Unanswered Questions
49,207 questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
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MNOP conjecture
Let $X$ be a smooth, projective, Calabi-Yau 3-fold (CY makes the exposition more elegant, I don't think it is necessary).
To define Gromov-Witten invariants, we consider moduli spaces of stable ...
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Finite Rank Commutators
My former student Detelin Dosev and I are interested in classifying the commutators in $L(X)$, the bounded linear operators on the Banach space $X$ (see our joint paper on my home page or the ArXiv ...
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To what extent does (co)homology of groups made discrete depend on set theory?
There's a well-known paper by Milnor, "On the homology of Lie groups made discrete," that discusses the relation between the homology of a Lie group $G$ and the underlying discrete group $G^\delta$. ...
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Optimal monotone families for the discrete isoperimetric inequality
Background: the discrete isoperimetric inequality
Start with a set $X=\{1,2,...,n\}$ of $n$ elements and the family $2^X$ of all subsets of $X$.
For a real number $p$ between zero and one, we consider ...
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16
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Embedding of two-dimensional CW complexes which induces a zero homomorphism on second homotopy groups
I am interested in the following question which I asked at MSE and did not get any clues. How to find three two-dimensional CW complexes $K_1, K_2, K_3$ with non-trivial $\pi_2$ and injective ...
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Axioms of Choice in constructive mathematics
There is a widely accepted opinion that the Axiom of Countable Choice (further, ACC)
$$ \forall n\in \mathbb{N} . \exists x \in X . \varphi [n, x] \implies \exists f: \mathbb{N} \longrightarrow X . \...
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Natural examples of Borel surjections without right inverse
As discussed in this question, in general a Borel surjection $f:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ may not have a Borel right inverse, namely a $g$ such that $f\circ g=id$, although there is always a ...
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Topological spaces in which countable intersections of dense open sets have dense interior
In certain topological spaces, known as Baire spaces (e.g., completely metrizable spaces), a countable intersection of dense open sets is dense.
Now consider the following strengthening of the Baire ...
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Are Lie groupoids just groupoids internal to smooth manifolds?
It seems to be common to say "no" - but is this true?
Two weeks ago I asked for a counterexample, but received no replies.
To give some background, let's recall that the difference between ...
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Does there exist a closed 4-manifold whose $\pi_2$ contains torsion elements
Does there exist a closed 4-manifold $X$ such that $\pi_2(X)$ contains torsion elements?
And, if so, does there exist a closed 4-manifold $X$ such that $\pi_2(X)\neq 0$ but $\pi_2(X)\otimes \mathbb{Q}=...
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Will a unit disk be completely covered by randomly placed disks of area $\pi,\frac{\pi}{2},\frac{\pi}{3},\dots$ with probability $1$?
On a "bottom" disk of area $\pi$, we place "top" disks of area $\pi,\frac{\pi}{2},\frac{\pi}{3},\dots$ such that the centre of each top disk is an independent uniformly random ...
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Poset defined on pairs of subgroups
Let $G$ be a group. Consider the set $P(G)$ of all pairs $(H,N)$ of subgroups of $G$ such that $N$ is a normal subgroup of $H$. Consider the relation $\leq_G$ on $P(G)$ defined as follows: $(H,N)\...
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Do primes of the form $4k+1$ ever lead the greatest prime factor race?
Analogous to Chebyshev's race between primes, I examined the race between primes in the greatest prime factors, GPF, of natural numbers. Similar to the regular prime race, in the GPF race, the ...
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478
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Quantitative Skorokhod embedding
The Skorokhod embedding theorem says that any random variable $X$ with $\mathbb E X=0$ and $\mathbb E[X^2]<\infty $ can be written as $X=B_{\tau }$ where $B$ is a Brownian motion and $\tau $ is a ...
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Lurie's applications of $\infty$-topoi in topology
Lurie's book Higher Topos Theory is extremely interesting, but pretty overwhelming. I don't have the time to read it at the moment. However, the last chapter (7) gives applications of $\infty$-topoi ...
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284
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Stable isomorphism of group C$^*$-algebras
For a discrete group $G$, let $C^*_r(G)$ be its reduced group C$^*$-algebra.
Question: Do there exist discrete, torsion-free non-isomorphic groups $G,H$ such that $C^*_r(G)$ and $C^*_r(H)$ are stably ...
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534
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Does the $\mathbb{F}_1$ point of view lead to any testable predictions?
In number theory we can informally consider number rings as curves over something like a field with one element. For example it is mentioned here by Kedlaya.
The question is does this perspective lead ...
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Condensed mathematics and independence results
I recently saw a paper on ``condensed mathematics'', in which I found the following quote interesting (see Condensed Mathematics: The internal Hom of condensed sets and condensed abelian groups and a ...
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A question on Fargues-Scholze
As far as I understand it, the main goal of the recent work of Fargues and Scholze on the geometrization conjecture is to show that the local Langlands conjecture of a local field is equivalent to the ...
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696
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Full Exceptional Collection of Vector Bundles for Toric Varieties
Kawamata showed the derived category of coherent sheaves on a smooth projective toric variety has a full exceptional collection consisting of sheaves. I was wondering if it is know whether every ...
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Reducible polynomials of the shape $f(t^2)$, where $f$ is irreducible
Let $f(x) \in \mathbb{Z}[x]$ be a monic, irreducible polynomial. What are necessary and sufficient conditions for $g(t) = f(t^2)$ to be reducible over $\mathbb{Q}$?
For instance, if $f(x) = x-1$ then $...
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Convergence of rivers of numbers
$\DeclareMathOperator{\river}{river}\DeclareMathOperator{\leadingsum}{ls}\DeclareMathOperator{\digitsum}{ds}\newcommand{\qed}{\square}
$A 1999 British Informatics Olympiad question asks about ...
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332
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Which limits distribute over which colimits in $Set$? How about in $Spaces$?
I've never really thought much about distributivity of limits and colimits -- I tend to think more about commutativity of limits and colimits. This question makes me want to change that.
The question ...
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673
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Exposition of Drinfeld's proof of function field Langlands for GL(2)
I know, or think I know, the vague outline of the proof: the Galois-to-automorphic direction is "classical," i.e. follows from converse theorems due to Grothendieck et al., and for the ...
- 311
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284
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Solution spaces of algebraic differential equations and derived geometry
We consider potentially non-linear differential equations on the formal one dimensional disc $\Delta$. Such equations are given by expressions $$P(z,f,f',f'',...)=0,$$ where $P$ is an element of the ...
user108998
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439
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Applications of the Weight Monodromy conjecture
I think of the Weight Monodromy conjecture as an analogue of the Weil conjectures in the case of bad reduction. The Weil conjectures of course have lots of applications, from point counting to ...
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Grothendieck dessins d'enfants - current surveys or text you can recommend?
I was recommended this forum to be the leading site for algebraic geometry, so I would like to ask you a question about Grothendieck dessins d´enfants. My background is in maps on surfaces (graph ...
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Prove $\int_{0}^{\infty} \cos(\omega x) \exp(-x^{\alpha}) \, {\rm d} x \ge {\alpha^2 \sqrt{\pi} \over 8} \exp \left( -\frac{\omega^2}{4} \right)$
I would like to prove that
$$\int_{0}^{\infty} \cos(\omega x) \exp(-x^{\alpha}) \, {\rm d} x \ge
{\alpha^2 \sqrt{\pi} \over 8} \exp \left( -\frac{\omega^2}{4} \right)$$
for any $\omega > 0$ and $...
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Lie theoretic meaning to $e^{\text{cycle}} = \text{permutation}$?
It is well known that exponentiating the EGF(exponential generating function) for cycles gives the EGF for permutations: link here. Usually summarized under the catchy slogan ...
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488
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Does the Angel have to be really smart?
My question is about the computational complexity of the Angel's strategy in the Angels and Devils game, tl;dr does the Angel have a polynomial time strategy.
I'm a big Conway fan, so as you can ...
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402
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Dennis trace map for stable $\infty$-category, naively
I'm trying to get more intiution about higher K-theory, Hochschild homology and the trace map between by thinking about these objects from an informal $\infty$-categorical perspective, instead of ...
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Applications of character sheaves
There are many important recent works (for example, by Lusztig, Bezrukavnikov-Finkelberg-Ostrik, Ben-Zvi-Nadler, Boyarchenko-Drinfeld, Lusztig-Yun, Vilonen-Xue) on character sheaves (which are certain ...
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Failure of local Fontaine Mazur
This question unfortunately has a very similar name to this one, but I what want to ask here is different.
Let $K$ be a finite extension of $\mathbb{Q}_p$. It seems to be well known that the local ...
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777
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Fundamental group of formal punctured disc and punctured affine line
On a course that ended some time ago, I was handed the following problem:
Problem: Compute $\pi_1^{ét} (\mathbb{A}^1_{\mathbb C} \setminus \{ 0 \}, \overline x)$.
Hint: Find all finite ...
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Does virtual Morava K-theory have an Eilenberg-Moore spectral sequence?
In a recent question, Tim Campion was interested in analyzing the Morava $K$–theory of a space $X$ by dissecting the space into connective and coconnective parts: $$X(m, \infty) \to X \to X[0, m].$$ ...
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502
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Direct comparison zig-zag between cochain theories
In the paper
Cochain multiplication, Am. J. Math 124 (2002) pp 547–566, doi:10.1353/ajm.2002.0017
Mandell gives axioms for a cochain-level characterisation of ordinary cohomology theory, lifting ...
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Irreducibility of q-factorial plus 1
Let $q$ be a formal variable and for every positive integer $n$ let
$$[n]_q! = 1 (1 + q)(1 + q + q^2) \dotsm (1 + q + \dotsb + q^{n-1})$$
be the $q$-factorial.
Is it true that $[n]_q! + 1$ is an ...
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570
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Geometric (smooth) Rubik's cube
I and my friend are thinking about a smooth analog of Rubik's cube. One idea is the following:
Consider the 2-dimensional sphere $S^{2}$. We choose three parameters: $(L, H, \theta)$. Here $L$ is a ...
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558
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How well-defined is $\bar\kappa$ in the stable $20$-stem?
The $2$-completed stable $20$-stem $\pi_{20}(S)_2$ is cyclic of order $8$.
Mimura and Toda (1963, Lemma 15.4) mr=157384 show the existence of a class $\bar\kappa_7 \in \pi_{27}(S^7)$ whose stable ...
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Geometry of Affine Kac-Moody Algebras
I recently asked this question on phys.SE and it was suggested to me to ask it here.
One can reconstruct the unitary irreducible representations of compact Lie groups very beautifully in geometric ...
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Is there an expository account of homology of simplicial sets that does not assume prior familiarity with any variant of homology?
There are numerous expositions of simplicial homology in the literature.
Munkres in “Elements of Algebraic Topology” develops the homology theory of simplicial complexes.
Hatcher in “Algebraic ...
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Is homeomorphism of simplicial complexes semidecidable?
Conventions: $\cong$ is homeomorphism of topological spaces and isomorphism of groups, $\equiv_G$ is the equality of two words over the generators of the group $G$. Simplicial complexes are finite.
...
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The Monster Moonshine Module from the engineering or algorithmic point of view
From what I understand (see, e.g., this question), the Monster Moonshine Module is a kind if "third generation" (or "second quantization"?) after the Golay code (with automorphism group $M_{24}$) and ...
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334
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Beyond smoothness-the clear picture about the notion of a differential form
In this paper N.Teleman constructs the signature operator on an arbitrary (closed, oriented) Lipschitz manifold with coefficients in a vector bundle $\xi$. In particular the notion of a differential $...
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If a polynomial ring is a finite flat module over some subring, is that subring itself a polynomial ring?
A question motivated by If a polynomial ring is a free module over some subring, is that subring itself a polynomial ring? and If a polynomial ring is finite free over a subring, is the subring ...
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666
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Étale cohomology of varieties in positive characteristic via singular cohomology
Suppose $X$ is a smooth scheme, not necessarily projective, over $\mathbb{Z}[1/N]$ for some integer $N\neq 0$. I would like to understand the cohomology groups $H^i_{ét}(X_{\overline{\mathbb{F}}_p}, \...
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610
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Cohen/Random reals over intermediate models in countable support iterations
Assume that the continuum is $\aleph_2$ in our ground model $V$. Suppose that $(P_n \, : \, n \in \omega)$ is a fully supported iteration of length $\omega$. Suppose further that the factors of the ...
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330
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How much smoothness does the tennis ball theorem need?
The tennis ball theorem states that a smooth-enough curve that bisects the surface area of a sphere must have at least four inflection points. There are plenty of sources on this but most of them are ...
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Does every integer $n>1$ have the form $a^2+b^2+3^c+5^d$ with $a,b,c,d$ nonnegative integers?
Lagrange's four-square theorem states that every nonnegative integer is the sum of four squares. I have tried to replace two of the four squares by two powers. This leads to my following question: ...
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Do we expect abelian varieties (and “Artin motives”) to generate the Grothendieck ring of varieties over a finite field?
The Tate conjecture implies that the category of motives over a finite field is generated (as tensor category) by the motives of abelian varieties and Artin motives. See [1] for details.
Let $K(\...
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