Scissors Congruences, Group Homology and Characteristic Classes

Scissors Congruences, Group Homology and Characteristic Classes PDF

Author: Johan L. Dupont

Publisher: World Scientific

Published: 2001

Total Pages: 178

ISBN-13: 9810245084

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These lecture notes are based on a series of lectures given at the Nankai Institute of Mathematics in the fall of 1998. They provide an overview of the work of the author and the late Chih-Han Sah on various aspects of Hilbert's Third Problem: Are two Euclidean polyhedra with the same volume ?scissors-congruent?, i.e. can they be subdivided into finitely many pairwise congruent pieces? The book starts from the classical solution of this problem by M Dehn. But generalization to higher dimensions and other geometries quickly leads to a great variety of mathematical topics, such as homology of groups, algebraic K-theory, characteristic classes for flat bundles, and invariants for hyperbolic manifolds. Some of the material, particularly in the chapters on projective configurations, is published here for the first time.

Lectures on Functor Homology

Lectures on Functor Homology PDF

Author: Vincent Franjou

Publisher: Birkhäuser

Published: 2015-12-08

Total Pages: 154

ISBN-13: 3319213059

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This book features a series of lectures that explores three different fields in which functor homology (short for homological algebra in functor categories) has recently played a significant role. For each of these applications, the functor viewpoint provides both essential insights and new methods for tackling difficult mathematical problems. In the lectures by Aurélien Djament, polynomial functors appear as coefficients in the homology of infinite families of classical groups, e.g. general linear groups or symplectic groups, and their stabilization. Djament’s theorem states that this stable homology can be computed using only the homology with trivial coefficients and the manageable functor homology. The series includes an intriguing development of Scorichenko’s unpublished results. The lectures by Wilberd van der Kallen lead to the solution of the general cohomological finite generation problem, extending Hilbert’s fourteenth problem and its solution to the context of cohomology. The focus here is on the cohomology of algebraic groups, or rational cohomology, and the coefficients are Friedlander and Suslin’s strict polynomial functors, a conceptual form of modules over the Schur algebra. Roman Mikhailov’s lectures highlight topological invariants: homoto py and homology of topological spaces, through derived functors of polynomial functors. In this regard the functor framework makes better use of naturality, allowing it to reach calculations that remain beyond the grasp of classical algebraic topology. Lastly, Antoine Touzé’s introductory course on homological algebra makes the book accessible to graduate students new to the field. The links between functor homology and the three fields mentioned above offer compelling arguments for pushing the development of the functor viewpoint. The lectures in this book will provide readers with a feel for functors, and a valuable new perspective to apply to their favourite problems.

Quandles and Topological Pairs

Quandles and Topological Pairs PDF

Author: Takefumi Nosaka

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2017-11-20

Total Pages: 136

ISBN-13: 9811067937

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This book surveys quandle theory, starting from basic motivations and going on to introduce recent developments of quandles with topological applications and related topics. The book is written from topological aspects, but it illustrates how esteemed quandle theory is in mathematics, and it constitutes a crash course for studying quandles.More precisely, this work emphasizes the fresh perspective that quandle theory can be useful for the study of low-dimensional topology (e.g., knot theory) and relative objects with symmetry. The direction of research is summarized as “We shall thoroughly (re)interpret the previous studies of relative symmetry in terms of the quandle”. The perspectives contained herein can be summarized by the following topics. The first is on relative objects G/H, where G and H are groups, e.g., polyhedrons, reflection, and symmetric spaces. Next, central extensions of groups are discussed, e.g., spin structures, K2 groups, and some geometric anomalies. The third topic is a method to study relative information on a 3-dimensional manifold with a boundary, e.g., knot theory, relative cup products, and relative group cohomology.For applications in topology, it is shown that from the perspective that some existing results in topology can be recovered from some quandles, a method is provided to diagrammatically compute some “relative homology”. (Such classes since have been considered to be uncomputable and speculative). Furthermore, the book provides a perspective that unifies some previous studies of quandles.The former part of the book explains motivations for studying quandles and discusses basic properties of quandles. The latter focuses on low-dimensional topology or knot theory. Finally, problems and possibilities for future developments of quandle theory are posed.

Groups, Combinatorics And Geometry

Groups, Combinatorics And Geometry PDF

Author: Alexander Anatolievich Ivanov

Publisher: World Scientific

Published: 2003-03-19

Total Pages: 347

ISBN-13: 9814486426

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Over the past 20 years, the theory of groups — in particular simple groups, finite and algebraic — has influenced a number of diverse areas of mathematics. Such areas include topics where groups have been traditionally applied, such as algebraic combinatorics, finite geometries, Galois theory and permutation groups, as well as several more recent developments. Among the latter are probabilistic and computational group theory, the theory of algebraic groups over number fields, and model theory, in each of which there has been a major recent impetus provided by simple group theory. In addition, there is still great interest in local analysis in finite groups, with substantial new input from methods of geometry and amalgams, and particular emphasis on the revision project for the classification of finite simple groups.This important book contains 20 survey articles covering many of the above developments. It should prove invaluable for those working in the theory of groups and its applications.

The Math You Need

The Math You Need PDF

Author: Thomas Mack

Publisher: MIT Press

Published: 2023-10-31

Total Pages: 497

ISBN-13: 0262546329

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A comprehensive survey of undergraduate mathematics, compressing four years of study into one robust overview. In The Math You Need, Thomas Mack provides a singular, comprehensive survey of undergraduate mathematics, compressing four years of math curricula into one volume. Without sacrificing rigor, this book provides a go-to resource for the essentials that any academic or professional needs. Each chapter is followed by numerous exercises to provide the reader an opportunity to practice what they learned. The Math You Need is distinguished in its use of the Bourbaki style—the gold standard for concision and an approach that mathematicians will find of particular interest. As ambitious as it is compact, this text embraces mathematical abstraction throughout, avoiding ad hoc computations in favor of general results. Covering nine areas—group theory, commutative algebra, linear algebra, topology, real analysis, complex analysis, number theory, probability, and statistics—this thorough and highly effective overview of the undergraduate curriculum will prove to be invaluable to students and instructors alike.

Introduction to the Theory of Valuations

Introduction to the Theory of Valuations PDF

Author: Semyon Alesker

Publisher: American Mathematical Soc.

Published: 2018-06-27

Total Pages: 83

ISBN-13: 1470443597

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Theory of valuations on convex sets is a classical part of convex geometry which goes back at least to the positive solution of the third Hilbert problem by M. Dehn in 1900. Since then the theory has undergone a multifaceted development. The author discusses some of Hadwiger's results on valuations on convex compact sets that are continuous in the Hausdorff metric. The book also discusses the Klain-Schneider theorem as well as the proof of McMullen's conjecture, which led subsequently to many further applications and advances in the theory. The last section gives an overview of more recent developments in the theory of translation-invariant continuous valuations, some of which turn out to be useful in integral geometry. This book grew out of lectures that were given in August 2015 at Kent State University in the framework of the NSF CBMS conference “Introduction to the Theory of Valuations on Convex Sets”. Only a basic background in general convexity is assumed.

Mathematical Omnibus

Mathematical Omnibus PDF

Author: D. B. Fuks

Publisher: American Mathematical Soc.

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 482

ISBN-13: 0821843168

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The book consists of thirty lectures on diverse topics, covering much of the mathematical landscape rather than focusing on one area. The reader will learn numerous results that often belong to neither the standard undergraduate nor graduate curriculum and will discover connections between classical and contemporary ideas in algebra, combinatorics, geometry, and topology. The reader's effort will be rewarded in seeing the harmony of each subject. The common thread in the selected subjects is their illustration of the unity and beauty of mathematics. Most lectures contain exercises, and solutions or answers are given to selected exercises. A special feature of the book is an abundance of drawings (more than four hundred), artwork by an accomplished artist, and about a hundred portraits of mathematicians. Almost every lecture contains surprises for even the seasoned researcher.

Etale Cohomology Theory (Revised Edition)

Etale Cohomology Theory (Revised Edition) PDF

Author: Lei Fu

Publisher: World Scientific

Published: 2015-02-27

Total Pages: 622

ISBN-13: 9814675105

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Etale cohomology is an important branch in arithmetic geometry. This book covers the main materials in SGA 1, SGA 4, SGA 4 1/2 and SGA 5 on etale cohomology theory, which includes decent theory, etale fundamental groups, Galois cohomology, etale cohomology, derived categories, base change theorems, duality, and ℓ-adic cohomology. The prerequisites for reading this book are basic algebraic geometry and advanced commutative algebra.

Etale Cohomology Theory

Etale Cohomology Theory PDF

Author: Lei Fu

Publisher: World Scientific

Published: 2011-01-31

Total Pages: 622

ISBN-13: 9814464805

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New Edition available hereEtale cohomology is an important branch in arithmetic geometry. This book covers the main materials in SGA 1, SGA 4, SGA 4 1/2 and SGA 5 on etale cohomology theory, which includes decent theory, etale fundamental groups, Galois cohomology, etale cohomology, derived categories, base change theorems, duality, and l-adic cohomology. The prerequisites for reading this book are basic algebraic geometry and advanced commutative algebra.

Inspired By S S Chern: A Memorial Volume In Honor Of A Great Mathematician

Inspired By S S Chern: A Memorial Volume In Honor Of A Great Mathematician PDF

Author: Phillip A Griffiths

Publisher: World Scientific

Published: 2006-11-27

Total Pages: 532

ISBN-13: 9814476846

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Shiing-Shen Chern (1911-2004) was one of the leading differential geometers of the twentieth century. In 1946, he founded the Mathematical Institute of Academia Sinica in Shanghai, which was later moved to Nanking. In 1981, he founded the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI) at Berkeley and acted as the director until 1984. In 1985, he founded the Nankai Institute of Mathematics in Tianjin. He was awarded the National Medal of Science in 1975; the Wolf Prize in mathematics in 1984; and the Shaw Prize in mathematical sciences in 2004.Chern's works span all the classic fields of differential geometry: the Chern-Simons theory; the Chern-Weil theory, linking curvature invariants to characteristic classes; Chern classes; and other areas such as projective differential geometry and webs that are mathematically rich but currently have a lower profile. He also published work in integral geometry, value distribution theory of holomorphic functions, and minimal submanifolds.Inspired by Chern and his work, former colleagues, students and friends — themselves highly regarded mathematicians in their own right — come together to honor and celebrate Chern's huge contributions. The volume, organized by Phillip Griffiths of the Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton), contains contributions by Michael Atiyah (University of Edinburgh), C-M Bai (Nankai), Robert Bryant (Duke University), Kung-Ching Chang (Peking University), Jeff Cheeger (New York University), Simon K Donaldson (Imperial College), Hélène Esnault (Universität Duisburg-Essen), Mo-Lin Ge (Nankai), Mark Green (University of California at Los Angeles), Phillip Griffiths (Institute for Advanced Study), F Reese Harvey (Rice University), Alain Hénaut (Université Bordeaux 1), Niky Kamran (McGill University), Bruce Kleiner (Yale), H Blaine Lawson, Jr (Suny at Stony Brook), Yiming Long (Nankai), Xiaonan Ma (UMR 7640 du CNRS), Luc Pirio (IRMAR, France), Graeme Segal (Oxford), Gang Tian (MIT), Jean-Marie Trepreau (Institut de Mathématiques de Jussieu), Jeff Viaclovsky (MIT), Wei Wang (Nankai), Wentsun Wu (Chinese Academy of Sciences), C N Yang (Tsinghua), Tan Zhang (Murray State University), Weiping Zhang (Nankai) and others.