Questions tagged [gt.geometric-topology]
Topology of cell complexes and manifolds, classification of manifolds (e.g. smoothing, surgery), low dimensional topology (e.g. knot theory, invariants of 4-manifolds), embedding theory, combinatorial and PL topology, geometric group theory, infinite dimensional topology (e.g. Hilbert cube manifolds, theory of retracts).
188 questions from the last 365 days
3
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0
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143
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Cell structure on the function space $\operatorname{Hom}(X,Y)$
By the Theorem of Milnor in his paper "On spaces having the homotopy type of a CW-complex", the function space $\operatorname{Hom}(X,Y)$ (with the compact-open topology) is homotopy ...
- 140
7
votes
1
answer
210
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Preserving non-conjugacy of loxodromic isometries in a Dehn filling
Suppose that $g$ and $h$ are non-conjugate loxodromic isometries in a cusped hyperbolic $3$-manifold $M$ of finite volume. Fix a cusp $T$ of $M$. Can I choose a hyperbolic Dehn filling of $M$ along $...
-1
votes
0
answers
114
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Stability of flow map
$\DeclareMathOperator\Diff{Diff}$Setting:
Let $(M,g)$ be a compact and connected $C^{\infty}$-Riemannian manifold. Let $d_g$ denote the induced shorted path metric and equip $C^{\infty}(M)$ with the ...
- 5,405
12
votes
1
answer
557
views
+200
Fundamental group of the complement of a codimension two submanifold
Let $M$ denote an arbitrary smooth, closed, connected, n-dimensional manifold for $n\geq 4$. For every such $M$, does there exist a closed (not necessarily connected!) codimension two submanifold $S \...
- 1,174
3
votes
1
answer
157
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Geometry and topology of Fuchsian character varieties
Consider the hyperbolic space, $\mathbb H^2$. A Fuchsian group is a discrete subgroup of $\text{PSL}(2,\mathbb R)$. We can generate tessellations, especially $\{p,q\} \;\text{tesellations}$ of $\...
- 357
3
votes
1
answer
269
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$\mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb{Z})$ finitely generated by using the Schwarz-Milnor lemma
Recently, I have been studying the modular group $G=\mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb{Z})$, and I am trying to prove $G$ is finitely generated by using the Schwarz-Milnor lemma in geometric group theory.I am ...
- 111
7
votes
1
answer
177
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Ergodicity of action of finite index subgroups in the boundary
Let $\Gamma < \operatorname{PSL}_2(\mathbb{R})= \text{Isom}^+(\mathbb{H^2})$ be a discrete subgroup. Suppose $\Gamma$ acts ergodically on the boundary of the hyperbolic plane $\partial{\mathbb{H}^2}...
- 1,101
4
votes
1
answer
153
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Kirby diagram of the complement of a subhandlebody of a smooth closed 4-manifold
Let $X$ be a smooth closed connected 4-manifold. It admits a handlebody structure, having a unique 0- and a unique 4-handle. We can express the handlebody structure as a Kirby diagram (https://en....
- 213
10
votes
1
answer
659
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Are there any tests for knowing whether a topological space admits a CW structure?
We know that for n $\ge$ 5, a manifold admits a piecewise linear structure if and only if its Kirby-Siebenmann class vanish and Galewski and Stern showed the existence of a similar invariant to test ...
- 168
3
votes
1
answer
132
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Is a simply connected locally 2-connected complex a union of spheres and planes?
Let $X$ be a (potentially infinite) 2-dimensional simplicial complex. Then each link at a vertex $x\in X$ is a graph.
Question. If $X$ is simply connected and each link is 2-connected (in the sense ...
- 13.6k
1
vote
0
answers
69
views
"Bad" valid edge contractions
In this paper, an edge contraction of a simplicial complex $\Gamma$ is defined as the operation of removing the neighborhood $N_e\Gamma$ of the edge $e=\{0,1\}$ and identifying $N_0\partial N_e\Gamma$ ...
- 11
2
votes
1
answer
380
views
Is it always possible to connect the endpoints of a smooth injective path, so the resulting path is smooth, closed and simple?
Motivation
The motivation for this question arises from the following problem: Is there a closed, simple, and infinitely differentiable path on the (complex) plane such that every straight line has a ...
12
votes
1
answer
323
views
Does every mapping class group embed into some $\mathrm{Out}(F_n)$?
The title is pretty much the whole question. Let $S_g$ be a closed, oriented surface of genus $g$. Does there exist $n$ such that the mapping class group $\mathrm{Mod}(S_g)$ embeds as a subgroup of $\...
- 3,740
3
votes
0
answers
119
views
Signature vs commensurability
If a closed oriented $4n$-dimensional manifold $M$ has an orientation-reversing homeomorphism, then the signature $\sigma(M)$ of the intersection form vanishes. More generally, $\sigma(M) = 0$ if $M$ ...
- 41
3
votes
0
answers
115
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Extending triangulations on surfaces
Suppose that $M$ is a surface (i.e., connected topological 2-manifold, I am willing to assume compact, but possibly with boundary), $K$ a finite simplicial complex, and $f$ an embedding of $K$ into $M$...
- 3,115
16
votes
2
answers
602
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$\mathrm{GL}_n(\mathbb{Z}_2)=\mathrm{Out}(F_n)/\langle\langle \epsilon_1,\dots,\epsilon_n\rangle\rangle$
In a paper I found the following result:
$$\mathrm{GL}_n(\mathbb{Z}_2)=\mathrm{Out}(F_n)/\langle\langle \epsilon_1,\dots,\epsilon_n\rangle\rangle$$
However, they got the result as a corollary of a ...
- 911
4
votes
0
answers
177
views
Basis of topology on space of properly embedded smooth manifolds
In A Short Exposition of the Madsen-Weiss Theorem, Hatcher discusses (starting at p.6) a basis for a topology on the space $\mathcal{C}^n$, the space of all smooth oriented $d$-dimensional ...
- 141
5
votes
1
answer
378
views
Why is this Brieskorn manifold a rational homology sphere?
In Némethi's book "Normal surface singularities", Example 5.1.17, there is a formula to find the Seifert invariants of a Brieskorn complete intersection $\Sigma(a_1,...,a_n)$. I am ...
- 197
1
vote
1
answer
91
views
When is a 2-bridge knot hyperbolic?
It is known that 2-bridge knots in $S^3$ can be classified by the Schubert form. My question is: which 2-bridge knots are hyperbolic? (Do we have a complete classification for hyperbolicity in 2-...
- 605
25
votes
2
answers
2k
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Is there a continuous partition of space into circles?
Question 1. Is there a continuous partition of space $\mathbb{R}^3$ into circles?
I strongly suspect not.
It is well-known by diverse arguments that space can be partitioned into circles. There is an ...
- 236k
4
votes
1
answer
236
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If a lattice can be embedded into $\mathbb Q^n,\langle-1\rangle^n$, then can it be embedded into $\mathbb Z^n,\langle -1 \rangle^n$?
Given a graph with negative integers on each vertex $\Gamma$ there is a corresponding intersection lattice denoted $Q_\Gamma$, a free $\mathbb Z$ module generated by the vertices, endowed with a ...
- 43
8
votes
1
answer
224
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Can increasing the winding number of a 2-cell make a CW complex embeddable?
Let $X$ be a 2-dimensional CW complex and let $c\subset X$ be a 2-cell attached along a simple closed loop $\gamma$ in the 1-skeleton $X^{(1)}$.
For a natural number $n\ge 2$ consider the operation of ...
- 13.6k
25
votes
1
answer
581
views
Does every oriented $3$-dimensional submanifold of $\mathbb{R}^6$ bound an oriented $4$-dimensional submanifold?
In my recent research, I encountered the following problem about embeddings. Let $M^3$ be a closed compact oriented smooth $3$-dimensional submanifold of $\mathbb{R}^6$. Does there exist a compact ...
- 587
3
votes
2
answers
189
views
Necessary condition for invertible knot concordance from both ends
It is clear that if $K_1$ and $K_2$ are two concordant knots by a concordance that only present ambient isotopic phenomena (no saddles, maxima, or minima) they are invertible concordant from both ends....
- 31
-2
votes
1
answer
141
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Existence of orientable finite volume complete cusp hyperbolic 3-manifolds $\mathbb{H}^3 / \Gamma$, where $\Gamma$ has no parabolic generators?
Let $K$ be a hyperbolic knot, i.e., $S^3 - K$ is an orientable finite volume cusp hyperbolic 3 manifold. Let $M=S^3 - K$ then $M= \mathbb{H}^3/\Gamma$, where $\Gamma$ (Kleinian group) is discret ...
- 111
0
votes
0
answers
128
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The smallest dihedral angle of convex polyhedrons
Given a set of points $\{x_{k}\}_{k=0}^{m} \subset \mathbb{R}^n$, is it always possible to find a constant $c=c(m,n)>0$, depending only on the dimension $n$ and the number $m$, such that, after ...
- 705
3
votes
0
answers
51
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Asymptotic dimension of graph families representing each finite group
Frucht's theorem says every finite group is isomorphic to the automorphism group of a simple graph $G$ (with no loops, multiple edges or directed edges).
There has been interest in finding classes of ...
- 1,926
4
votes
1
answer
172
views
Is every Cantor set $C\subseteq\mathbb R^{\infty}$ the limit set of a Fuchsian group?
Is every Cantor set $C\subseteq\mathbb R^{\infty}$ the limit set of a Fuchsian group?
Let's recall the definitions. A Fuchsian group $G$ is a discrete subgroup of $\operatorname{PSL}(2,\mathbb R)=\...
- 24.2k
5
votes
2
answers
199
views
Handle decompositions subordinate to an open cover
Let $M$ be a compact smooth manifold and let $\{U_i\}_{i\in I}$ be an open cover.
We say a handle decomposition of $M$ is subordinate to the open cover if each handle is contained in a $U_i$. Do such ...
- 2,797
9
votes
0
answers
159
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Is there a closed aspherical manifold with infinitely many symmetries and without essential immersed tori?
The precise question is the following:
Is there a closed aspherical manifold $M$ of dimension $n\geq 3$ such that Out($\pi_1(M)$) is infinite and $\pi_1(M)$ does not contain $\mathbb Z \times \mathbb ...
- 10.5k
11
votes
2
answers
517
views
Knots having the same Alexander module which are not S-equivalent
As is discussed in this answer, S-equivalence class can be regarded as the Alexander module plus Blachfield pairing, an isomorphism of some duals of Alexander modules.
There are examples of knots ...
- 548
6
votes
0
answers
299
views
Mapping class group of non-orientable three manifold
I do not work in topology, but for some reason we need to know the mapping class group of certain non-orientable 3 manifolds. We found answers online for a lot of orientable manifolds. But we still ...
- 61
3
votes
1
answer
150
views
Slice-ribbon conjecture in other 3-manifolds
There is some notion of what it means for a knot $K\hookrightarrow M$ to be "slice." In particular, we may ask, for example, that there is a topologically embedded disk in $M\times[0,1]$ ...
- 245
8
votes
1
answer
349
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Finite two-relator groups and quotients of knot groups
Let $G$ be a one-relator group $\langle A \mid R = 1 \rangle$. Then clearly $G$ is finite if and only if it is cyclic of finite order, i.e. can be given by a presentation $\langle a \mid a^n = 1 \...
24
votes
1
answer
862
views
The congruence subgroup property for mapping class groups and a conjecture of Grothendieck
This question is about a link between an open question in low-dimensional topology and a conjecture of Grothendieck, proved by Mochizuki. Let's start by stating them.
Recall that a subgroup $K$ of a ...
- 25k
10
votes
1
answer
443
views
Analytic continuation gives a covering space (and not just a local homeomorphism)
Let $\mathcal{G}$ be the space of germs of holomorphic functions defined on open subsets of $\mathbb{C}$, topologized in the usual way. There is a natural map $p\colon \mathcal{G} \rightarrow \mathbb{...
- 111
5
votes
0
answers
120
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Can every orientation preserving homeomorphism of a manifold isotoped to be identity on a locally flat embedded disk?
Let $M$ be a connected (topological) oriented $m$-manifold (say without boundary), and
let $\operatorname{Homeo}^+(M)$ be the group of orientation preserving homeomorphisms $M \to M$.
Is it true that ...
- 1,726
3
votes
0
answers
93
views
Finiteness of non-orientable 3-manifolds with the same orientable two-fold cover
Given a compact, orientable and boundary incompressible 3-manifold $M$. Suppose that either $M$ is closed, or $\partial M$ consists of tori.
For which non-orientable 3-manifolds $N$, the orientable ...
- 605
0
votes
0
answers
65
views
Approximating curves using only line sections and arcs
Given a curve $C$, I need to construct another curve $C'$ approximating $C$ under the following constraints: (1) $C'$ needs to be smooth, (2) $C'$ is composed of only line sections and arcs, (3) $C'$ ...
- 367
10
votes
0
answers
139
views
Space of thick ending laminations
Let $\Sigma$ be a compact closed connected oriented surface of genus $g>1$. Klarreich proved that the space of ending laminations $\mathcal{EL}(\Sigma)$ is the ideal boundary of the curve complex $...
- 68.9k
9
votes
1
answer
401
views
Cohomological gap in arithmetic groups
$\DeclareMathOperator\SL{SL}$For the sake of this question, let's say that a group $G$ of finite cohomological dimension $n$ has a cohomological gap if for some $0 < i < n$ there is no subgroup $...
- 423
8
votes
1
answer
352
views
Can I endow the following 3-manifold with a hyperbolic metric?
Consider the following three-dimensional topology. Start with $S^3$ and drill out four unlinked tori as shown in the picture. Then, fill in the gaps with the same tori but with their longitudes and ...
- 355
5
votes
3
answers
286
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On a metrized $n$-dimensional manifold $X$, does every $x \in X$ have a small ball $B_\delta(x)$ that is homeomorphic to $\mathbb R^n$?
Suppose that $X$ is an $n$-dimensional topological manifold that is also metrizable, and hence equipped with some metric that induces the topology.
For every point $x \in X$, let $B_\delta(x)$ be the ...
- 5,327
4
votes
1
answer
268
views
Seifert surfaces of fibered knots
Given a fibered knot $K\subseteq S^3$, does every genus-minimizing Seifert surface appear as the fiber of a bundle $S^3\setminus K\to S^1$?
- 197
2
votes
0
answers
82
views
Is isoperimetric hypersurface unique up to homeomorphism?
Is there a Riemannian structure on $\mathbb{R}^n $with two non homeomorphic compact hypersurfaces $M,N$ such that both satisfy the isoperimetric inequality. I precisely meanthe following:
$$\...
- 356
3
votes
1
answer
100
views
Representation of Lie groups inducing a quasi-isometric embedding of their symmetric spaces
Let $G_{1}$ and $G_{2}$ be connected semisimple real Lie groups with no compact factors and finite center and let $K_{1}$ and $K_{2}$ denote some fixed choice of their maximal compact subgroups, ...
5
votes
2
answers
221
views
$\mathbb{CP}(2)$ from gluing boundary of 4-ball
Many manifolds can be obtained from gluing the boundary of a ball. For example, $\mathbb{RP}(2)$ is obtained from gluing the two edges of a bi-gon (2-ball). Or, lens spaces are obtained from a 3-cell ...
- 3,001
4
votes
1
answer
230
views
The complement of a properly embedded annulus in a handlebody is a handlebody
Suppose $H_g$ is a genus $g$, orientable handlebody. Suppose $A\subset H_g$ is properly embedded ($\partial H_g \cap A = \partial A$, a transverse intersection), non-$\partial$-parallel annulus. It ...
- 421
4
votes
0
answers
154
views
Is there a notion of "locally flat" for CW complexes?
A submanifold $X^n\subset Y^m$ is locally flat if each point $x\in X$ has a neighborhood $U\subset Y$ so that $(U,U\cap X)\simeq (\Bbb R^m, \Bbb R^n)$ with the standard embedding $\Bbb R^n\...
- 13.6k
3
votes
1
answer
161
views
How to properly define a slice knot (or a locally flat disk)?
A knot $K\subset\Bbb S^3=\partial \Bbb D^4$ is said to be (topolopgically) slice if there is a locally flat disk $D\subset\Bbb D^4$ with $\partial D=D\cap \Bbb S^3=K$. As far as I understand, locally ...
- 13.6k