All Questions
18 questions
21
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Explanation for E_8's torsion
To study the topology of Lie groups, you can decompose them into the simple compact ones, plus some additional steps, such as taking the cover if necessary. After that, the structure of $SO(n)$'s is ...
- 15.1k
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
15
votes
1
answer
512
views
fundamental groups of complements to countable subsets of the plane
This question is a follow-up of this MSE post and a comment by Henno Brandsma:
Question 1. Let $S$ be the set of isomorphism classes of fundamental groups $\pi_1(E^2 - C)$, where $C$ ranges over all ...
- 12.3k
15
votes
0
answers
716
views
Is this "Homology" useful to study?
In the usual singular homology of a topological space $X$, one consider the free abelian group generated by all continuous maps from the standard simplex $\Delta^{n}$ to $X$.
Now we can ...
- 356
11
votes
9
answers
1k
views
Proving the impossibility of an embedding of categories
A number of topological invariants take the form of functors $\mathscr{T}\to\mathscr{G}$, where $\mathscr{T}$ is the category of all topological spaces and continuous functions, and $\mathscr{G}$ is ...
- 5,759
11
votes
2
answers
843
views
covers of $Z^\infty$
Is it possible to cover $Z^\infty$ (the infinite direct sum of $Z$'s with the $l_1$-metric) by a finite set of collections of subsets $U^0,...,U^n$ such that each collection $U^i$ consists of ...
user6976
11
votes
0
answers
331
views
If an additive group of $\Bbb R^2$ contains a smoothly deformed circle, is it necessarily all of $\Bbb R^2$?
It can be shown that if an additive subgroup of $\Bbb R^2$ contains the unit circle, then it is necessarily all of $\Bbb R^2$. Does this also hold for a suitably smoothly deformed unit circle?
...
- 2,069
6
votes
1
answer
237
views
Example similar to the Griffiths twin cone but with fundamental group that allows surjection onto $\mathbb Z$
The Griffiths twin cone is an example of a wedge sum of two contractible spaces being non-contractible. Namely, it is the wedge sum $\mathbb G=C\mathbb H\vee_p C\mathbb H$ of two coni over the ...
5
votes
0
answers
249
views
Aspherical space whose fundamental group is subgroup of the Euclidean isometry group
Let $M$ be a smooth, compact manifold without a boundary, with its universal covering $\tilde{M} = \mathbb{R}^n$. If there exists an injective homomorphism $h: \pi_1(M) \rightarrow O(k) \ltimes \...
- 661
4
votes
2
answers
292
views
$\mathrm{String}/\mathbb{CP}^{\infty}=\mathrm{Spin}$ or a correction to this quotient group relation
We know that there is a fiber sequence:
$$
\dotsb \to B^3 \mathbb Z \to B \mathrm{String} \to B \mathrm{Spin} \to B^4 \mathbb Z \to \dotsb.
$$
Is this fiber sequence induced from a short exact ...
- 447
4
votes
1
answer
276
views
Shifting the group homology of a topological group?
Let $G$ be a topological group. It has a classifying space $BG$, which has homology groups $H_{*}BG$. Changing the topology of $G$ affects the space $BG$ and hence its homology groups.
For example ...
- 1,150
4
votes
0
answers
425
views
Non-triviality of map $S^{24} \longrightarrow S^{21} \longrightarrow Sp(3)$
Let $\theta$ be the generator of $\pi_{21}(Sp(3))\cong \mathbb{Z}_3$, (localized at 3).
How to show the composition
$$S^{24}\longrightarrow S^{21}\overset{\theta}\longrightarrow Sp(3)$$
is non-trivial ...
3
votes
1
answer
267
views
In what sense is every element of $H_2(G)$ "represented by a free action on some surface"
(This is a cross-post of this unanswered math.stackexchange question)
In Edmond's 1982 paper Surface Symmetry II, at the bottom of page 145, he writes:
"Corollary - If $G$ is a split nonabelian ...
- 7,527
3
votes
0
answers
282
views
Commutator length of the fundamental group of some grope
A popular way to describe a grope as the direct limit $L$ of a nested sequence of compact 2-dimensional polyhedra
$L_0 \to L_1 \to L_2 \to \cdots$
obtained as follows. Take $L_0$ as some $S_g$, an ...
- 2,083
2
votes
2
answers
151
views
How to prove that $\phi: \;\mathrm Mod(S_g)\to \mathrm Sp(2g, \mathbb{Z})$ is an epimorphism? [duplicate]
How do I prove that homomorphism $\phi : \; \mathrm{Mod}(S_g)\to \mathrm{Sp}(2g, \mathbb{Z})$ (induced by the action of mapping class group of a surface on integer homologies of a surface) is an ...
2
votes
0
answers
164
views
Triviality of map $(\Sigma \theta)^*$
We know that there is a cofibration sequence
$$S^{4n+1}\xrightarrow{\theta}\Sigma^{4m-1} Q_{n-m} \rightarrow \Sigma^{4m-1} Q_{n-m+1} \rightarrow S^{4n+2}\xrightarrow{\Sigma\theta}\Sigma^{4m} Q_{n-m}.$$...
2
votes
0
answers
128
views
Divisible fundamental group [duplicate]
I apologize if this question seems trivial or elementary. Is there any concrete topological space with divisible fundamental group? For example, is there any such a space the fundamental group in ...
- 2,233
0
votes
0
answers
163
views
Presentation complex of a finite perfect group and its features
Let $G$ be a finite perfect group and consider $X_G$, its presentation complex. I have the following questions:
Is there any special property of $X_G$ due to the group's perfectness?
What can we say ...
- 1,177