All Questions
Tagged with gt.geometric-topology gn.general-topology
54 questions
105
votes
5
answers
16k
views
Independent evidence for the classification of topological 4-manifolds?
Is there any evidence for the classification of topological 4-manifolds, aside from Freedman's 1982 paper "The topology of four-dimensional manifolds", Journal of Differential Geometry 17(3) 357–453? ...
- 2,337
60
votes
6
answers
7k
views
Torsion in homology or fundamental group of subsets of Euclidean 3-space
Here's a problem I've found entertaining.
Is it possible to find a subset of 3-dimensional Euclidean space such that its homology groups (integer coefficients) or one of its fundamental groups is not ...
- 44.4k
33
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Fake versus Exotic
Without recourse to the Disc Theorem (or its progeny), is it true that all known examples of exotic differentiable structures on 4-manifolds would be fake rather than exotic?
Terminology (perhaps non-...
- 2,337
49
votes
3
answers
8k
views
Thurston's 24 questions: All settled?
Thurston's 1982 article on three-dimensional manifolds1 ends with $24$ "open questions":
$\cdots$
Two naive questions from an outsider:
(1) Have all $24$ now been resolved?
(2)...
- 151k
27
votes
1
answer
4k
views
connectivity of the group of orientation-preserving homeomorphisms of the sphere
In the paper "Local Contractions and a Theorem of Poincare" Sternberg has mentioned the following question which was open when the paper was written:
Is the group of orientation-preserving ...
- 6,214
23
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Is the normal bundle of a torus trivial?
Question:
Let $T^k \subseteq \mathbb{R}^n$, $ n > k$, be a smoothly embedded $k$-torus. Is its normal bundle trivial?
What about the normal bundle of $S^k \subseteq \mathbb{R}^n$, $n > k$, the $...
- 491
18
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Sperner's Lemma implies Tucker's Lemma - simple combinatorial proof
Sperner’s Lemma is often called the "combinatorial analog" of Brouwer’s Fixed Point Theorem, and similarly Tucker’s Lemma is often called the combinatorial analog of Borsuk–Ulam’s Theorem.
We can ...
- 6,917
18
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Proper discontinuity and existence of a fundamental domain
I am currently teaching a topics course where I talk about some discrete groups acting properly. A student asked a very basic question that stumped me: what is the precise relationship between proper ...
- 1,574
16
votes
2
answers
820
views
Klee's trick --- more applications
In his "Some topological properties..." (1955), Klee gave a construction (simple and beautiful) of an isotopy $h_t\colon\mathbb{R}^{2\cdot n}\to \mathbb{R}^{2\cdot n}$ which moves any compact set $K$ ...
- 45k
9
votes
1
answer
588
views
How to prove the product of Whitehead manifold and $\mathbb{R}$ is homeomorphic to $\mathbb{R}^4$?
I am currently reading Rolfsen's "Knots and Links". At page 82 Whitehead manifold $W$ is defined and an exercise asking to show that $W\times \mathbb{R}\cong \mathbb{R}^4$ is left. Reference ...
- 225
8
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Any 3-manifold can be realized as the boundary of a 4-manifold
We know
"Any closed, oriented $3$-manifold $M$ is the boundary of some oriented $4$-manifold $B$." See this post: Elegant proof that any closed, oriented 3-manifold is the boundary of some ...
- 10.5k
7
votes
1
answer
183
views
Stability Question for Isotopies Between Compact Sets
Suppose $X, Y$ are compact sets in $\mathbb{R}^2$ and $F$ is an ambient isotopy carrying $X$ onto $Y$.
Is there an ambient isotopy $F'$ agreeing with $F$ on $X$ and which is constant in a ...
- 439
5
votes
3
answers
730
views
Is it possible to connect every compact set?
Let $X$ be a "nice" space: metrizable, connected, locally path connected perhaps. Let $K\subset X$ be a compact set.
Is there a always a compact connected $L\subset X$ such that $K\subset L$?
This ...
- 5,529
2
votes
0
answers
82
views
Enveloping a Jordan curve with a trace of another one
This question is inspired by this one, or rather the way I understood it.
Let $\gamma$ and $\delta$ be parametrised Jordan curves on the plane (i.e. homeomorphisms from $S^1$ onto its image in $\...
- 5,529
77
votes
4
answers
15k
views
What are good mathematical models for spider webs?
Sometimes I see spider webs in very complex surroundings, like in the middle of twigs in a tree or in a bush. I keep thinking “if you understand the spider web, you understand the space around it”. ...
- 6,917
47
votes
3
answers
3k
views
A metric characterization of the real line
Is the following metric characterization of the real line true (and known)?
A nonempty complete metric space $(X,d)$ is isometric to the real line if and only if for every $c\in X$ and positive real ...
- 41.8k
40
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Are there only countably many compact topological manifolds?
Up to homeomorphism, there are 2 one-dimensional topological manifolds and countably many 2- and 3-dimensional compact manifolds, respectively, since each manifold in these dimensions can be ...
- 3,017
38
votes
3
answers
2k
views
If $X$ and $Y$ are homotopy equivalent, then are $X \times \mathbb{R}^{\infty}$ and $Y \times \mathbb{R}^{\infty}$ homeomorphic?
Let $X$ and $Y$ be reasonable spaces. Since $\mathbb{R}^{\infty}$ is contractible,
$$
X \times \mathbb{R}^{\infty} \cong Y \times \mathbb{R}^{\infty} \;\;\; \implies \;\;\; X \simeq Y.
$$
Is the ...
- 5,898
35
votes
4
answers
4k
views
An intelligent ant living on a torus or sphere – Does it have a universal way to find out?
I wanted to ask a question about topological invariants and whether they are connected in a fundamental or universal way. I am not an expert in topology, so please let me ask this question by way of a ...
- 6,917
30
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Does there exist any non-contractible manifold with fixed point property?
Does there exist any non-trivial space (i.e not deformation retract onto a point) in $\mathbb R^n$ such that any continuous map from the space onto itself has a fixed point. I highly suspect that the ...
- 3,751
21
votes
7
answers
1k
views
Reference for topological graph theory (research / problem-oriented)
I would be interested in recommendations for topological graph theory texts. I think Gross and Yellen has a great chapter on topological graph theory, and I find Mohar and Thomassen's Graphs on ...
20
votes
1
answer
2k
views
A function composed with itself produces the identity
Let $B$ be the closed unit ball in $\mathbb R^3$ and $f: B\to B$ continuous, such that $f\circ f$ is the identity (i.e., $f\circ f=\mathbb 1_B$) and $f$ restricted on $\partial B$ is also the identity ...
- 2,933
20
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Rugged manifold
It is well known that any compact smooth $m$-manifold can be obtained from $m$-ball by gluing some points on the boundary.
Is it still true for topological manifold?
Comments:
To proof the smooth ...
- 45k
19
votes
4
answers
4k
views
When is a finite cw-complex a compact topological manifold?
I think the statement of the question is pretty straightforward. Given a finite $n$-dimensional CW complex, are there necessary and sufficient conditions for determining that it is also a compact $n$-...
- 732
18
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Is every real n-manifold isomorphic to a quotient of $\mathbb{R}^n$?
I'm curious about the following:
Is every real $n$-manifold isomorphic to a quotient of $\mathbb{R}^n$?
Thanks.
EDIT: As Tilman points out, the manifold should be connected. Also, yes, I'm thinking ...
- 761
14
votes
1
answer
578
views
Obstruction of spin-c structure and the generalized Wu manifods
Bockstein homomorphim and obstruction of spin-c structure: Let $w_2$ be the Stiefel Whintney class of manifold $M$. Let the Bockstein homomorphim $\beta$ be the
$$
H^2(\mathbb{Z}_2,M) \to H^3(\mathbb{...
- 2,147
14
votes
1
answer
937
views
Classification of 3-dimensional manifolds with boundary
It is well-known that every closed, connected and orientable 3-manifold $\mathcal{M}$ can uniquely be decomposed as
$$\mathcal{M}=P_{1}\#\dots\# P_{n}$$
where $P_{i}$ are prime manifolds, i.e. ...
- 1,429
13
votes
1
answer
433
views
Is the dimension given by Klee trick ever sharp?
The Klee Trick allows one to find an $\mathbb{R}^m$ where two embeddings of same compact metric space have homeomorphic complements. More precisely, given two embeddings of a compact metric space $K$ ...
- 5,259
12
votes
1
answer
954
views
Does a self map from the wedge sum of two spheres have either a fixed point or a point of period 2?
Let $X$ be the wedge sum of two $2$-dimensional spheres and $f$ a continuous function from $X$ into $X$. Does $f$ have either a fixed point or a periodic point of order 2?
Thanks
- 121
12
votes
0
answers
460
views
3 manifolds with diffeomorphic unit tangent bundles
What can one say about two closed oriented 3-manifolds $M_1$ and $M_2$ such that $S^2 \times M_1$ is diffeomorphic to $S^2 \times M_2$?
- 131
10
votes
2
answers
452
views
Quotient of $S^3$ by Montgomery and Zippin's "wild involution"
In 1952, Bing showed the existence of a topological involution of $S^3$ with fixed point set the Alexander horned sphere, demonstrating that $S^3$ has finite-order homeomorphisms not conjugate to ...
- 2,851
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 $\...
- 5,529
9
votes
1
answer
726
views
Uniform Embedding into Euclidean Space
Given a locally compact, separable, metric space $X$.
When does $X$ uniformly embed into some Euclidean space?
This means, when does there exist some integer $n$ and a closed subset $Y\subset\...
- 3,497
8
votes
1
answer
264
views
Does the continuous image of a disc contain an embedded disc?
Let $\phi:\Bbb D^2\to\Bbb R^n$ be a continuous mapping of the 2-disc $\Bbb D^2$ that is injective on the boundary $\partial\Bbb D^2=\Bbb S^1$. Does its image contain an embedded disc with the same ...
- 13.6k
8
votes
2
answers
362
views
Is every contractible homogeneous space of a connected Lie group homeomorphic to a Euclidean space?
Problem. Let $G$ be a connected Lie group and $H$ is a closed subgroup of $G$ such that the homogeneous space $G/H$ is contractible. Is $G/H$ homeomorphic to a Euclidean space $\mathbb R^n$ for some $...
- 41.8k
8
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Homotopy equivalence from contractibility of fiber
Suppose $X$ and $Y$ are two $CW$ complexes and $f:X\rightarrow Y$ is a continuous surjection such that fiber of each point (i.e. $f^{-1}(y)$ for each $y\in Y$) is contractible. Does it implies that $...
- 1,713
7
votes
1
answer
354
views
Decomposition of manifolds with toroidal boundary
Let $\mathcal{M}$ be a compact, connected, oriented 3-manifolds with non-empty connected boundary $\partial\mathcal{M}$. Then, following this article, it is stated that $\mathcal{M}$ can be written as
...
- 1,429
6
votes
2
answers
324
views
Nonvanishing section of infinite-dimensional tautological bundle
Let $H$ be a real or complex Hilbert space. In the case where $H$ is infinite-dimensional, let us define a half-dimensional subspace as a subspace $W \subset H$ such that both $W$ and $W^\perp$ have ...
- 9,853
6
votes
1
answer
286
views
Tools for constructing homeomorphisms between 4-manifolds
(I am a complete amateur in topology, so this is a question out of curiosity.)
The question was inspired by this post Fake versus Exotic . What methods can, realistically, be used to construct a ...
- 6,891
5
votes
1
answer
380
views
Non-density of continuous functions to interior in set of all continuous functions
Let $M$ be an $m$-dimensional manifold and $N$ be an $n$-dimensional manifold. Suppose also that the topology on $N$ can be described by a metric. Thus, the set $C(M,N)$ can be endowed with the ...
- 5,405
5
votes
1
answer
215
views
Is it possible to fill a boundary component of an irreducible 3-manifold using a handlebody so that the resulting manifold is still irreducible?
Let $M$ be a compact, orientable, irreducible 3-manifold with boundary (possibly more than one component). Let $S\subseteq\partial M$ be one of its boundary components, which is an orientable surface ...
- 605
4
votes
1
answer
522
views
Can every manifold be represented as a quotient
My question is "inspired" by the uniformization theorem for Riemmannian surfaces and this post.
Suppose that $X$ is connected (finite-dimensional) topological manifold without boundary. ...
- 5,405
4
votes
0
answers
182
views
Symmetric line spaces are homeomorphic to Euclidean spaces
For points $x,y,z$ of a metric space $(X,d)$ we write $\mathbf Mxyz$ and say that $y$ is a midpoint between $x$ and $z$ if $d(x,z)=d(x,y)+d(y,z)$ and $d(x,y)=d(y,z)$.
Definition: A metric space $(X,d)$...
- 41.8k
4
votes
1
answer
456
views
Homotopy groups of K3
Let X be a K3 surface and $Y=X/\mathbb{Z}_2$, an Enrique surface.
Long exact sequence of homotopy groups corresponding to fiberaion $\pi:X\to Y$, says that $\pi_2(X)=\pi_2(Y)$, while we know $H_2(X)$ ...
3
votes
0
answers
118
views
Weak contractibility of some infinite dimensional metric spaces
Let $(X_{n},d_{n})_{n \in \mathbb{N}}$ be a sequence of complete geodesic metric spaces such that:
$X_{n}$ is a regular$^1$ CW-complex of constant local dimension$^3$ $n$, it is of finite type$^4$, ...
2
votes
1
answer
94
views
Density of functions into the circle glueing
Let $\{U_i\}_{i=1}^2$ be an open cover of $S^1$, with $U_i\cong \mathbb{R}$ (for example, $U_1$ is the lower arc of the circle and $U_2$ is the upper part). Let $\iota_i:U_i\hookrightarrow S^1$ be ...
- 5,405
2
votes
1
answer
308
views
Does any smooth orbifold can be triangulated by orbi-simplex(triangulation of orbifolds)
every smooth manifold can be triangulated, is it true for orbifold? Is it a known result? If yes, is there any reference?
reply to the comment : G does not need to be any subgroup of Sn , any ...
- 21
2
votes
1
answer
122
views
Subsets of $\mathbb{S}^n$ fixed by an orientation-reversing self-homeomorphism — Part 2
This is another special case of this question.
Recall that we call a subset $Z$ of $\mathbb{S}^n$ ambiently-reversible, if there is an orientation-reversing homeomorphism $h: \mathbb{S}^n \to \mathbb{...
- 1,926
2
votes
0
answers
134
views
Subsets of $\mathbb{S}^n$ fixed by an orientation-reversing self-homeomorphism — Part 1
Call a subset $Z$ of $\mathbb{S}^n$ ambiently-reversible, if there is an orientation-reversing self-homeomorphism $h: \mathbb{S}^n \to \mathbb{S}^n$ fixing $Z$ pointwise.
Question 1: Which subsets of ...
- 1,926
2
votes
0
answers
208
views
Retracting to a bigger compact
Consider the topological spaces $X$ with the following property:
For every compact $K\subseteq X$ there is a compact set $L$ such that $K\subseteq L\subseteq X$ and $L$ is a retract of $X$.
Let ...
- 128k