Braids, Links, and Mapping Class Groups. (AM-82), Volume 82

Braids, Links, and Mapping Class Groups. (AM-82), Volume 82 PDF Author: Joan S. Birman
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 1400881420
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 237

Get Book Here

Book Description
The central theme of this study is Artin's braid group and the many ways that the notion of a braid has proved to be important in low-dimensional topology. In Chapter 1 the author is concerned with the concept of a braid as a group of motions of points in a manifold. She studies structural and algebraic properties of the braid groups of two manifolds, and derives systems of defining relations for the braid groups of the plane and sphere. In Chapter 2 she focuses on the connections between the classical braid group and the classical knot problem. After reviewing basic results she proceeds to an exploration of some possible implications of the Garside and Markov theorems. Chapter 3 offers discussion of matrix representations of the free group and of subgroups of the automorphism group of the free group. These ideas come to a focus in the difficult open question of whether Burau's matrix representation of the braid group is faithful. Chapter 4 is a broad view of recent results on the connections between braid groups and mapping class groups of surfaces. Chapter 5 contains a brief discussion of the theory of "plats." Research problems are included in an appendix.

Braids, Links, and Mapping Class Groups. (AM-82), Volume 82

Braids, Links, and Mapping Class Groups. (AM-82), Volume 82 PDF Author: Joan S. Birman
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 1400881420
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 237

Get Book Here

Book Description
The central theme of this study is Artin's braid group and the many ways that the notion of a braid has proved to be important in low-dimensional topology. In Chapter 1 the author is concerned with the concept of a braid as a group of motions of points in a manifold. She studies structural and algebraic properties of the braid groups of two manifolds, and derives systems of defining relations for the braid groups of the plane and sphere. In Chapter 2 she focuses on the connections between the classical braid group and the classical knot problem. After reviewing basic results she proceeds to an exploration of some possible implications of the Garside and Markov theorems. Chapter 3 offers discussion of matrix representations of the free group and of subgroups of the automorphism group of the free group. These ideas come to a focus in the difficult open question of whether Burau's matrix representation of the braid group is faithful. Chapter 4 is a broad view of recent results on the connections between braid groups and mapping class groups of surfaces. Chapter 5 contains a brief discussion of the theory of "plats." Research problems are included in an appendix.

Braids, Links, and Mapping Class Groups

Braids, Links, and Mapping Class Groups PDF Author: Joan S. Birman
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 9780691081496
Category : Crafts & Hobbies
Languages : en
Pages : 244

Get Book Here

Book Description
The central theme of this study is Artin's braid group and the many ways that the notion of a braid has proved to be important in low-dimensional topology. In Chapter 1 the author is concerned with the concept of a braid as a group of motions of points in a manifold. She studies structural and algebraic properties of the braid groups of two manifolds, and derives systems of defining relations for the braid groups of the plane and sphere. In Chapter 2 she focuses on the connections between the classical braid group and the classical knot problem. After reviewing basic results she proceeds to an exploration of some possible implications of the Garside and Markov theorems. Chapter 3 offers discussion of matrix representations of the free group and of subgroups of the automorphism group of the free group. These ideas come to a focus in the difficult open question of whether Burau's matrix representation of the braid group is faithful. Chapter 4 is a broad view of recent results on the connections between braid groups and mapping class groups of surfaces. Chapter 5 contains a brief discussion of the theory of "plats." Research problems are included in an appendix.

Braids, links, and mapping class groups : based on lecture notes by James Cannon

Braids, links, and mapping class groups : based on lecture notes by James Cannon PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780691081496
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 229

Get Book Here

Book Description


Braids and Mapping Class Groups

Braids and Mapping Class Groups PDF Author: John Scott Maginnis
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 200

Get Book Here

Book Description


Problems on Mapping Class Groups and Related Topics

Problems on Mapping Class Groups and Related Topics PDF Author: Benson Farb
Publisher: American Mathematical Soc.
ISBN: 0821838385
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 384

Get Book Here

Book Description
The appearance of mapping class groups in mathematics is ubiquitous. The book presents 23 papers containing problems about mapping class groups, the moduli space of Riemann surfaces, Teichmuller geometry, and related areas. Each paper focusses completely on open problems and directions. The problems range in scope from specific computations, to broad programs. The goal is to have a rich source of problems which have been formulated explicitly and accessibly. The book is divided into four parts. Part I contains problems on the combinatorial and (co)homological group-theoretic aspects of mapping class groups, and the way in which these relate to problems in geometry and topology. Part II concentrates on connections with classification problems in 3-manifold theory, the theory of symplectic 4-manifolds, and algebraic geometry. A wide variety of problems, from understanding billiard trajectories to the classification of Kleinian groups, can be reduced to differential and synthetic geometry problems about moduli space. Such problems and connections are discussed in Part III. Mapping class groups are related, both concretely and philosophically, to a number of other groups, such as braid groups, lattices in semisimple Lie groups, and automorphism groups of free groups. Part IV concentrates on problems surrounding these relationships. This book should be of interest to anyone studying geometry, topology, algebraic geometry or infinite groups. It is meant to provide inspiration for everyone from graduate students to senior researchers.

Handbook of Knot Theory

Handbook of Knot Theory PDF Author: William Menasco
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 9780080459547
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 502

Get Book Here

Book Description
This book is a survey of current topics in the mathematical theory of knots. For a mathematician, a knot is a closed loop in 3-dimensional space: imagine knotting an extension cord and then closing it up by inserting its plug into its outlet. Knot theory is of central importance in pure and applied mathematics, as it stands at a crossroads of topology, combinatorics, algebra, mathematical physics and biochemistry. * Survey of mathematical knot theory * Articles by leading world authorities * Clear exposition, not over-technical * Accessible to readers with undergraduate background in mathematics

A Primer on Mapping Class Groups

A Primer on Mapping Class Groups PDF Author: Benson Farb
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 0691147949
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 490

Get Book Here

Book Description
The study of the mapping class group Mod(S) is a classical topic that is experiencing a renaissance. It lies at the juncture of geometry, topology, and group theory. This book explains as many important theorems, examples, and techniques as possible, quickly and directly, while at the same time giving full details and keeping the text nearly self-contained. The book is suitable for graduate students. A Primer on Mapping Class Groups begins by explaining the main group-theoretical properties of Mod(S), from finite generation by Dehn twists and low-dimensional homology to the Dehn-Nielsen-Baer theorem. Along the way, central objects and tools are introduced, such as the Birman exact sequence, the complex of curves, the braid group, the symplectic representation, and the Torelli group. The book then introduces Teichmüller space and its geometry, and uses the action of Mod(S) on it to prove the Nielsen-Thurston classification of surface homeomorphisms. Topics include the topology of the moduli space of Riemann surfaces, the connection with surface bundles, pseudo-Anosov theory, and Thurston's approach to the classification.

Moduli Spaces of Riemann Surfaces

Moduli Spaces of Riemann Surfaces PDF Author: Benson Farb
Publisher: American Mathematical Soc.
ISBN: 0821898876
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 371

Get Book Here

Book Description
Mapping class groups and moduli spaces of Riemann surfaces were the topics of the Graduate Summer School at the 2011 IAS/Park City Mathematics Institute. This book presents the nine different lecture series comprising the summer school, covering a selection of topics of current interest. The introductory courses treat mapping class groups and Teichmüller theory. The more advanced courses cover intersection theory on moduli spaces, the dynamics of polygonal billiards and moduli spaces, the stable cohomology of mapping class groups, the structure of Torelli groups, and arithmetic mapping class groups. The courses consist of a set of intensive short lectures offered by leaders in the field, designed to introduce students to exciting, current research in mathematics. These lectures do not duplicate standard courses available elsewhere. The book should be a valuable resource for graduate students and researchers interested in the topology, geometry and dynamics of moduli spaces of Riemann surfaces and related topics. Titles in this series are co-published with the Institute for Advanced Study/Park City Mathematics Institute. Members of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) receive a 20% discount from list price.

Office Hours with a Geometric Group Theorist

Office Hours with a Geometric Group Theorist PDF Author: Matt Clay
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 1400885396
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 456

Get Book Here

Book Description
Geometric group theory is the study of the interplay between groups and the spaces they act on, and has its roots in the works of Henri Poincaré, Felix Klein, J.H.C. Whitehead, and Max Dehn. Office Hours with a Geometric Group Theorist brings together leading experts who provide one-on-one instruction on key topics in this exciting and relatively new field of mathematics. It's like having office hours with your most trusted math professors. An essential primer for undergraduates making the leap to graduate work, the book begins with free groups—actions of free groups on trees, algorithmic questions about free groups, the ping-pong lemma, and automorphisms of free groups. It goes on to cover several large-scale geometric invariants of groups, including quasi-isometry groups, Dehn functions, Gromov hyperbolicity, and asymptotic dimension. It also delves into important examples of groups, such as Coxeter groups, Thompson's groups, right-angled Artin groups, lamplighter groups, mapping class groups, and braid groups. The tone is conversational throughout, and the instruction is driven by examples. Accessible to students who have taken a first course in abstract algebra, Office Hours with a Geometric Group Theorist also features numerous exercises and in-depth projects designed to engage readers and provide jumping-off points for research projects.

Knots, Braids, and Mapping Class Groups -- Papers Dedicated to Joan S. Birman

Knots, Braids, and Mapping Class Groups -- Papers Dedicated to Joan S. Birman PDF Author: Jane Gilman
Publisher: American Mathematical Soc.
ISBN: 0821829661
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 200

Get Book Here

Book Description
There are a number of specialties in low-dimensional topology that can find in their ``family tree'' a common ancestry in the theory of surface mappings. These include knot theory as studied through the use of braid representations, and 3-manifolds as studied through the use of Heegaard splittings. The study of the surface mapping class group (the modular group) is of course a rich subject in its own right, with relations to many different fields of mathematics and theoreticalphysics. However, its most direct and remarkable manifestation is probably in the vast area of low-dimensional topology. Although the scene of this area has been changed dramatically and experienced significant expansion since the original publication of Professor Joan Birman's seminal work,Braids, Links,and Mapping Class Groups(Princeton University Press), she brought together mathematicians whose research span many specialties, all of common lineage. The topics covered are quite diverse. Yet they reflect well the aim and spirit of the conference: to explore how these various specialties in low-dimensional topology have diverged in the past 20-25 years, as well as to explore common threads and potential future directions of development. This volume is dedicated to Joan Birman by hercolleagues with deep admiration and appreciation of her contribution to low-dimensional topology.