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4 votes
0 answers
350 views

Does a contractible locally connected continuum have an fixed point property?

I'm surprised that I can't find any research on this topic. Maybe it's too obvious? Kinoshita proved that contractible continuum do not have FPP, but his example is not locally connected. Maybe if we ...
6 votes
1 answer
248 views

How small need a perturbation be to not change the diffeomorphism type of a variety?

Let $f,g \in \mathbb{R}[x_0,\dots,x_k]$ be homogeneous polynomials and $X:=Z(f) \subset \mathbb{RP}^k$ be the projective variety defined by $f$. Assume that $X$ is smooth and has codimension $1$. Then ...
8 votes
1 answer
217 views

Integral homology classes of which no multiples admit embedded representatives with trivial normal bundle

Let $M$ be a closed smooth manifold of dimension $n$ and $z\in H_l(M,\mathbb{Z})$ a $k$-dimensional integral homology class. Theorem II.4 of Thom's classical 1954 paper states that for $l< n/2$ or $...
1 vote
1 answer
177 views

Identifying a curve on a closed surface of genus 4

The notation is the one used in the attached picture. Take a closed, orientable surface $\Sigma_4$ of genus $4$, obtained as the identification space of a polygon with $16$ sides in the usual way. The ...
4 votes
1 answer
421 views

4-manifold $M$ with intersection form of Leech lattice

Do we know any 4-manifold $M$ with intersection form of rank-24 Leech lattice? Is $M$ smooth? Differentiable to which $n$-order? Can $M$ be obtained by any surgery on 3 copies of E8 4-manifolds with ...
3 votes
0 answers
429 views

"Maehara-style" proof of Jordan-Schoenflies theorem?

The highest upvoted answer to this old question Nice proof of the Jordan curve theorem? is a proof by Ryuji Maehara. I personally really liked/appreciated that Maehara's proof is A) a fairly ...
10 votes
2 answers
497 views

Equivariant cohomology of the complement to the arrangement $\bigcup_{i\neq j}\vec x_i = \vec x_j$?

$\DeclareMathOperator\SO{SO}\DeclareMathOperator\SU{SU}\DeclareMathOperator\Conf{Conf}$Let $V=\mathbb{R}^d$ be a $d$-dimensional (Euclidean) vector space over real numbers. Let $G=\SO(V)$ be the ...
21 votes
1 answer
983 views

Is the Alexander horned sphere a cofibration?

The Alexander horned sphere is a closed embedding of $S^2$ into $S^3$ which is not flat because otherwise the Schoenflies Theorem would be true for it. However, not being flat is not the same as not ...
4 votes
2 answers
374 views

Knot theory in handlebodies of arbitrary genus

It is well known that not all graphs embed on the plane (e.g. the graph $K_{3,3}$). However, every finite graph embeds into a surface of some genus. One can think of this procedure as starting with a ...
6 votes
1 answer
479 views

Abstract simplicial complexes - Reference for an elementary definition of mapping degree for simplicial maps?

I am interested to use the mapping degree for simplicial maps between (oriented) abstract simplicial complexes. What I mean by "elementary": My preference would be to use a definition of ...
2 votes
0 answers
106 views

Lifting homology classes to the unit tangent bundle, a la Johnson

Let $M$ be a oriented smooth closed 2-manifold, and let $\gamma$ be an oriented smooth simple closed curve in $M$. In Spin structures and quadratic forms on surfaces, Johnson definines a standard way ...
13 votes
1 answer
459 views

Compact closed aspherical manifolds with vanishing second homology in all the covering spaces

I wonder if there exists a compact closed smooth aspherical manifold $M$ of dimension at least $4$, so that for any covering space $\tilde{M}$ over $M,$ we always have $H_2(\tilde{M},\mathbb{Z})=0$ ...
4 votes
0 answers
191 views

Every closed surface divides a closed 3-manifold $X$ into two parts if and only if $H_1(X)$ is finite

My friend is looking for proof of the following statement Every closed surface divides a closed 3-manifold $X$ into two parts if and only if $H_1(X; \mathbb{Z})$ is finite. Rumor source: Justin ...
35 votes
3 answers
1k views

Second Betti number of lattices in $\mathrm{SL}_3(\mathbf{R})$

We fix $G=\mathrm{SL}_3(\mathbf{R})$. Let $\Gamma$ be a torsion-free cocompact lattice in $G$. Is $b_2(\Gamma)=0$? Here the second Betti number $b_2(\Gamma)$ is both the dimension of the ...
7 votes
1 answer
448 views

Computing $\pi_2$ of the complement of a 2-knot or spaces with aspherical splittings?

As far as I know, it is an open question if the complement of a ribbon disk $D^2 \subset B^4$ is aspherical. In reading "Some remarks on a problem of J.H.C Whitehead" by Howie, it is noted that there ...
9 votes
1 answer
777 views

Intuition for torsion of a chain complex and application to lens spaces

I have read a bit about the torsion of an acyclic complex. One of my concrete hopes was that I could understand why $L(7,1)$ and $L(7,2)$ are not homeomorphic - I am under the impression that ...
3 votes
1 answer
375 views

Boundaries of subsets of simply-connected domains

I am trying to prove the following assertion: Let $B$ be a simply-connected set, and let $B' \subsetneq B$ be a proper open connected subset. Then, there exists a point $x \in \partial B'$ of the ...
6 votes
1 answer
304 views

Stable torus that is not a torus [duplicate]

Let $M$ be a closed manifold such that $M\times \mathbb{S}^1$ is a torus. Is it true that $M$ is homeomorphic to a torus?
3 votes
0 answers
115 views

Finite homology of a homogeneous space

Let $\Gamma$ be a cocompact lattice in $\operatorname{SL}(2,\mathbb R)$ and $X=\operatorname{SL}(2,\mathbb R)/\Gamma$ be the underlying homogeneous space. Can the homology group $H_1(X,\mathbb Z)$ be ...
3 votes
1 answer
235 views

Example of a non $\pi_1$-injective, degree one, self-map of a three-manifold

All manifolds will be assumed to be closed, oriented, and connected. Let $f\colon M\to M$ be a map of degree $\pm 1$. It is not hard to show that $\pi_1(f)$ is surjective. What is an example of a non ...
15 votes
1 answer
954 views

Extending diffeomorphisms

Suppose we have a diffeomorphism $f:{\mathbb{S}}^n_{+}\to\mathbb{S}^n$ of class $C^1$ of the closed upper hemisphere onto a submanifold of $\mathbb{S}^n$ with boundary. Question. Is it possible to ...
11 votes
3 answers
1k views

Computation on characteristic classes

I am organizing a reading seminar on characteristic classes. The audience in the seminar is interested in symplectic and contact manifolds. I work in categorification and would like to compute some ...
6 votes
1 answer
276 views

Proper action on product manifold

Suppose that $\mathbb{R}^n$ is the maximal group that can act properly on a manifold $N$ and $\mathbb{R}^m$ is the maximal group that can act properly on a manifold $M$ ( i.e, $\mathbb{R}^{m+1}$ can't ...
8 votes
1 answer
484 views

Why does the tangent classifier classify the tangent (micro)bundle?

Let $\mathcal{M}\mathrm{fld}_n$ denote the $\infty$-category of topological manifolds (without boundary) and embeddings; more precisely, it is the homotopy coherent nerve of the simplicial category ...
0 votes
1 answer
205 views

Space-time trajectory that cannot be straightened and its braid form

Considering we have the space-time trajectory of multiple particles (or any objects) in the X-Y-Time coordination system. Given a projection direction, we can obtain the braid form of the space-time ...
14 votes
2 answers
829 views

Can a cyclic group of prime order act on a rationally acyclic finite dimensional complex and have no fixed points?

Let $C_p$ b the cyclic group of order $p$, with $p$ a prime. Is is possible for $C_p$ to act (cellularly) on a rationally acyclic finite dimensional CW complex $X$ with no fixed points? Standard Smith ...
3 votes
0 answers
258 views

Determinantal variety

It is well known in literature about the determinantal varieties, symmetric determinantal varities, skew-symmetric determinantal varieties. Is it possible to study determinantal varieties over the ...
8 votes
1 answer
281 views

Non-compact three-manifolds with the same proper homotopy type are homeomorphic?

I am looking for some literature with some (counter) examples of the following fact (though I don't know if the fact is true or not): Let $M, M'$ be two non-compact connected $3$-manifolds with the ...
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: $$\...
8 votes
1 answer
303 views

Topology of a smoothing of an isolated singularity

Let $(X,x)$ be an affine variety with a normal isolated singularity and $Y$ be a smoothing of $X$ (for this we mean $Y$ can be realized as a smooth fibre of a deformation of $X$). Question. Can we ...
7 votes
1 answer
240 views

If the number of ends of Freudenthal space is infinite, then its space of ends is homeomorphic to the Cantor set?

I don't know whether this is the right place to discuss a part of someone's thesis or not. If it is wrong, let me know; I will delete my post. I am reading this thesis. Corollary 4.1.15. on page 63 ...
5 votes
0 answers
164 views

The fundamental group of the complement of badly embedded open $n$-ball in $\Bbb R^n$

Let $\mathcal D^n$ be an open subset of $\Bbb R^n$ such that $\mathcal D^n$ is homeomorphic to $\{x\in \Bbb R^n:|x|<1\}$. Suppose $\Bbb R^n\setminus \mathcal D^n$ is path-connected. How bad can $\...
1 vote
0 answers
97 views

about codimension two foliation

Are there examples of codimension 2 foliations on closed compact 4-manifolds or 5-manifold I am curious about examples of codimension Are there any previous studies or lecture notes of foliation ...
17 votes
1 answer
506 views

Topology of the space of embedded genus $g$ surfaces in $S^3$

Consider the space of smoothly embedded genus $g$ surfaces in the 3-sphere under the $C^\infty$ topology: $$\mathcal E_g:=\operatorname{Emb}(\Sigma_g,S^3)/{\operatorname{Diff}(\Sigma_g)}$$ where $\...
3 votes
1 answer
171 views

Spaces satisfying a strong Cartan-Hadamard theorem

Let $(X,d)$ be a connected geodesic metric space. When does there there exists a covering map $\pi:H\rightarrow X$ which is a local-isometry where $H$ is either a Hilbert space or a Euclidean space? ...
11 votes
0 answers
221 views

On an Artin (?) subgroup of braid groups

While working on something apparently unrelated I encountered a "braid-like" group, which is a relatively geometric subgroup of a braid group and seems to be itself an Artin group. It seems ...
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 $...
10 votes
0 answers
199 views

"Homotopy homomorphisms" of homeomorphisms of Euclidean space

For a topological group $G$, an older term for a map $BG \to BG$ is a "homotopy homomorphism". If $G$ is connected, taking based loops shows that a homotopy class of such a map is the same ...
1 vote
1 answer
249 views

Name for extension of the symplectic group

Let $S_g$ denote an ortientable surface of genus $g$. Let $\operatorname{Diff}(S_g)$ denote the group of diffeomorphism (that need not fix the orientation). Is there a name for the image of $\...
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 ...
13 votes
2 answers
791 views

"C choose k" where C is topological space

One day I read a generating function in a paper. For any "sufficietly nice topological space", $C$: $$ \sum_{l \geq 0 } q^{2l}\chi(\mathrm{Sym}^l[C]) = (1 - q^2)^{-\chi(C)} = \sum_{l \geq 0} \binom{...
2 votes
0 answers
106 views

Vanishing of Goldman bracket requires simple-closed representative?

Let $\Sigma$ be a connected oriented surface, and $[-,-]\colon \Bbb Z\big[\widehat\pi(\Sigma)\big]\times Z\big[\widehat\pi(\Sigma)\big]\to Z\big[\widehat\pi(\Sigma)\big]$ be the Goldman Bracket. Note ...
1 vote
0 answers
78 views

Diffeomorphism induced by small perturbation

Consider the surface $S_{\epsilon}$ defined as: \begin{align} %S&=\{\vec x \in \mathbf{R}^3: x=0\}, \\ S_{\epsilon}&=\{\vec x \in \mathbf{R}^3:\epsilon (x^2 + y^2 + z^2 - 1) + x=0\}. \end{...
6 votes
1 answer
487 views

Topology change induced by small perturbation

Consider the surface $S_{\epsilon}$ defined as: \begin{align} %S&=\{\vec x \in \mathbf{R}^3: x=0\}, \\ S_{\epsilon}&=\{\vec x \in \mathbf{R}^3:f_{\epsilon}(\vec x)\equiv\epsilon ((x^2 + y^2 - ...
2 votes
1 answer
127 views

Preservation of fiberwise normal bundles under fiberwise homotopy equivalences

I am looking to replicate, in the fiberwise setting, the result of Spivak/Wall that the fiber homotopy type of the normal sphere bundle of a manifold is preserved under homotopy equivalences. A ...
6 votes
2 answers
395 views

Dual surfaces of a first cohomology class of a 3-manifold

Let $M$ be closed 3-manifold and $\alpha\in H^1(M;\mathbb Z_2)$ an arbitrary element. (In my case we know that $M$ is non-orientable and $\alpha^3=0$.) It is well known that there is a closed 2-...
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) \...
5 votes
0 answers
131 views

Earliest known proof of "Any degree one self-map of an orientable connected finite-type non-compact surface is homotopic to a homeomorphism"

I attended a talk where the speaker said the following is due to Nielsen. I searched here and there but couldn't find the corresponding paper, if any. So, what is the earliest known proof of the ...
71 votes
10 answers
25k views

Nice proof of the Jordan curve theorem?

As a student, I was taught that the Jordan curve theorem is a great example of an intuitively clear statement which has no simple proof. What is the simplest known proof today? Is there an intuitive ...

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