We show that, for any $k\geq 1$, there exist non-formal compact orientable $(k-1)$-connected $n$-manifolds with $k$-th Betti number $b_k=b\geq 0$ if and only if $n\geq \max \{4k-1, 4k+3-2b\}$.
We show the minimal total Betti number of a closed almost complex manifold of dimension $2n\ge 8$ is four, thus confirming a conjecture of Sullivan except for dimension $6$. Along the way, we prove the only simply connected closed complex manifold having total Betti number three is the complex projective plane.
We show that the only rational homology spheres which can admit almost complex structures occur in dimensions two and six. Moreover, we provide infinitely many examples of six-dimensional rational homology spheres which admit almost complex structures, and infinitely many which do not. We then show that if a closed almost complex manifold has sum of Betti numbers three, then its dimension must be a power of two.
For a graph $G$, a graph cubeahedron $\square_G$ and a graph associahedron $\triangle_G$ are simple convex polytopes which admit (real) toric manifolds. In this paper, we introduce a graph invariant, called the $b$-number, and we show that the $b$-numbers compute the Betti numbers of the real toric manifold $X^\mathbb{R}(\square_G)$ corresponding to a graph cubeahedron. The $b$-number is a counterpart of the notion of $a$-number, introduced by S. Choi and the second named author, which computes the Betti numbers of the real toric manifold $X^\mathbb{R}(\triangle_G)$ corresponding to a graph as…
Given a reducible $3$-manifold $M$ with an aspherical summand in its prime decomposition and a homeomorphism $f\colon M\to M$, we construct a map of degree one from a finite cover of $M\rtimes_f S^1$ to a mapping torus of a certain aspherical $3$-manifold. We deduce that $M\rtimes_f S^1$ has virtually infinite first Betti number, except when all aspherical summands of $M$ are virtual $T^2$-bundles. This verifies all cases of a conjecture of T.-J. Li and Y. Ni, that any mapping torus of a reducible $3$-manifold $M$ not covered by $S^2\times S^1$ has virtually infinite first Betti number, except…
We will provide bounds on both the Betti numbers and the torsion part of the homology of hyperbolic orbifolds. These bounds are linear in the volume and are a direct consequence of an efficient simplicial model of the thick part, which we will construct as well. The homology statements complement previous work of Bader, Gelander and Sauer (torsion homology of manifolds), Samet (Betti numbers of orbifolds) and a classical theorem of Gromov (Betti numbers of manifolds). For arithmetic, non-compact hyperbolic orbifolds -- i.e. in the case of arithmetic, non-uniform lattices in $\operatorname{Isom…
In this article we study algebraic properties of the specific class of groups $\mathcal{G}$ generated by direct products and wreath products. Such class of groups appears in calculation of fundamental groups of orbits of Morse functions on compact manifolds. We prove that for any group $G\in\mathcal{G}$ the ranks of the center $Z(G)$ and the quotient by commutator subgroup $G/[G,G]$ coincide. Moreover, this rank is a first Betti number of the orbit of Morse function.