As a ...
3
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2
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425
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A question on the manifold $ \{n\otimes n-m\otimes m:n,m\in S^2,(n,m)=0\} $
Consider a manifold $ N $ defined as follows
$$
N=\{n\otimes n-m\otimes m:n,m\in S^2,\quad(n,m)=0\}\subset M^{3\times 3},
$$
where $ S^2 $ denotes the two dimensional sphere, $ (\cdot,\cdot) $ ...
3
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0
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108
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Reliable literature with the list of centers of all simply connected simple real Lie groups
Wikipedia webpage https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_Lie_group contains a full list of all simple (centerless) real Lie groups. One of the columns in tables (therein) contains fundamental groups of ...
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711
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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 ...
2
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0
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Fundamental group of cyclic branched cover of affine plane
Let $f\in \mathbb{C}[x,y]$ be an irreducible polynomial. Let $n>0$ be an integer such that the hypersurface $S:=\{ (x,y,z)\in \mathbb{C}^3|z^n=f(x,y) \}$ is a connected complex submanifold of $\...
66
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Is $\mathbb{R}^3 \setminus \mathbb{Q}^3$ simply connected?
Similarly is the complement of any countable set in $\mathbb R^3$ simply connected?
Reading around I found plenty of articles discussing the path connectedness $\mathbb R^2 \setminus \mathbb Q^2$ and ...
47
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3
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"Cute" applications of the étale fundamental group
When I was an undergrad student, the first application that was given to me of the construction of the fundamental group was the non-retraction lemma : there is no continuous map from the disk to the ...
2
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0
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130
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Fundamental group of a quotient by a group action
Suppose I have a quotient $X \to S$ by a finite abelian group $G$ action (I have several cases, but in all of them the group $G$ and the action could be written explicitly), where $X,S$ are surfaces (...
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1
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Can "fake rational surfaces" be simply-connected?
I say that a smooth projective complex algebraic surface $X$ is a "fake rational surface" if its Hodge diamond looks like:
and $X$ is of general type.
It is well-known that fake projective ...
2
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1
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Extending étale covers from the regular locus to a resolution of singularities
Let $X$ be a normal proper variety with rational singularities (or terminal if that is necessary) and $X_{\text{reg}} \to X$ the regular locus. Let $\pi : \tilde{X} \to X$ be a resolution of ...
73
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10
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Galois groups vs. fundamental groups
In a recent blog post Terry Tao mentions in passing that:
"Class groups...are arithmetic analogues of the (abelianised) fundamental groups in topology, with Galois groups serving as the analogue ...
2
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1
answer
287
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How does hyperelliptic involution act on the standard generators of the fundamental group of surfaces of genus g with n punctures?
Let $S_{g,n}$ be the surface of genus $g$ with $n$ punctures. We know that $\pi_1(S_{g,n})$ admits a presentation:
$$\left\langle~ \alpha_1,\beta_1,\dots, \alpha_{g},\beta_{g},\gamma_{1},\dots,\gamma_{...
2
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1
answer
270
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Motivation of Zariski–Van Kampen theorem
The Zariski–Van Kampen theorem gives the presentation of the fundamental group of the complement of the plane curve of degree $d$. But what's the motivation of this theorem? More generally, why are ...
119
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6
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What properties make $[0,1]$ a good candidate for defining fundamental groups?
The title essentially says it all. Consider the category $\mathfrak{Top}_2$ of triples $(J,e_0,e_1)$ where $J$ is a topological space, and $e_i \in J$. There is an obvious generalization of the ...
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3
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Motivation of the fundamental theorem of covering spaces
The fundamental theorem of covering spaces states that for a nice topological space $X$, there is an equivalence of categories between covering spaces over $X$ and left $\pi_1(X)$-sets. "...
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Does the isomorphic of the fundamental groups imply the existence of a mapping inducing an isomorphism?
A pair of continuous mappings $f \colon X \to Y$ and $g \colon Y \to X$ is called $\pi_1$-equivalence if they induce mutually inverse isomorphisms of fundamental groups. Spaces are called $\pi_1$-...
1
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1
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279
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Ways to prove that $n$-component Brunnian link is nontrivial
The attached image shows a way to construct an $n$-component Brunnian link for any $n\geq 3$. That is, this link is not trivial, but deleting any of its components makes the new link trivial. The ...
2
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0
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Is the connecting map $\pi_2(B) \to \pi_1(F)$ ever nonzero in smooth proper families?
Suppose that $X, B$ are smooth irreducible varieties over $\mathbb{C}$ and $f : X \to B$ is a smooth proper morphism. Then we can consider the homotopy exact sequence:
$$ \pi_2(B) \to \pi_1(F) \to \...
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0
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Does this sequence stop?
Let $\{ X_i\}$ ($i=1,2,\ldots $) be a family finite CW-complexes such that $X_{i+1}$ is homotopy domintaed by $X_i$, i.e. there exists contionuos maps $g_i:X_i \to X_{i+1}$ and $f_i :X_{i+1} \to X_i$ ...
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5
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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
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0
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Fundamental groups of Hirzebruch's line arrangement varities
Let $\Lambda$ be a line arrangement in $\mathbb{P}^2$ and $n > 0$ an integer. Then Hirzebruch defined a smooth projective surface $H(\Lambda, n)$ as the minimal desingularization of a covering $Y \...
51
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5
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Fundamental group as topological group
Background
Let $(X,x)$ be a pointed topological space. Then the fundamental group $\pi_1(X,x)$ becomes a topological space: Endow the set of maps $S^1 \to X$ with the compact-open topology, endow the ...
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2
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Topos-theoretic Galois theory
This page is an overview of some of the types of "Galois theories" there are. One of the most basic type is the fundamental theorem of covering spaces, which says, roughly, that for each ...
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1
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Why is the fundamental group of $\mathsf E_n$ cyclic of order $9 - n$?
Several years ago, I mentioned offhandedly to a colleague that I had noticed that, if you extend the $\mathsf E_n$ series downwards in the natural way, by removing nodes from the long arm of $\mathsf ...
7
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1
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291
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Classifying nested 3-manifolds with fundamental group property
Let $M_1\subseteq M_2\subseteq\mathbb R^3$ be closed connected subsets with smooth boundary. Suppose that every closed loop in $M_1$ is freely homotopic inside $M_2$ to a closed loop inside $M_2\...
9
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1
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Links and non-orientable surfaces
Let $\Sigma \subset \mathbb{R}^3$ be a compact embedded surface with boundary $\partial \Sigma$ and $i:\Sigma\setminus \partial\Sigma \to \mathbb{R}^3 \setminus \partial\Sigma$ the inclusion.
Is the ...
6
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1
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Relationship between the holonomy pseudogroup and holonomy homomorphism (foliation)
This question is surely a duplication of https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/4343635/relationship-between-the-holonomy-pseudogroup-and-holonomy-homomorphism-foliati , however, I got no replies. ...
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Fundamental groups of noncompact surfaces
I got fantastic answers to my previous question (about modern references for the fact that surfaces can be triangulated), so I thought I'd ask a related question. A basic fact about surface topology ...
7
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2
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367
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Boundary of a $4$-manifold and the fundamental group
I am trying to learn $4$-manifolds with boundaries and I don't know much about this topic so these questions may be silly. Given a $4$-manifold $M$ with a boundary say $N$,
Assume $\pi_1(N)$ is known,...
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0
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Behaviour of cycles modulo algebraic equivalence on an etale covering
I found a neat result in Beauville's paper "VARIÉTÉS DE PRYM ET JACOBIENNES INTERMÉDIAIRES" : if $U \subset \mathbb{P}^n$ is an open and $V \to U$ is a conic bundle whose fibres are all ...
5
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2
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3-manifold with fundamental group $\mathbb Z$
Let $M$ be a compact $3$-manifold with nonempty boundary. If $\pi_1(M)=\mathbb Z$, can we prove that $M$ is homeomorphic to $S^1 \times D^2$?
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0
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Does there exist a simply connected surface with CM whose cotangent bundle is ample?
Does there exist a smooth projective complex surface $X$ such that,
(1) $\pi_1(X) = 0$
(2) $\Omega_X^1$ is ample
(3) the Mumford-Tate group of $H^2(X)$ is a torus
There exist examples with any two of ...
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3
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Are "large enough" finite etale covers arithmetic?
Let $X$ be a variety over a number field $K$. Then it is known that for any topological covering $X' \to X(\mathbb{C})$, the topological space $X'$ can be given the structure of a $\overline{K}$-...
38
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2
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What is the fewest number of points you must delete from $\mathbb{R}^3$ to make it not simply connected?
This question concerns a set-theoretic aspect that I found interesting in the recent question asked by user Nick R., namely, Is
$\mathbb{R}^3\setminus\mathbb{Q}^3$ simply connected? He had asked ...
7
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0
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330
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Künneth formula for $\pi_1$-proper morphisms
Context:
Let $X$ and $Y$ be connected qcqs schemes over an algebraically closed field $k$. Denote by $\pi_1(X)$, $\pi_1(Y)$ their étale fundamental groups (base points omitted). Grothendieck proved ...
7
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2
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Do surface groups embed into PSL_2 over a real quadratic integer ring?
$\DeclareMathOperator\PSL{PSL}$ Let $ \mathbb{Z} $ be the ring of integers and $ \mathbb{R} $ the field of real numbers. Let $ \Sigma_g $ be a surface of genus $ g \geq 2 $. Let $ \pi_1(\Sigma_g) $ be ...
7
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2
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566
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Fundamental group of the space of smooth embeddings of $S^1$ into $\mathbb R^3$
Has the fundamental group of the space of smooth embeddings of $S^1$ into $\mathbb R^3$ been completely computed? Say the basepoint is an unknot. Maybe something is known for other components?
If yes,...
8
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1
answer
850
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Representation theory of higher homotopy groups
I've seen some works on the representation of fundamental groups, which are (at least for me) quite important topic in mathematics. For example, Riemann-Hilbert correspondence relates representation ...