All Questions
Tagged with at.algebraic-topology differential-topology
61
questions
138
votes
7
answers
33k
views
Is the boundary $\partial S$ analogous to a derivative?
Without prethought, I mentioned in class once that the reason the symbol $\partial$
is used to represent the boundary operator in topology is
that its behavior is akin to a derivative.
But after ...
- 150k
18
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Exotic smooth structures on Lie groups?
If a topological group $G$ is also a topological manifold, it is well-known (Hilbert's 5th Probelm) that there is a unique analytic structure making it a Lie group.
However, for a compact Lie group $...
- 773
12
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Fundamental groups of compact Kähler manifolds
This is a sort of a follow-up to this question, and especially to Sean Lawton's answer: The book Fundamental Groups of compact Kähler manifolds (which, in my opinion, is one of the best mathematics ...
- 95.9k
9
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Reference for push-pull formula in cohomology
I would like a precise reference for the following fact.
Assume that
$$
\begin{array}{ccc}
M\times_B N & \stackrel{f'}{\to} & N \newline
\quad\downarrow g' & & \quad\downarrow g \...
- 35.5k
32
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Converse to Stokes' Theorem
Does satisfying Stokes' Theorem imply that a form is linear?
Let $M$ be an $n$-manifold. A differential $k$-form $\omega \in \Omega^k M$ assigns to each point $x \in M$ a function $\omega_x : \Lambda^...
- 62.6k
22
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Does every vector bundle allow a finite trivialization cover?
Suppose there is a vector bundle (smooth, with constant rank finite-dimensional fibres) over a (smooth, second-countable, Hausdorff, not necessarily connected) manifold $B$ of dimension $n$.
(a) Is ...
- 1,284
22
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Homeomorphisms of $S^n\times S^1$
Is every homeomorphism $h$ of $S^n\times S^1$ with identity action in $\pi_1$ pseudo isotopic to a homeomorphism $g$ of $S^n\times S^1$ such that $g(S^n\times x)=S^n\times x$ for each $x\in S^1$? I ...
- 339
18
votes
3
answers
3k
views
When does the tangent bundle of a manifold admit a flat connection?
Let $M$ be a smooth manifold, and let $TM$ denote its tangent bundle. Under what conditions does $TM$ admit a flat connection $\omega$?
Edit: Formerly, I asked about a flat connection on the frame ...
- 8,422
14
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Reference Request: Compact manifolds with boundary have the homotopy type of a CW-complex
Let $M$ be a compact manifold (possibly non-smooth) manifold with boundary $\partial M$.
Is the inclusion $\partial M\hookrightarrow M$ homotopy equivalent to the inclusion of a subcomplex into a CW-...
- 2,964
7
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is there a sensible notion of a winding number of a closed curve in $\mathbb{R}^n$, $n\geq 3$, with respect to a point not lying on it?
I have been browsing "Topological Degree Theory and Applications" by Cho, Chen and O'Regan as well as "Mapping Degree Theory" by Outerelo and Ruiz, but I have not been able to quite answer myself the ...
- 6,996
6
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Reference for a fact (?) on homeomorphic knot complements
Does somebody have a reference (or an argument why it should be true) for the following statement?
“Let $K$ and $K'$ be knots in $S^3$. If there is an orientation-preserving homeomorphism $h : S^3 \...
- 63
5
votes
1
answer
491
views
Every unorientable 4-manifold has a $Pin^c$, $Pin^{\tilde c+}$ or $Pin^{\tilde c-}$ Structure
The precise statement on J. W. Morgan's "The Seiberg-Witten Equations and Applications to the Topology of Smooth Four-Manifolds (MN-44)" that 4-manifold $X$ admits a Spinc structure (Lemma 3.1.2) ...
- 10.4k
1
vote
0
answers
122
views
Can we construct a general counterexample to support the weak whitney embedding theorm?
The weak Whitney embedding theorem states that any continuous function from an $n$-dimensional manifold to an $m$-dimensional manifold may be approximated by a smooth embedding provided $m > 2n$.
...
- 109
63
votes
0
answers
2k
views
Are there periodicity phenomena in manifold topology with odd period?
The study of $n$-manifolds has some well-known periodicities in $n$ with period a power of $2$:
$n \bmod 2$ is important. Poincaré duality implies that odd-dimensional compact oriented manifolds ...
- 116k
30
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Does there exist any non-contractible manifold with fixed point property?
Does there exist any non-trivial space (i.e not deformation retract onto a point) in $\mathbb R^n$ such that any continuous map from the space onto itself has a fixed point. I highly suspect that the ...
- 3,711