arXiv subjects

Jim Fowler

Publications and source records attributed to Jim Fowler.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2022

Linear actions of $\mathbb{Z}/p\times\mathbb{Z}/p$ on $S^{2n-1}\times S^{2n-1}$

For an odd prime $p$, we consider free actions of $(\mathbb{Z}/p)^2$ on $S^{2n-1}\times S^{2n-1}$ given by linear actions of $(\mathbb{Z}/p)^2$ on $\mathbb{R}^{4n}$. Simple examples include a lens space cross a lens space, but $k$-invariant calculations show that other quotients exist. Using the tools of Postnikov towers and surgery theory, the quotients are classified up to homotopy by the $k$-invariants and up to homeomorphism by the Pontrjagin classes. We will present these results and demonstrate how to calculate the $k$-invariants and the Pontrjagin classes from the rotation numbers.

math.GT↗

arXiv2019

$\mathbb Z_{/p}\times \mathbb Z_{/p}$ actions on $S^n\times S^n$

We determine the homotopy type of quotients of $S^n \times S^n$ by free actions of $\mathbb Z_{/p} \times \mathbb Z_{/p}$ where $2p>n+3$. Much like free $\mathbb Z_{/p}$ actions, they can be classified via the first $p$-localized $k$-invariant, but there are restrictions on the possibilities, and these restrictions are sufficient to determine every possibility in the $n=3$ case. We use this to complete the classification of free $\mathbb Z_{/p} \times \mathbb Z_{/p}$ actions on $S^3 \times S^3$, for $p>3$, by reducing the problem to the simultaneous classification of pairs of binary quadratic forms. Although the restrictions are not sufficient to determine which $k$-invariants are realizable in general, they can sometimes be used to rule out free actions by groups that contain $\mathbb Z_{/p}\times\mathbb Z_{/p}$ as a normal Abelian subgroup.

math.GT↗

arXiv2014

Smooth manifolds with prescribed rational cohomology ring

The Hirzebruch signature formula provides an obstruction to the following realization question: given a rational Poincar\'e duality algebra $\mathcal{A}$, does there exist a smooth manifold $M$ such that $H^*(M;\mathbb{Q})=\mathcal{A}$? This problem is especially interesting for rational truncated polynomial algebras whose corresponding integral algebra is not realizable. For example, there are number theoretic constraints on the dimension $n$ in which there exists a closed smooth manifold $M^n$ with $H^*(M^n;\mathbb{Q})= \mathbb{Q}[x]/\langle x^3\rangle$. We limit the possible existence dimension to $n=8(2^a+2^b)$. For $n = 32$, such manifolds are not two-connected. We show that the next smallest possible existence dimension is $n=128$. As there exists no integral $\mathbb{O}P^m$ for $m>2$, the realization of the truncated polynomial algebra $\mathbb{Q}[x]/\langle x^{m+1}\rangle, |x|=8$ is studied. Similar considerations provide examples of topological manifolds which do not have the rational homotopy type of a smooth closed manifold. The appendix presents a recursive algorithm for efficiently computing the coefficients of the L-polynomials which arise in the signature formula.

math.GT↗

arXiv2013

Aspherical manifolds that cannot be triangulated

Although Kirby and Siebenmann showed that there are manifolds that do not admit PL structures, the possibility remained that all manifolds could be triangulated. In the late seventies Galewski and Stern and independently Matumoto showed that non-triangulable manifolds exist in all dimensions > 4 if and only if homology 3-spheres with certain properties do not exist. In 2013 Manolescu showed that, indeed, there were no such homology 3-spheres and hence, non-triangulable manifolds exist in each dimension >4. It follows from work of Freedman in 1982 that there are 4-manifolds that cannot be triangulated. In 1991 Davis and Januszkiewicz applied a hyperbolization procedure to Freedman's 4-manifolds to get closed aspherical 4-manifolds that cannot be triangulated. In this paper we apply hyperbolization techniques to the Galewski-Stern manifolds to show that there exist closed aspherical n-manifolds that cannot be triangulated for each n> 5. The question remains open in dimension 5.

math.GT↗

arXiv2012

Finiteness properties for some rational Poincaré duality groups

A combination of Bestvina--Brady Morse theory and an acyclic reflection group trick produces a torsion-free finitely presented Q-Poincaré duality group which is not the fundamental group of an aspherical closed ANR Q-homology manifold. The acyclic construction suggests asking which Q-Poincaré duality groups act freely on Q-acyclic spaces, i.e., which groups are FH(Q). For example, the orbifold fundamental group Γ of a good orbifold satisfies Q-Poincaré duality, and we show Γ is FH(Q) if the Euler characteristics of certain fixed sets vanish.

math.GT↗

arXiv2012

The no-three-in-line problem on a torus

Let $T(\Z_m \times \Z_n)$ denote the maximal number of points that can be placed on an $m \times n$ discrete torus with "no three in a line," meaning no three in a coset of a cyclic subgroup of $\Z_m \times \Z_n$. By proving upper bounds and providing explicit constructions, for distinct primes $p$ and $q$, we show that $T(\Z_p \times \Z_{p^2}) = 2p$ and $T(\Z_p \times \Z_{pq}) = p+1$. Via Gröbner bases, we compute $T(\Z_m \times \Z_n)$ for $2 \leq m \leq 7$ and $2 \leq n \leq 19$.

math.CO↗