All Questions
80 questions
8
votes
0
answers
118
views
Defining convex sums locally on the sphere?
$S^1$ and the torus $T^2$ are spaces in which convex combinations don't make sense globally but do locally. Despite their standard representations in $\mathbf{R}^2$ and $\mathbf{R}^3$ respectively not ...
15
votes
1
answer
541
views
Where is the Steenrod Realization problem at?
I'm wondering if there is a more modern reference out there for the Steenrod Realization Problem than the book of Connor and Floyd?
Realizing homology classes in a manifold via embedded submanifolds, ...
13
votes
1
answer
580
views
Identifying two definitions of orientation on a vector space
Let $V$ be an $n$-dimensional real vector space. Here are two definitions of an orientation on $V$:
A generator of the $1$-dimensional vector space $\wedge^n V$, up to multiplication by positive ...
2
votes
0
answers
414
views
$$ \left(\frac{\text{Man}^{\text{fr}}}{\text{Cobordism}},\coprod,\times \right)\simeq \left((\text{Fin}^{\simeq},\coprod)^{\text{gp}},\times\right)?$$ [closed]
If we combine a theorem of Pontryagin and the Barratt-Priddy-Quillen theorem we get that both sides of
$$
\left(\frac{\mathrm{Man}^{\mathrm{fr}}}{\mathrm{Cobordism}},\coprod,\times \right)\simeq \left(...
4
votes
0
answers
116
views
Finding inverses of certain elements in the set of normal invariants of a smooth manifold
Let, $V$ denote the Stiefel manifold of 2-frames $V_{10,2}$ . Consider the the map $S_\text{diff} (V) \xrightarrow{\eta} N_\text{diff} (V) $ in the surgery exact sequence of a smooth manifold. . ...
9
votes
1
answer
322
views
Torsion and nilpotence of framed manifolds under the Pontryagin-Thom map
The framed Pontryagin Thom construction produces a graded ring isomorphism from the framed cobordism ring $\Omega^{fr}_*$ to the stable ring of homotopy groups of spheres $\pi_*(\mathbb{S})$. I have a ...
2
votes
0
answers
105
views
Unstably dualizable maps
Call a map between compact, connected framed $n$-manifolds $f:M \rightarrow N$ unstably dualizable if there exists an $f':N \rightarrow M$ such that the following diagram commutes up to homotopy:
$$\...
3
votes
0
answers
195
views
Is there such an isotopy for every homology sphere?
Let $n \geq 3$, and $\Sigma^{n-1} \subset \mathbf{S}^n$ be a smoothly and properly embedded, orientable, and connected submanifold of the sphere. This divides the sphere into two open sets, $U_-$ and $...
3
votes
0
answers
122
views
Is there a framed nullbordism of $T^4$ with an action of $T^4$ that extends the self-action?
Under the identification of the stable homotopy groups with the (stably) framed bordism groups, it is well known that $\eta\in\pi_1\mathbb{S}$ is represented by $S^1$ with its Lie group framing. ...
2
votes
0
answers
197
views
$4$-manifolds with boundary homotopic to $K(G,1)$
I am not very conversant with the $3$-manifold or $4$-manifold theory. The literature I found so far related to $3$-manifold tells me that $S^1\times S^2$ is "very special". It is prime but ...
2
votes
0
answers
109
views
Homotopical generalizations of the isotopy extension theorem
It's a well known theorem that given isotopic embeddings $i_1,i_2: M \rightarrow S^d$, there is a homeomorphism $\phi:S^d \rightarrow S^d$ which restricts to homeomorphisms $\operatorname{im}(i_1) \...
16
votes
0
answers
325
views
Rational equivalence of smooth closed manifolds
All spaces below will be assumed simply connected. A continuous map is a rational equivalence if it induces an isomorphism of the rational homology groups. Two spaces are rationally equivalent if they ...
4
votes
1
answer
576
views
Reference request for Poincaré–Lefschetz duality as an intersection pairing
I believe the following is well known after talking to some experts, but I am unable to find a reference for the case with boundary.
Fix a field $F$ and an oriented $n$-manifold $(M,\partial M)$. We ...
7
votes
0
answers
265
views
Homotopy type of space of embeddings of a disk
Let $M^n$ be a smooth $n$-dimensional manifold and let $\mathbb{D}^n$ be the open unit disk in $\mathbb{R}^n$. Consider the space $\text{Emb}(\mathbb{D}^n,M^n)$ of smooth embeddings of $\mathbb{D}^n$ ...
14
votes
1
answer
860
views
Mapping torus of Klein bottle
This got 5 upvotes but no answers on MSE (Mapping torus of Klein bottle), so I'm cross-posting to MO:
The mapping torus of a Klein bottle $ K $ is a compact flat 3 manifold.
The mapping class group of ...
1
vote
1
answer
147
views
Transversal pre-image of a small enough trivial tubular neighborhood contains a trivial tubular neighborhood
A similar post on MSE without answer.
Let $f\colon M'\to M$ be a smooth map between two orientable closed smooth manifolds and $S$ be a smoothly embedded closed orientable submanifold of $M$ of co-...
25
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Is there a $4$-manifold which Immerses in $\mathbb{R}^6$ but doesn't Embed in $\mathbb{R}^7$?
I'm interested in both version of the question in the title, i.e. in the topological category and in the smooth category. By a topological immersion I mean a local embedding. I was asking in ...
2
votes
1
answer
295
views
In which dimensions is it true that every topological ball embedded by a smoothly embedded sphere is a smoothly embedded ball?
I asked a question on MSE with no answer. Here is my question in the generalized version.
Question 1: Suppose we are given a connected three-manifold $M$ (possibly non-compact, or non-orientable) and ...
6
votes
1
answer
222
views
Stable smoothing of topological manifolds relative to an embedding
Let $M$ be a topological manifold. We know that $M$ is stably smoothable if and only its tangent microbundle, up to stabilization, admits a reduction to vector bundle.
Now I wonder if there is a ...
9
votes
0
answers
287
views
Rational cobordism classes of manifolds fibered over spheres
Let us fix positive integers $k, m$. Let $A^k_{4m} \subset \Omega^{\text{SO}}_{4m} \otimes \mathbb Q$ be the subgroup generated by oriented cobordism classes of manifolds fibered over $S^k$.
The ...
25
votes
2
answers
844
views
Which homotopy classes $S^3 \to S^2$ lift to embeddings $S^3 \to S^2 \times D^3$?
The question is, for a smooth embedding
$$f : S^3 \to S^2 \times D^3$$
one can compose the map $f$ with projection $\pi : S^2 \times D^3 \to S^2$, giving the map $\pi \circ f : S^3 \to S^2$.
Which ...
10
votes
0
answers
455
views
Exotic analytic triangulations of $S^5$?
I would like to understand better the nature of bad triangulations of $S^5$, discussed in two Lectures of Jacob Lurie
https://www.math.ias.edu/~lurie/937notes/937Lecture2.pdf
http://www-math.mit.edu/~...
8
votes
1
answer
387
views
Outer automorphism group of Brieskorn homology sphere?
In this post, it is discussed how a Brieskorn homology sphere $\Sigma(a_1,a_2,a_3)$ with $\displaystyle \frac{1}{a_1}+ \frac{1}{a_2}+ \frac{1}{a_3} < 1$ is an aspherical manifold with a ...
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 ...
20
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Homotopy groups of spaces of embeddings
Let $\mathrm{Emb}(M, N)$ be the space of smooth embeddings of a closed manifold $M$ into a manifold $N$ equipped with smooth compact-open topology.
Question 1. Are there conditions ensuring that ...
66
votes
8
answers
10k
views
What are the open subsets of $\mathbb{R}^n$ that are diffeomorphic to $\mathbb{R}^n$
I would like to know if there is a known necessary and sufficient
property on an open subset of $\mathbb{R}^n$ to be diffeomorphic to $\mathbb{R}^n$ :
For example :
Are all open star-shaped subsets ...
10
votes
1
answer
635
views
Cell structures of Dold manifold and Wu manifold
In Dold's 1956 paper Erzeugende der Thomschen Algebra N, Dold studied the Dold manifold $P(m,n)=(S^m\times\mathbb{CP}^n)/\tau$ where $\tau$ acts as $-1$ on $S^m$ and a complex conjugation on $\mathbb{...
17
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Homotopy groups of Diff(X) and Homeo(X)
For a compact closed smooth manifold $X$, the group Diff(X) has a natural homomorphism $\Phi$ to the homeomorphism group Homeo(X). If $X$ has dimension at least $5$, I'm looking for some general ...
10
votes
2
answers
709
views
4-dimensional cohomology $\mathbb{CP}^2$'s
Let $M$ be a closed, smooth $4$-manifold with integral cohomology ring isomorphic to that of $\mathbb{CP}^2$, is it diffeomorphic to it?
14
votes
1
answer
826
views
An almost complex structure on $S^2\times ...\times S^2 / \mathbb{Z_2}$
Consider the product of $2n$ two-spheres $X_n=(S^2)^{2n}$. This manifold admits an orientation preserving involution that preserves the product structure and acts as the (orientation reversing) ...
9
votes
2
answers
755
views
Is limit of null-homotopic maps null-homotopic?
The question is motivated by my failed comment to this one.
Let $M$ and $N$ be path connected locally compact, locally contractible metric spaces (you may assume that they are manifolds).
Let $\...
3
votes
0
answers
186
views
Cobordism theory of some weird space
Let $G=SU(3)$ and $N=SO(3)$, then $G/N= SU(3)/SO(3)$ = a 5-dimensional Wu manifold $W$.
The $W$ is a homogeneous space (also a quotient space), but not a group.
Previously, I am aware of the ...
20
votes
1
answer
571
views
Can every manifold be dominated by a parallelizable one?
A closed, oriented $d$-manifold $M$ is said to dominate another such manifold $N$ if there exists a map $M \to N$ of non-zero degree. (This notion should not be confused with the unrelated concept of ...
4
votes
0
answers
243
views
Any cobordism invariant made of "characteristic classes", on unorientable manifolds, must be a mod 2 class?
For any cobordism invariant (or simply bordism invariant) quantity $\omega$ that satisfy the conditions:
$\omega$ can be fully decomposed from the cup product of characteristic classes (such as ...
30
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Is the space of diffeomorphisms homotopy equivalent to a CW-complex?
Clarification: My question concerns the homotopy type of the space of $C^k$ diffeomorphisms with the compact-open $C^k$ topology, where $0< k \leq\infty$. I have stated my question below with $k=1$ ...
6
votes
1
answer
293
views
Riemann-Hurwitz for real maps
Let $S$ be a (compact, connected) Riemann surface of genus $g$ and $f: S\to \mathbb CP^1$ be a degree $d$ meromorphic function. Then the Riemann-Hurwitz formula tells us that the number of ...
9
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Manifolds are paracompact
By Definition, smooth manifolds are assumed to be Hausdorff and to satisfy the second countability axiom.
I have heard (but never seen written) that these assumptions imply paracompactness (and thus ...
12
votes
0
answers
408
views
The $\infty$-category of $n$-manifolds and open embeddings determined homotopically from that of topological manifolds?
Let $\mathrm{Diff}_n$, $\mathrm{PL}_n$, $\mathrm{Top}_n$ denote the $\infty$-categories of $n$-manifolds which are respectively smooth/PL/topological, and open embeddings (for instance by taking the ...
18
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Wu formula for manifolds with boundary
The classical Wu formula claims that if $M$ is a smooth closed $n$-manifold with fundamental class $z\in H_n(M;\mathbb{Z}_2)$, then the total Stiefel-Whitney class $w(M)$ is equal to $Sq(v)$, where $v=...
6
votes
1
answer
442
views
Are framed manifolds cubulatable?
Let's say an $n$-manifold is cubulated if it is glued out of cubes $[0,1]^n$ in a way that looks locally like the standard cubulation of $\mathbb R^n$. For instance, the face $[0,1]^{k-1} \times \{1\} ...
13
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How to disjoint two cycles with zero intersection?
Suppose that $M^n$ is a smooth connected orientable manifold and $Z^k$ with $Z^{n-k}$ are two real cycles in $M^n$ with zero index of intersection $Z^k\cdot Z^{n-k}=0$ (these cycles are submanifolds ...
8
votes
0
answers
125
views
Relating bordism generators in d and d+2 dimensions --- an explicit example
This is an attempt to make my relation between bordism invariants in $d$
and $d+2$ dimensions, following a previous attempt more explicit. This counts as a different question, since some more specific ...
5
votes
1
answer
278
views
Manifold generators of O-bordism invariants
If I understand correctly, I can obtain the $O$-cobordism group of
$$
\Omega^{O}_3(BO(3))=(\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z})^4,
$$
The 3d cobordism invariants have 4 generators of mod 2 classes, are generated ...
4
votes
1
answer
354
views
(Co)bordism invariant of Eilenberg–MacLane space becomes vanished
Consider a (co)bordism invariant
$$
u_2 Sq^1 u_2+Sq^2 Sq^1 u_2
$$
obtained from
$$
\Omega^5_{O}(K(\mathbb{Z}/2,2)).
$$
Here $u \in H^2(K(\mathbb{Z}/2,2),\mathbb{Z}_2)$. The $K(\mathbb{Z}/2,2)$ is ...
4
votes
1
answer
200
views
Surjections on generalized homology theory
In Davis-Januszkiewica´s paper Hyperbolization of polyhedra , the authors hyperbolized every closed n-manifolds K to get a new manifold, say M(K),together with a map $f_K$ from M(K) to K, then they ...
6
votes
0
answers
634
views
Quotient space, a fundamental group, and higher homotopy groups 2
Previously, I ask for comments/suggestions on setting up the calculation in Quotient space, homogeneous space, and higher homotopy groups. There, however, I was looking for whatever methods and tools ...
5
votes
0
answers
75
views
Bounding the dimension of the euclidean space in which any $n$-manifold embeds "$k$-uniquely" in it
(The question will be interesting for topological/Pl as well but in order to not be too vague I will restrict the meaning of manifold to smooth manifold without boundary).
I'm interested in the ...
11
votes
1
answer
388
views
Twisting bordism classes
Let $X$ be a reasonable topological space (I'd be happy to assume that $X$ is a smooth closed manifold) and let $f\colon M^n \rightarrow X$ be a continuous map from a smooth oriented $n$-manifold $M^n$...
6
votes
1
answer
489
views
Equivariant handle decompositions
Suppose I have some smooth closed high-dimensional manifold $M$ acted on smoothly by a finite group $G$. By a metric averaging procedure, we can equip $M$ with a smooth Riemannian metric so that $G$ ...
5
votes
0
answers
148
views
Higher homotopy groups and ramified covering maps [duplicate]
It is known in elementary algebraic topology that a covering map induces an isomorphism of higher homotopy groups.
Is there any relation of the higher homotopy groups of the ...