By studying the group of self homotopy equivalences of the localization (at a prime $p$ and/or zero) of some aspherical complexes, we show that, contrary to the case when the considered space is a nilpotent complex, $\mathcal{E}_{\#}^m (X_{p})$ is in general different from $\mathcal{E}_{\#}^m (X)_{p}$. That is the case even when $X=K(G,1)$ is a finite complex and/or $G$ satisfies extra finiteness or nilpotency conditions, for instance, when $G$ is finite or virtually nilpotent.
In this paper, we study the homotopy groups of a shrinking wedge $X$ of a sequence $\{X_j\}$ of non-simply connected CW-complexes. Using a combination of generalized covering space theory and shape theory, we construct a canonical homomorphism $$Θ:π_n(X)\to\prod_{j\in\mathbb{N}}\bigoplus_{π_1(X)/π_1(X_j)}π_n(X_j),$$ characterize its image, and prove that $Θ$ is injective whenever each universal cover $\widetilde{X}_j$ is $(n-1)$-connected. These results (1) provide a characterization of the $n$-th homotopy group of the shrinking wedge of copies of $\mathbb{RP}^n$, (2) provide a characterizatio…
In this paper we present the notion of smooth CW complexes given by attaching cubes on the category of diffeological spaces, and we study their smooth homotopy structures related to the homotopy extension property.
We extend the homotopy theories based on point reduction for finite spaces and simplicial complexes to finite acyclic categories and $Δ$-complexes, respectively. The functors of classifying spaces and face posets are compatible with these homotopy theories. In contrast with the classical settings of finite spaces and simplicial complexes, the universality of morphisms and simplices plays a central role in this paper.
We study the asymptotic behavior of the homotopy groups of simply connected finite $p$-local complexes, and define a space to be locally hyperbolic if its homotopy groups have exponential growth. Under some certain conditions related to the functorial decomposition of loop suspension, we prove that the suspended finite complexes are locally hyperbolic if suitable but accessible information of the homotopy groups is known. In particular, we prove that Moore spaces are locally hyperbolic, and other candidates are also given.
We study fundamental groups of clique complexes associated to random graphs. We establish thresholds for their cohomological and geometric dimension and torsion. We also show that in certain regime any aspherical subcomplex of a random clique complex satisfies the Whitehead conjecture, i.e. all irs subcomplexes are also aspherical.
We prove that the homotopy type of a map from a Peano continuum into a planar or one-dimensional space is determined by the induced homomorphism of fundamental groups. This provides a new proof that planar sets are aspherical and is used to prove that two planar or one-dimensional Peano continua are homotopy equivalent if and only if they have isomorphic fundamental groups.
In this paper, we describe the homotopy type of the homotopy fixed point sets of $S^3$-actions on rational spheres and complex projective spaces, and provide some properties of $S^1$-actions on a general rational complex.
This article shows several new methods for proofs on Kan complexes while using them to give a compact introduction to the homotopy groups of these complexes. Then more advanced objects are studied starting with homology and the Hurewicz homomorphism. Eilenberg-Mac Lane-spaces are constructed explicitly and can then be used to define spectral cohomology. In the end the equivalence to the usual simplicial cohomology is shown.
Methods are developed to relate the action of a principal fibration to relative Whitehead products in order to determine the homotopy type of certain spaces. The methods are applied to thoroughly analyze the homotopy type of the based loops on certain cell attachments. Key examples are (n-1)-connected Poincare Duality complexes of dimension 2n or 2n+1 with minor cohomological conditions.
We study random 2-dimensional complexes in the Linial - Meshulam model and find torsion in their fundamental groups at various regimes. We find a simple algorithmically testable criterion for a subcomplex of a random 2-complex to be aspherical; this implies that any aspherical subcomplex of a random 2-complex satisfies the Whitehead conjecture. We use inequalities for Cheeger constants and systoles of simplicial surfaces to analyse spheres and projective planes lying in random 2-complexes. Our proofs exploit the strong hyperbolicity property of random 2-complexes.
In our recent work we described conditions under which a multi-parameter random simplicial complex is connected and simply connected. We showed that the Betti numbers of multi-parameter random simplicial complexes in one specific dimension dominate significantly the Betti numbers in all other dimensions. In this paper we focus mainly on the properties of fundamental groups of multi-parameter random simplicial complexes, which can be viewed as a new class of random groups. We describe thresholds for nontrivially and hyperbolicity (in the sense of Gromov) for these groups. Besides, we find domai…
We study simplicial action of groups on one vertex Kan complexes. We show that every semi-direct product of the fundamental group of an one vertex Kan complex with a finite group can be simplicially realized. We also calculate the cohomology of the fixed point set of a finite $p-$group action on an one vertex aspherical Kan complex.
This paper proves that the functor $C(*)$ that sends pointed, simply-connected CW-complexes to their chain-complexes equipped with diagonals and iterated higher diagonals, determines their integral homotopy type --- even inducing an equivalence of categories between the category of CW-complexes up to homotopy equivalence and a certain category of chain-complexes equipped with higher diagonals. Consequently, $C(*)$ is an algebraic model for integral homotopy types similar to Quillen's model of rational homotopy types. For finite CW complexes, our model is finitely generated. Our result implies …
Let $R$ be a ring and Ch($R$) the category of chain complexes of $R$-modules. We put an abelian model structure on Ch($R$) whose homotopy category is equivalent to $K(Proj)$, the homotopy category of all complexes of projectives. However, the cofibrant objects are not complexes of projectives, but rather all complexes of flat modules. The trivial objects are what Positselski calls contraacyclic complexes and so the homotopy category coincides with his contraderived category. We in fact construct this model on the category of chain complexes of quasi-coherent sheaves on any scheme $X$ admitting…
We introduce the notion of smooth cell complexes and its subclass consisting of gathered cell complexes within the category of diffeological spaces (cf. Definitions 1 and 3). It is shown that the following hold. (1) With respect to the D-topology, every smooth cell complex is a topological cell complex (cf. Proposition 2). It is paracompact and Hausdorff if it is countable (cf. Proposition 8). (2) Every continuous map between gathered cell complexes is continuously homotopic to a smooth map (cf. Theorem 5). (3) Any topological cell complex is continuously homotopy equivalent to a gathered (hen…
Combinatorially and stochastically defined simplicial complexes often have the homotopy type of a wedge of spheres. A prominent conjecture of Kahle quantifies this precisely for the case of random flag complexes. We explore whether such properties might extend to graphs arising from nature. We consider the brain network (as reconstructed by Varshney & al.) of the Caenorhabditis elegans nematode, an important model organism in biology. Using an iterative computational procedure based on elementary methods of algebraic topology, namely homology, simplicial collapses and coning operations, we sho…
We prove a conjecture of Bahri, Bendersky, Cohen and Gitler: if K is a shifted simplicial complex on n vertices, X_1,..., X_n are spaces and CX_i is the cone on X_i, then the polyhedral product determined by K and the pairs (CX_i,X_i) is homotopy equivalent to a wedge of suspensions of smashes of the X_i's. This generalises earlier work of the two authors in the special case where each X_i is a loop space. Connections are made to toric topology, combinatorics, and classical homotopy theory.
We study random 2-dimensional complexes in the Linial - Meshulam model and prove that for the probability parameter satisfying $$p\ll n^{-46/47}$$ a random 2-complex $Y$ contains several pairwise disjoint tetrahedra such that the 2-complex $Z$ obtained by removing any face from each of these tetrahedra is aspherical. Moreover, we prove that the obtained complex $Z$ satisfies the Whitehead conjecture, i.e. any subcomplex $Z'\subset Z$ is aspherical. This implies that $Y$ is homotopy equivalent to a wedge $Z\vee S^2\vee...\vee S^2$ where $Z$ is a 2-dimensional aspherical simplicial complex. We a…
We generalize some homotopy calculation techniques such as splittings and matching trees that are introduced for the computations in the case of the independence complexes of graphs to arbitrary simplicial complexes, and exemplify their efficiency on some simplicial complexes, the devoid complexes of graphs, which are simplicial complexes parametrized by graphs. Additionally, we compute the homotopy type of dominance complexes of chordal graphs.
We describe a general method for algorithmic construction of G-equivariant chain homotopy equivalences from non-equivariant ones. As a consequence, we obtain an algorithm for computing equivariant (co)homology of Eilenberg-MacLane spaces K(pi,n), where pi is a finitely generated ZG-module. This result will be used in a forthcoming paper to construct equivariant Postnikov towers of simply connected spaces with free actions of a finite group G and further to compute stable equivariant homotopy classes of maps between such spaces. The methods of this paper work for modules over any non-negatively…
We exhibit a map f between aspherical spaces X and Y such that f induces an isomorphism on homotopy groups but, with natural topologies, X and Y fail to have homeomorphic fundamental groups. Thus the topological fundamental group has the capacity to distinguish homotopy type when the Whitehead theorem fails.
This paper introduces path triangulation of points in a bounded, simply connected surface region, replacing ordinary triangles in a Delaunay triangulation with path triangles from homotopy theory. A {\bf path triangle} has a border that is a sequence of paths $h:I\to X, I=[0,1]$. The main results in this paper are that (1) a cone $D\times I$ collapses to a path triangle $h\bigtriangleup K$, extending E.C. Zeeman's collapsible dunce hat cone theorem, (2) an ordinary path triangle with geometrically realized straight edges generalizes Veech's billiard triangle, (3) a billiard ball $K\times I$ co…
In this paper we describe and continue the study begun by the author, Jones, and Segal, of the homotopy theory that underlies Floer theory. In that paper the authors addressed the question of realizing a Floer complex as the celluar chain complex of a CW -spectrum or pro-spectrum, where the attaching maps are determined by the compactified moduli spaces of connecting orbits. The basic obstructions to the existence of this realization are the smoothness of these moduli spaces, and the existence of compatible collections of framings of their stable tangent bundles. In this note we describe a gen…
We define an order relation among oriented $PD_4$-complexes. We show that with respect to this relation, two $PD_4$-complexes over the same complex are homotopy equivalent if and only if there is an isometry between the second homology groups. We also consider minimal objects of this relation.
In this paper we show that both the homotopy category of strict $n$-categories, $1\leqslant n \leqslant \infty$, and the homotopy category of Steiner's augmented directed complexes are equivalent to the category of homotopy types. In order to do so, we first prove an abstract result, based on a strategy of Fritsch and Latch, giving sufficient conditions for a nerve functor with values in simplicial sets to induce an equivalence at the level of homotopy categories. We then apply this result to strict $n$-categories and augmented directed complexes, for which the hypothesis of our theorem were e…
We show that the independence complexes of generalised Mycielskian of complete graphs are homotopy equivalent to a wedge sum of spheres, and determine the number of copies and the dimensions of these spheres. We also prove that the independence complexes of categorical product of complete graphs are wedge sum of circles, upto homotopy. Further, we show that if we perturb a graph $G$ in a certain way, then the independence complex of this new graph is homotopy equivalent to the suspension of the independence complex of $G$.
We show that if a graph $G$ involves a certain square grid graph as a full subgraph, then a certain operation on it yields a simplicial suspension of the independence complex of $G$. This generalizes a result of Csorba. As a corollary, we determine the simple homotopy types of the independence complexes of some grid graphs.
We study the homotopy types of moment-angle complexes, or equivalently, of complements of coordinate subspace arrangements. The overall aim is to identify the simplicial complexes K for which the corresponding moment-angle complex Z_K has the homotopy type of a wedge of spheres or a connected sum of sphere products. When K is flag, we identify in algebraic and combinatorial terms those K for which Z_K is homotopy equivalent to a wedge of spheres, and give a combinatorial formula for the number of spheres in the wedge. This extends results of Berglund and Joellenbeck on Golod rings and homotopy…
We compare the structure of a mapping cone in the category Top^D of spaces under a space D with differentials in algebraic models like crossed complexes and quadratic complexes. Several subcategories of Top^D are identified with algebraic categories. As an application we show that there are exactly 16 essential self--maps of S^2 x S^2 fixing the diagonal.
We describe an algebraic structure on chain complexes yielding algebraic models which classify homotopy types of Poincare duality complexes of dimension 4. Generalizing Turaev's fundamental triples of Poincare duality complexes of dimension 3, we introduce fundamental triples for Poincare duality complexes of dimension n > 2 and show that two Poincare duality complexes are orientedly homotopy equivalent if and only if their fundamental triples are isomorphic. As applications we establish a conjecture of Turaev and obtain a criterion for the existence of degree 1 maps between n-dimensional mani…
Let $D_{n,γ}$ be the complex of graphs on $n$ vertices and domination number at least $γ$. We prove that $D_{n,n-2}$ has the homotopy type of a finite wedge of 2-spheres. This is done by using discrete Morse theory techniques. Acyclicity of the needed matching is proved by introducing a relativized form of a well known method for constructing acyclic matchings on suitable chunks of simplices. Our approach allows us to extend our results to the realm of infinite graphs. In addition, we give evidence supporting the assertion that the homotopy equivalences $D_{n,n-1}\simeq\bigvee S^0$ and $D_{n,n…
In this paper, we determine the homotopy type of the Morse complex of certain collections of simplicial complexes by studying dominating vertices or strong collapses. We show that if $K$ contains two leaves that share a common vertex, then the Morse complex is strongly collapsible and hence has the homotopy type of a point. We also show that the pure Morse complex of a tree is strongly collapsible, thereby recovering as a corollary a result of Ayala et al. In addition, we prove that the Morse complex of a disjoint union $K\sqcup L$ is the Morse complex of the join $K*L$. This result is used to…
We show that cellular approximations of nilpotent Postnikov stages are always nilpotent Postnikov stages, in particular classifying spaces of nilpotent groups are turned into classifying spaces of nilpotent groups. We use a modified Bousfield-Kan homology completion tower z_k X whose terms we prove are all X-cellular for any X. As straightforward consequences, we show that if X is K-acyclic and nilpotent for a given homology theory K, then so are all its Postnikov sections, and that any nilpotent space for which the space of pointed self-maps map_*(X,X) is "canonically" discrete must be aspher…
Motivated by applications in Topological Data Analysis, we consider decompositions of a simplicial complex induced by a cover of its vertices. We study how the homotopy type of such decompositions approximates the homotopy of the simplicial complex itself. The difference between the simplicial complex and such an approximation is quantitatively measured by means of the so called obstruction complexes. Our general machinery is then specialized to clique complexes, Vietoris-Rips complexes and Vietoris-Rips complexes of metric gluings. For the latter we give metric conditions which allow to recov…
For $r\geq 1$, the $r$-independence complex of a graph $G$ is a simplicial complex whose faces are subset $I \subseteq V(G)$ such that each component of the induced subgraph $G[I]$ has at most $r$ vertices. In this article, we determine the homotopy type of $r$-independence complexes of certain families of graphs including complete $s$-partite graphs, fully whiskered graphs, cycle graphs and perfect $m$-ary trees. In each case, these complexes are either homotopic to a wedge of equi-dimensional spheres or are contractible. We also give a closed form formula for their homotopy types.
We show that for the homotopy category K(Ab) of complexes of abelian groups, both Brown representability and Brown representability for the dual fail. We also provide an example of a localizing subcategory of K(Ab) for which the inclusion into K(Ab) does not have a right adjoint.
We outline the main features of the definitions and applications of crossed complexes and cubical $ω$-groupoids with connections. These give forms of higher homotopy groupoids, and new views of basic algebraic topology and the cohomology of groups, with the ability to obtain some non commutative results and compute some homotopy types.
In this paper we provide concrete combinatorial formal deformation algorithms, namely sequences of elementary collapses and expansions, which relate various previously extensively studied families of combinatorially defined polyhedral complexes. To start with, we give a sequence of elementary collapses leading from the barycentric subdivision of the neighborhood complex to the Lovász complex of a graph. Then, for an arbitrary lattice ${\mathcal L}$ we describe a formal deformation of the barycentric subdivision of the atom crosscut complex $Γ({\mathcal L})$ to its order complex $Δ(\bar{\mathca…
For a pair $(H_1,H_2)$ of graphs, Lovász introduced a polytopal complex called the Hom complex $\text{Hom}(H_1,H_2)$, in order to estimate topological lower bounds for chromatic numbers of graphs. The definition is generalized to hypergraphs. Denoted by $K_r^r$ the complete $r$-graph on $r$ vertices. Given an $r$-graph $H$, we compare $\text{Hom}(K_r^r,H)$ with the box complex $\mathsf{B}_{\text{edge}}(H)$, invented by Alon, Frankl and Lovász. We verify that $\text{Hom}(K_r^r,H)$ and $\mathsf{B}_{\text{edge}}(H)$, both are equipped with right actions of the symmetric group on $r$ letters $S_r$…
The classifying space of a crossed complex generalises the construction of Eilenberg-Mac Lane spaces. We show how the theory of fibrations of crossed complexes allows the analysis of homotopy classes of maps from a free crossed complex to such a classifying space. This gives results on the homotopy classification of maps from a CW-complex to the classifying space of a crossed module and also, more generally, of a crossed complex whose homotopy groups vanish in dimensions between 1 and n. The results are analogous to those for the obstruction to an abstract kernel in group extension theory.
In [MZ04] Matousek and Ziegler compared various topological lower bounds for the chromatic number. They proved that Lovasz's original bound [L78] can be restated as $\chr G \geq \ind (\B(G)) +2$. Sarkaria's bound [S90] can be formulated as $\chr G \geq \ind (\B_0(G)) +1$. It is known that these lower bounds are close to each other, namely the difference between them is at most 1. In this paper we study these lower bounds, and the homotopy types of box complexes. Some of the results was announced in [MZ04].
