Skip to main content

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).

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
4 votes
0 answers
154 views

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 ...
7 votes
1 answer
218 views

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 $...
12 votes
1 answer
565 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 votes
0 answers
115 views

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 ...
3 votes
1 answer
158 views

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 $\...
3 votes
1 answer
269 views

$\mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb{Z})$ 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 ...
7 votes
1 answer
177 views

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}...
4 votes
1 answer
154 views

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....
10 votes
1 answer
659 views

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 ...
3 votes
1 answer
132 views

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 ...
38 votes
3 answers
3k 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 $t$. ...
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 ...
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 $N_0\partial N_e\Gamma$ ...
4 votes
1 answer
470 views

Cluster algebras of type A and X

I will base my question on Fock and Goncharov's paper Dual Teichmüller and lamination spaces. Let $S$ be a surface with boundaries, marked points on such boundaries, punctures and boundaries without ...
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 $\...
16 votes
2 answers
602 views

$\mathrm{GL}_n(\mathbb{Z}_2)=\mathrm{Out}(F_n)/\langle\langle \epsilon_1,\dots,\epsilon_n\rangle\rangle$

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 ...
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 $M$ ...
5 votes
2 answers
3k views

The word problem in braid groups

I have read a statement from Sossinsky and Prasolov' s book "Knots, Lİnks, Braids and 3-Manifold", it says that two reduced word represent isotopic braids if and only if they have the same reduced ...
3 votes
0 answers
115 views

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 $M$...
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 ...
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....
8 votes
1 answer
224 views

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 ...
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 ...
25 votes
1 answer
582 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 ...
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-...
25 votes
2 answers
2k views

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 ...
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 ...
4 votes
1 answer
236 views

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 ...
16 votes
3 answers
2k views

When does a CW-complex of dimension 2 embed in $\Bbb R^4$?

Let $X$ be a finite CW-complex of dimension two having just one 0-cell (+ finitely many 1-cells + finitely many 2-cells). Is it true that X can be embedded in $\Bbb R^4$? If true, is it due to ...
-2 votes
1 answer
141 views

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 ...
0 votes
0 answers
128 views

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 ...
17 votes
2 answers
869 views

Is there a 2 component link with full symmetry?

If you take a (labelled, oriented) 2 component link, it has a symmetry group which is a subgroup of the 16 element group $Z2 \times (Z2 \times Z2 \ltimes S_2)$ (mirror, reverse each component, swap ...
3 votes
0 answers
51 views

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 ...
18 votes
1 answer
400 views

Finitely generated groups with Hölder-exotic space of ends?

The space of ends of a finitely generated group is always homeomorphic to 0, 1, 2 points, or a Cantor set, and in which of these 4 cases it falls is governed by Stallings' characterization (wikipedia ...
4 votes
1 answer
173 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)=\...
9 votes
0 answers
159 views

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 ...
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 ...
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 $M\times[0,1]$ ...
11 votes
2 answers
518 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 ...
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 ...
5 votes
3 answers
286 views

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 ...
3 votes
1 answer
2k views

The importance of Poincare Conjecture or SPC4?

As well known, Perelman proved Poincare conjecture by proving Thurston's Geometrization conjecture. Somebody says that we can understand part of the universe from Poincare conjecture. As a purely ...
8 votes
1 answer
349 views

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 \...
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{...
7 votes
1 answer
445 views

What is known/expected on the co-growth series of the braid group?

The co-growth series of finitely generated group with respect to generating set $S$ is generating function for the number of words of length $n$ which are equal to 1 in the group. Its studies ...
1 vote
1 answer
216 views

Partitions of unity with arbitrary Lip-constants

Lets make things simple. Suppose we have a compact metric space $(X,d)$ and then some Lipschitz partition of unity exists, say a collection $\mathcal{F}=\{f_n\}$ subordinate to some open cover $\...
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 $...
5 votes
0 answers
120 views

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 ...
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 ...
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) $C'$ ...

1
2 3 4 5
86