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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Graph embedding in 3D grid minimizing edge length

I know that arbitrary graphs can be embedded trivially in $\mathbb{R^3}$ and that planar graphs can be drawn on a plane using Schnyder's grid embedding algorithm after triangulation. And then there is ...
Jonas Bötel's user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
1k views

The boundary of a domain whose interior is diffeomorphic to the ball

We know that there are compact manifolds with diffeomorphic interiors but their boundaries are not homeomorphic (see the question Manifolds with homeomorphic interiors). My question is about a very ...
Entaou's user avatar
  • 285
5 votes
1 answer
819 views

Boundaries of relatively hyperbolic groups

When the interior of an n-manifold $M$ has a pinched negative curvature metric of finite volume, then its fundamental group $\Gamma=\pi_1M$ is relatively hyperbolic relative to the parabolic groups $\...
ThiKu's user avatar
  • 10.3k
11 votes
0 answers
349 views

Fox re-imbedding theorem in dimension four

Fox re-imbedding theorem states the following: A compact 3-manifold $M$ with boundary that embeds in the three-sphere $S^3$, can be re-imbedded in $S^3$ so that its complement is a union of ...
Bruno Martelli's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
730 views

Clarification of Gabai's exposition of Murasugi Sums in 'the Murasugi sum is a natural geometric operation'

Gabai states that the Murasugi sum of two hopf bands yields a spanning surface of either the figure eight knot, the trefoil knot or a link of three components. Figure one shows two oppositely twisted ...
Lubtschenko's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
155 views

Ray-Singer torsion of compact 3-manifolds with finite abelian fundamental group

Is the Ray-Singer analytic torsion for an arbitrary compact 3-manifold with finite Abelian fundamental group equivalent to the Ray-Singer analytic torsion of S^3 mod some direct product of Z_N's? It ...
Bob Zheng's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
282 views

Does the shortest path between two braids pass through string links?

One of the fundamental facts underlying the application of braid theory to knot theory is that braids inject into string links. This means that braids $B_1$ and $B_2$, considered inside a cube $I^3$, ...
Daniel Moskovich's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
98 views

PL or projective PL map on the links of a PL manifold

Let $M$ be a PL manifold and $f: M\rightarrow M$ be a PL homeomorphism. Suppose that $f(x)=x$ for some vertex $x$. Is the restriction map of $f$ on the links of $x$ also PL? Someone claims that this ...
yeshengkui's user avatar
  • 1,373
8 votes
1 answer
571 views

Virtual fibering conjecture for cusped hyperbolic manifolds

I am interested in understanding if the Virtual Fibering Theorem holds in the non-compact case. Agol proved that every closed hyperbolic $3$-manifold has a finite index cover which fibers over the ...
Cristina Pagliantini's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
697 views

Is this knot invariant already treated somewhere in the literature?

Fix a knot type $K \subset S^3$, and consider the set $$Y_K = \{ \mbox{Diagrams of }K \} / \mbox{planar isotopy}.$$ We can turn $Y_K$ into a metric space by considering the distance induced by ...
Daniele Celoria's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
304 views

Torelli group of a punctured elliptic curve

Let $T_{g,n}$ be the Torelli group of a $n$-punctured surface $S=\overline{S}\setminus\{x_1,\ldots,x_n\}$, with $\overline S$ orientable, closed and of genus $g$. By definition, $T_{g,n}$ is the ...
Lucien's user avatar
  • 828
-1 votes
2 answers
207 views

Let be $f \in Diff(M)$. What we can say about the subgroup $span{f}< Diff(M)$? What are implications in the structure of $f$ and $M$? [closed]

Let be $f \in Diff(M)$. When is finite the subgroup $span\{f\}< Diff(M)$? What are implications in the structure of $f$ and $M$?
Mateus D'Melo's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
101 views

Convex subsets of infinite dimensional spaces up homeomorphism

Let $C$ be a convex, infinite-dimensional, non-locally-compact subset of a separable Frechet space. If $C$ is a closed subset (or more generally, if $C$ is completely metrizable), then it is known ...
Igor Belegradek's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
1k views

Kenji Fukaya's Lecture series at Simons center

In the past decade, theory of Kuranishi structures on moduli space of pseudo-holomorphic curves has been in the center of debates between some mathematicians in the field of symplectic geometry. ...
Mohammad Farajzadeh-Tehrani's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
982 views

Relation between Milnor ring and middle dimensional homology of hypersurface

I have suspected that the following is well-known: If $P$ is a homogeneous polynomial of degree $d$ in $n$ variables (for example, Fermat quintic $x_1^5 + \cdots + x_5^5$). The Milnor ring is ${\...
UVIR's user avatar
  • 971
3 votes
2 answers
349 views

Handlebody decomposition of a 3-manifold adapted to a link

Given a compact connected 3-manifold $M$ with non-empty boundary, and a link $L \subset M$, is there a handlebody decomposition of $M = H^0 \cup (\cup_i H^1_i) \cup \{\text{2-handles}\}$ such that: $...
Daniele Zuddas's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
1k views

How many distinct homeomorphism classes of lens spaces are there with a fixed p?

This question is about the topological classification of lens spaces. Fix $p$ a positive integer, not necessarily a prime. From Brody, The topological classification of lens spaces, Annals of Math. (...
Anna Alexandrov's user avatar
15 votes
3 answers
1k views

Space of embeddings of circle in a surface

Let $S$ be a compact oriented surface of genus at least $2$ (possibly with boundary). Let $X$ be a connected component of the space of embeddings of $S^1$ into $S$. Question : what is the ...
Don's user avatar
  • 151
3 votes
1 answer
414 views

Is any smooth homeomorphism isotopic to a smooth embedding?

Let $f:D^m\to \mathbb{R}^m$ be a smooth map ($D^m$ is the unit ball). We call $f$ embedding if it is a homeomorphism on the image and the derivative $D_xf$ is nonsingular at each point $x\in D^m$ ($\...
user46230's user avatar
  • 268
5 votes
0 answers
241 views

Ribbon knot presentations

Suppose $K$ is a $n$-knot, $n\geq 2$, which bounds two different ribbon disks $D_1, D_2$. These ribbon disks induce unique ribbon $(n+1)$-knots $K_1, K_2$ respectively. Is it known whether $K_1$ and $...
Blake's user avatar
  • 1,025
1 vote
1 answer
299 views

Each coadjoint orbit of a compact connected Lie group $G$ admits a $G$-invariant generalized complex structure

I am looking for a proof or counterexample for following assertion Each coadjoint orbit of a compact connected Lie group $G$ admits a $G$-invariant generalized complex structure (In sense of ...
user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
320 views

Rank and hyperbolic volume

Suppose $M$ is a hyperbolic $3$-manifold whose fundamental group has rank $r.$ What is the best (lower) bound on the volume of $M?$ Similar question for rank of $H_1.$ There is a bunch of papers of ...
Igor Rivin's user avatar
  • 95.5k
6 votes
1 answer
263 views

Determining Tightness/Overtwistedness of Contact Structure using Lift of Structure to the Universal Cover

All: I would appreciate any ideas, refs., etc. on the following: Let $M^3$ be a contact 3-manifold, and let $X$ be its universal cover. Then the contact structure, say $\eta$ on $M^3$ lifts to a ...
Jerry's user avatar
  • 63
10 votes
1 answer
452 views

Mapping class group vs automorphism group in cobordism category

Let $3Cob$ be the category whose objects are closed surfaces and whose morphisms are diffeomorphism classes of cobordisms. By sending a diffeomorphism $\phi$ of a surface $X$ to its associated ...
Bruce Bartlett's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
26 views

compact centralisers in maximal Kac-Moody groups over finite fields

Suppose that I want to choose an element of a maximal Kac-Moody group over a finite field which has a compact centraliser. Is there anything known at all about how I can go about choosing such an ...
Rupert's user avatar
  • 2,005
5 votes
2 answers
590 views

Automorphisms of surfaces, open books and contact structures

Let $S$ be a surface with non-empty boundary $\partial S$ and let $f$ be an element of $\mathrm{MCG}(S)$, the mapping class group of $S$, i.e., the group of self-diffeomorphisms of $S$ up to isotopy,...
OBD's user avatar
  • 51
2 votes
0 answers
207 views

Foliation of surface all of whose leaves are circles

I'm having trouble locating a reference for the following basic fact. Let $S$ be a compact orientable surface with boundary. Assume that $\mathcal{F}$ is a foliation of $S$ all of whose leaves are ...
Jean's user avatar
  • 21
2 votes
2 answers
458 views

Origin of the name "Torelli group"

The genus $g$ Torelli group $I_g$ is the kernel of the action of the mapping class group of a genus $g$ surface on the first homology group of the surface. The first paper I am aware of that uses the ...
Bill's user avatar
  • 135
11 votes
1 answer
430 views

Construction of the Casson invariant

What is the easiest construction of the Casson invariant? The original construction using representation spaces (as found, for instance, in Akbulut-McCarthy) is very technical since you have to ...
Bill's user avatar
  • 135
2 votes
1 answer
385 views

Module structure of the abelianization of the commutator subgroup

Let $G$ be a (non-abelian) group, and let $G_2$ denote its commutator subgroup. Then the abelianization $G_2^{ab} = H_1(G_2,\mathbb{Z})$ is a module over the group ring $\mathbb{Z}[G^{ab}]$. The ...
Kevin's user avatar
  • 879
3 votes
0 answers
152 views

Rigidity vs Super-rigidity of representations (of Kähler/surface groups)

In the literature there are several definitions of "rigidity" (or "super-rigidity") of representations, adapted to the circumastances. I wonder what are the relations between them; I excuse in advance ...
Marco Spinaci's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
225 views

Counting edges in embeddable CW-complexes in R^3

Using Euler's formula ($V-E+F = 2$ where $V$, $E$ and $F$ are the number of vertices, edges and faces), we can easily count the number of edges in maximal graphs that are embeddable in plane: 3n-6. I ...
Hooman's user avatar
  • 415
1 vote
1 answer
1k views

How many types of jigsaw puzzle pieces in n dimensions?

I was partitioning jigsaw puzzle pieces with some friends yesterday and we noticed that there are 6 types of pieces: All 4 sides have a knobby bit sticking out 1 side has a knobby bit sticking out 2 ...
dreeves's user avatar
  • 111
5 votes
2 answers
1k views

Realizing homology classes on surfaces with boundary by simple closed curves

Let $\Sigma$ be a compact oriented surface with boundary. Assume that the genus of $\Sigma$ is positive. We say that an element $h \in H_1(\Sigma)$ can be realized by a simple closed curve if there ...
Roger's user avatar
  • 69
0 votes
1 answer
184 views

An example for the case tht if the leaves of polarization be non-compact then the polarized sections are not square integrable

Let $(M,\omega)$, be a symplectic manifolds. A subbundle $P\subset TM^{\mathbf{C}}$ of the complexified tangent bundle is called a complex polarization if $P$ is Lagrangian P involutive dim$P\cap\...
user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
325 views

Going from _Actual_ Open Books to _Abstract_ Open Books

All: I am looking for a proof of the result that any open book $(B, \pi)$ ; $B$ a fibered link , $\pi$ a map of $M^3-B \rightarrow S^1$ on a 3-manifold $M^3$ , so that $\pi$: $(M^3-B)$ fibers over $S^...
user44916's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
341 views

Are there some list of the finite subgroups of the mapping class groups of low genus surfaces?

We already know the bound of the order of the finite subgroups of the $Mod(S_g)$. If we take a further step, to find all the finite subgroups, then what is the result for low genus cases? For example, ...
XMDu's user avatar
  • 333
2 votes
0 answers
50 views

What groups of symmetry are most suited for filling uniformely a spherical 3D space, whilst possessing the lowest possible surface-to-volume ratio?

I am looking for the closest known approximate solution to Kelvin foams problem that would obey a spherical symmetry. One alternative way of formulating it: I am looking for an equivalent of Weaire–...
Andrei Kucharavy's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
156 views

Entangled helical knots

Consider a pair of disjoint, congruent helices $H_1$ and $H_2$ passing through one another in the following sense. (Caveat lector: This question is not of general interest! It is also long.) $H_1$ is ...
Joseph O'Rourke's user avatar
5 votes
0 answers
167 views

are smooth homotopic open embedding of Hilbert manifolds smoothly isotopic?

A theorem of Chapman (Chapman, T. A. Homotopic homeomorphisms of infinite-dimensional manifolds. Compositio Math. 27 (1973), 135–140) states that every two open embeddings $f,g:M\to N$ of Hilbert ...
Haggai Tene's user avatar
9 votes
3 answers
760 views

What constant ensures hyperbolicity of Dehn surgery?

I am interested in showing that certain knots having a surgery description are hyperbolic. Unfortunately I have not had time yet to read Thurston's work, so my understanding of this is vague. But from ...
shestipalov's user avatar
  • 1,000
2 votes
1 answer
194 views

Frohman & Fine's proof about Bianchi groups as HNN extensions (or anyone else's)

Specifically, I am looking for a proof that for squarefree $d\in\mathbb{N}\setminus\{ 1,3\}$, there exists some Kleinian $\Gamma$ and some $\alpha\in$Aut$(PSL(2,\mathbb{Z}))$, such that the Bianchi ...
j0equ1nn's user avatar
  • 2,438
7 votes
0 answers
427 views

Reference Request: Topological h-cobordism theorem in higher dimensions

I think this question on math.stackexchange is more appropriate on mathoverflow. Correct me, if you don't think so. The h-cobordism theorem is true in the topological and in the smooth category in ...
Tina's user avatar
  • 71
4 votes
2 answers
636 views

Action of Mapping Class Group on Arc complex

Suppose $S$ is a surface of finite type with nonempty boundary. Now consider the arc complex $\mathcal{A}$. The action of Mod(S)(mapping class group) on the set of all vertices has finitely many ...
Cusp's user avatar
  • 1,703
0 votes
1 answer
162 views

$S^n$ admit a real polarization $D\subset TS^n$?

When the $n$-sphere, $S^n$,admit a real polarization $D\subset TS^n$
user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
1k views

All mapping space between CW complexes is a CW complex?

Let $\mathrm{Map}(X,Y)$ denote the (unbased) cellular mapping space from $X$ to $Y$. If $X$ and $Y$ are finite CW complexes, is $\mathrm{Map}(X,Y)$ a CW complex? Can we know the cell structure of $\...
Jino's user avatar
  • 699
1 vote
1 answer
254 views

A problem related to connectivity of analytic functions

Let $f(z)\in A(\mathbb D)$, where $A(\mathbb D)$ is the space of analytic functions on the open unit disk $\mathbb D$ and continuous on $\overline{\mathbb D}$. Question: Is the connectivity of $f(\...
Jame Ake's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
298 views

Homeomorphism of the punctured sphere which fixes an essential Jordan curve

$\phi$ is a homeomorphism from the 2-sphere to itself which represents an element of $PMCG(S^2,A)$ (we also denote it by $\phi$), where $A$ is a finite set of $S^2$. $\gamma$ is an essential Jordan ...
LongLive's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
384 views

High dimensional generalized Poincare hypothesis without the h-cobordism theorem?

The generalized PL Poincare hypothesis states that in dimension $n$ there is a unique PL manifold that has the homotopy-type of $S^n$. It's known to be true in all dimensions except perhaps $n=4$. ...
Ryan Budney's user avatar
  • 42.8k
10 votes
2 answers
353 views

Equivariant smoothing of PL structures on $S^3$

Suppose $S^3$ is PL sphere on which a finite group $G$ acts by PL homeomorphisms. Is it always possible to find a compatible smooth structure such that $G$ acts by diffeomorphisms? I am not quite ...
Christian Lange's user avatar

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