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).

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Real laminations on a 4-punctured sphere

Fix a triangulation $T$ of the 4-punctured sphere. (Formally, an ideal triangulation, but taking a combinatorial viewpoint, we may as well just fix a triangulation of the sphere with 4 vertices and ...
Nathan Reading's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
318 views

Ends of Coxeter Groups

It is known after Stallings that a group can have 0, 1, 2 or infinitely many ends. Are there known results on the space of ends of a Coxeter group?
Nicolas Boerger's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
181 views

Definition of the dual spider number and the formula for the first chern class of the triangle

In the process of trying to understand various maps in Heegaard Floer homology I got stuck on the definition of the dual spider number, which, it seems to me, has a combinatorial definition directly ...
shestipalov's user avatar
  • 1,000
8 votes
1 answer
665 views

Proving that the Jones polynomial is q-holonomic

The Jones polynomial is known to have many different interpretations or definitions, by now. There are connections with QFT, quantum groups, Hilbert schemes, Cherednik algebras, etc. My question is ...
Gjergji Zaimi's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
159 views

Quandle colorings under Reidemeister moves

Let $D$ be a knot diagram and $Q$ a quandle. We use $c$ to denote a fixed coloring of $D$ with $Q$. If $D'$ is another knot diagram of the same knot, and $R_1$ is a sequence of Reidemeister moves ...
Zhiyun Cheng's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
417 views

Quasi-isometry and left invariant orderability for groups

Is the property of left invariant orderability for finitely generated groups preserved by quasi-isometrics? More precisely, if $G$ is a left orderable (finitely generated) group and $H$ is a torsion-...
Mahdi Teymuri Garakani's user avatar
20 votes
0 answers
493 views

Topological description of inverting a knot

The first figure shows an offset overhand knot. To tie it, you simply bring the two cords together and make an overhand knot in them. It's more secure than it looks, and several climbers have been ...
user avatar
6 votes
5 answers
768 views

Existence of orientation preserving, finite order self homeomorphism on a genus 2 surface without fixed point

Let $M$ be a compact 2-manifold of genus 2. Does there exist an orientation preserving homeomorphism $f:M\to M$, so that $f^n=id$ for some integer $n$, and $f$ doesn't have fixed points? Using ...
Boyu Zhang's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
138 views

Disks in Flat Embeddings of Graphs in $\mathbb{R}^3$

Robertson, Seymour and Thomas proved that any linkless graph $G$ has a flat embedding in $\mathbb{R}^3$ (see for example A survey of linkless embeddings). An embedding of $G$ is flat if for any cycle $...
Hooman's user avatar
  • 415
6 votes
1 answer
442 views

(Smooth) Borel Conjecture for 4-dimensional torus

Given an aspherical 4-dimensional closed manifold $M$ with fundamental group $\mathbb{Z}^4$, it is homotopy-equivalent to $T^4 = S^1 \times \ldots S^1$, the 4-dimensional torus. Question 1: Since I ...
LCC1's user avatar
  • 73
6 votes
2 answers
164 views

Which criteria guarantee an orthogonal circuit in $\mathbb R^3$ to be rigid?

For $n\ge4$, define an orthogonal circuit or O-circuit as a closed circuit of $n$ unit segments in $\mathbb R^3$ such that any two neighboring segments form a right angle. (Physically this could be ...
Wolfgang's user avatar
  • 13.2k
3 votes
0 answers
174 views

Different definitions of linkless graphs

Robertson, Seymour and Thomas defined linkless embeddings of graphs as follows: An embedding of $G$ is linkless if every pair of disjoint circuits of $G$ have zero linking number (see here). However ...
Hooman's user avatar
  • 415
1 vote
1 answer
418 views

Difference between straight and piecewise linear and continuous embeddings of graphs / complexes in d-dimensional space?

Here is my main question: what is the difference between "straight" and "piecewise linear" and "continuous" embeddings of graphs/complexes in d-dimensional space? Moreover I would like to know if any ...
Hooman's user avatar
  • 415
12 votes
1 answer
499 views

Is a generic closed orientable hyperbolic 3-manifold Haken?

My question is as follows: "Is a generic closed orientable hyperbolic 3-manifold Haken?" Of course the word 'generic' can be interpreted in many ways, and the answer might depend on the way how one ...
Stefan Friedl's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
374 views

Second homology of mapping class group of genus 3

In a survey paper of Korkmaz it is stated that $H_2(\mathrm{Mod}_3)$ is either $\Bbb Z$ or $\Bbb Z \oplus \Bbb Z_2$, but I was not able to find out a precise computation of this group (resolving the ...
Daniele Zuddas's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
68 views

Any results on rayless simplicial complexes?

We define a closed ray in a topological space $X$ to be its closed subset homeomorphic to the real half-line $[0,\infty)\subseteq \mathbb{R}$. Call a topological space $X$ rayless if it does not ...
Michał Kukieła's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
269 views

Criteria for abstract polytopes to be convex polytope

Suppose I have an abstract polytope defined by a poset. Are there any methods for determining whether the abstract polytope can be geometrically realized as convex-hull on its set of vertices?
Prasit's user avatar
  • 2,013
0 votes
0 answers
89 views

Condensation points of orbits of roots of unity

For a fixed $n\in \mathbb{N}$ we consider the set of $n$-roots of unity $R(n)=\{z\in S^1; z^n=1\}$. It splits into mutually disjoint orbits. Let $R=\bigcup_{n=0}^{\infty} R(2^n-1)$. For each orbit in $...
user46227's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
953 views

Bott's Formula for Grassmannians

Bott's Formula gives the dimension of the cohomology $H^{q}(\mathbb{P}^{n}, \Omega_{\mathbb{P}^{n}}^{p}(k))$ of the $k$-twisted sheaf of $p$-differential forms on the projective space $\mathbb{P}_{\...
theStudent's user avatar
18 votes
3 answers
623 views

Classification of tangles?

Has anybody done any work on making a classification of low-complexity tangles, analogous to the work for knots and links? I expect most of the small ones to be rational, and those that aren't ...
Dylan Thurston's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
204 views

Singular leaf of Strebel differential

Let $R$ be a Riemann surface.Let $\gamma$ be a loop which is non-trivial in $H_{1}(R,\mathbb{Z})$. By the Jenkins–Strebel Theorem we know the following: there exists a holomorphic quadratic ...
Ben's user avatar
  • 31
10 votes
2 answers
634 views

Heegaard genera of arithmetic 3-manifolds

UPDATE: Because I was hoping that state the question as concisely as possible, the original post did not include a precise definition of arithmetic 3-manifold only a reference to Maclachlan and ...
Neil Hoffman's user avatar
  • 5,221
2 votes
1 answer
113 views

Characterization of the medial axis of a surface

I would like to know if the following "characterization" of the medial axis of a surface is correct, and if so, how to prove it. Let $S$ be a continuous, piecewise smooth, compact surface embedded in ...
user2698883's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
606 views

Pseudo-manifolds and homology

Is there a good reference for the proof that the cobordism group of pseudo-manifolds is isomorphic to the singular homology group? I was looking for a more geometrical definition of homology and ...
Vinicius Ambrosi's user avatar
18 votes
0 answers
460 views

What do tangles teach us about braids?

A braid is a smooth level-preserving embedding $f\colon\, \{1,2,\ldots,n\}\times[0,1]\hookrightarrow \mathbb{R}^2 \times [0,1]$ such that $f(k,0)=(k,0)$ and $f(k,1) \in \{1,2,\ldots,n\} \times \{1\}$....
Daniel Moskovich's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
223 views

Map from homotopy sphere with lifting property induces surjections on homotopy groups. Is it weak equivalence?

Let $E$ be homotopy equivalent to a $k$-sphere. Let $q\colon E\to X$ be a map such that given any continuous $f\colon C\to X$ from a compact space $C$, there exists (a non-unique) $\tilde{f}\colon C\...
rgnrmllbrg's user avatar
14 votes
1 answer
438 views

Bloch group, hyperbolic manifolds and rigidity

I have some questions concerning the hyperbolic geometry side of the rigidity question for $K_3$ which asks if the natural map $K_3^{\operatorname{ind}}(\overline{\mathbb{Q}})\to K_3^{\operatorname{...
Matthias Wendt's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
322 views

laminations and branched surfaces

I am looking for a reference for this question: given a branched surface in a 3-manifold, how we can construct a lamination fully carried by that branched surface. any comments would be appreciated. ...
ola's user avatar
  • 43
5 votes
0 answers
257 views

Quotienting disk inside sphere result in sphere

Let $S^k$ be a topological $k$-dimensional sphere. Let $D^k$ be a $k$ dimensional disk that includes in $S^k$. Let $q: D^k \to D^r$ be a map and $r \leq k$. Let $$W = S^k \sqcup D^r/\sim$$ where $S^...
Prasit's user avatar
  • 2,013
2 votes
1 answer
143 views

Going Back-and-Forth Between Different Expressions/"Representations" for Open Books.

I am trying to have a better understanding of how one goes , "travels" between the different formats/layouts of open books for a fixed given 3-manifold M; between the abstract type and the "actual" ...
user56470's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
271 views

Most Regularity of a Polygon

Conseider $n$ electrons in an empty sphere. What structure do they make? This question have two cases: (i) if electrons should be sit on the boundry of sphere (one can suppose that the boundry of ...
Arash Ahadi's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
363 views

Max flow, min cut on manifolds

If a graph has some half edges marked "input" and some half edges marked "output", it is well known that the smallest number of edges which must be cut to disconnect input from output is equal to the ...
Michael Freedman's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
436 views

In the definition of the Heegard Floer surgery exact triangle, what exactly is the correspondence between Whitney triangles and periodic domains?

I'm reading Osváth-Szabó's notes on Heegard Floer homology, in particular about the surgery exact triangle. On page 14 (numbered 42 on the document), they describe an isomorphism between the space of ...
Tom Hockenhull's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
239 views

Is the hypersurface satisfying $\langle x-x_0,\nu\rangle>0$ diffeomorphic to sphere?

Let $p:M\to \mathbb{R}^{n+1}$ be the closed immersed hypersurface. Is the following thing right? If there exists a point $x_0$ in $\mathbb{R}^{n+1}$ such that $\langle x(p)-x_0,\nu(p)\rangle>0$ ...
user129602's user avatar
15 votes
1 answer
1k views

Why are Witten-Reshetikhin-Turaev invariants expected to be integral?

A Witten-Reshetikhin-Turaev (WRT) Invariant $\tau_{M,L}^G(\xi)\in\mathbb{C}$ is an invariant of closed oriented 3-manifold $M$ containing a framed link $L$, where $G$ is a simple Lie group, and $\xi$ ...
Daniel Moskovich's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
996 views

A question about Dehn surgery and Brieskorn homology 3-spheres

I have been learning about Brieskorn homology 3-spheres $\Sigma(a_1,...,a_n)$ and Seifert manifolds. My reference is the first few pages of Saveliev's "Invariants of Homology 3-spheres." If I ...
user36931's user avatar
  • 1,331
6 votes
2 answers
393 views

Is it known which links have Seifert fibered complements?

I believe many such links can be constructed by looking at a foliation similar to the hopf fibration, but the wrapping leaves replaced with $(p,q)$ torus knots. However, I'm interested in particular ...
Carl's user avatar
  • 619
5 votes
2 answers
491 views

What 3-manifolds can be obtained by gluing $ S^1 \times P $ and two copies of $S^1 \times D^2$

Let P denote the pair of pants e.g. a sphere minus three small discs $D_1$,$D_2$,$D_3$ about marked points $x_1,x_2,x_3$. I then consider $P \times S^1$. We have boundary components $T_1$,$T_2$,$T_3$. ...
user36931's user avatar
  • 1,331
2 votes
1 answer
195 views

Simple connectedness of $\mathbb{C}P^2$ intersected with an affine subspace

The complex projective plane $\mathbb{C}P^2$ can be thought of as the set of rank one 3-by-3 Hermitian matrices with norm one, i.e., $\mathbb{C}P^2 = \{xx^* : x \in \mathbb{C}^3, x^*x=1 \}$. As such, ...
Brian Lins's user avatar
18 votes
1 answer
1k views

Topological transversality

Warmup question: Let us say that two continuous functions $f,g:[0,1]\to \mathbb R$ are topologically transverse if their difference $f-g$ has only finitely many zeros, and each zero separates an ...
André Henriques's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
227 views

Does the following object has a name in algebraic geometry?

Suppose $X$ is a projective variety and $D$ is a smooth divisor and let $L = \mathcal{O}(D)$ be the line bundle corresponding to $D$. Consider $X \times \mathbb{P}^1$ with the line bundle $\mathcal{O}(...
kln's user avatar
  • 73
1 vote
1 answer
264 views

Ratner theorem and dense geodesic planes in hyperbolic manifolds

Suppose we have a closed hyperbolic $3$-manifold $M$. For any $x\in M$ and plane $\pi$ in $T_xM$ we consider $P$ the geodesic plane exp$(\pi)$ originating from $\pi$. For any $p\in \pi$ we consider ...
user126154's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
874 views

solvable word problem without algorithm

Let $G$ be a finitely generated group. I wonder if there are examples where: 1) The word problem is known to be solvable in $G$ but there is no algorithm known. 2) The word problem is known to be ...
user126154's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
456 views

Knot invariants in 3-manifolds that are not $\mathbb{R}^3$ or $S^3$ or $B^3$?

This is just a reference request; I have no sharp mathematical question. Inspired by the $(3+)$-year old MO question, In knot theory: Benefits of working in $S^3$ instead of $\mathbb{R}^3$?, I would ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
109 views

Pure braid groups of the complement of a lattice in the complex plane: generators and relations

Where can I find a presentation (by `natural' generators and relations between them) of the pure braid groups $PB_n(S)$ (for $n>0$) of $S=\mathbb C\setminus (\mathbb Z\oplus i \mathbb Z)$? Thanks ...
Lucien's user avatar
  • 828
15 votes
0 answers
586 views

What is the determinant of Poincaré duality?

For a complex $C^{\bullet}$ of finite dimensional vector spaces, one has a determinant $$|C^\bullet|:= \bigotimes \left(\Lambda^{top} C^i\right)^{(-1)^i}$$ functorial with respect to quasi-...
Vivek Shende's user avatar
  • 8,663
10 votes
0 answers
1k views

Some questions about geodesic lamination

I'm learning geodesic laminations on surfaces. Here are some questions I thought a lot but could not understand well. We consider a complete finite area hyperbolic surface $S$ w/o geodesic boundary. ...
stephen's user avatar
  • 609
32 votes
2 answers
2k views

The Jones polynomial at specific values of $t$

I've been calculating some Jones polynomials lately and I was just curious if there was a "physical" (or, rather, geometric) meaning to evaluating the Jones polynomial at a particular value of $t$. ...
Mark B's user avatar
  • 443
4 votes
1 answer
593 views

Manifolds such that every homeomorphism of a submanifold to itself extends to the full manifold

Let manifold $S$ (connected, without boundary) have next property: for every submanifold $D \subset S$ (connected, compact, without boundary), every homeomorphism $f:D \to D$ extends to a ...
Mykola Pochekai's user avatar
13 votes
1 answer
1k views

Representation varieties of 3-manifold groups in $\mathrm{SL}(n,\mathbb{C})$

I am looking at the variety of representations of the fundamental group of a hyperbolic 3-manifold into $\mathrm{SL}(n,\mathbb{C})$: $$\mathrm{Hom}(\pi_1(M), \mathrm{SL}(n,{\mathbb C}))$$ It is known ...
ThiKu's user avatar
  • 10.2k

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