Using equivariant obstruction theory in combinatorial geometry

DOI10.1016/J.TOPOL.2007.04.007MaRDI QIDQ2643064zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Pavle V. M. Blagojević, Aleksandra S. Dimitrijević Blagojević

Publication date 23 August 2007

Published in Topology and its Applications (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/math/0609053

zbMATH Keywords

equivariant Poincaré dualityLovász conjecture on graph coloring lower boundsmeasure partition

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Arrangements of points, flats, hyperplanes (aspects of discrete geometry) (52C35) Equivariant homology and cohomology in algebraic topology (55N91) Obstruction theory in algebraic topology (55S35)

Abstract: A significant group of problems coming from the realm of Combinatorial Geometry can only be approached through the use of Algebraic Topology. From the first such application to Kneser's problem in 1978 by Lov% '{a}sz cite{Lovasz} through the solution of the Lov'{a}sz conjecture cite% {Babson-Kozlov}, cite{Carsten}, many methods from Algebraic Topology have been used. Specifically, it appears that the understanding of equivariant theories is of the most importance. The solution of many problems depends on the existence of an elegantly constructed equivariant map. For example, the following problems were approached by discussing the existence of appropriate equivariant maps.A variety of results from algebraic topology were applied in solving these problems. The methods used ranged from well known theorems like Borsuk Ulam and Dold theorem to the integer / ideal valued index theories. In this paper we are going to extract the essence of the equivariant obstruction theory in order to obtain an effective emph{general position map%} scheme for analyzing the problem of existence of equivariant maps.

Review text

The paper under review begins with a terse but quite readable and very useful general introduction to equivariant obstruction theory. This includes an equivariant version of Poincaré duality. The main result (Theorem 1.8) goes as follows: Let \(M\) be a compact \((n+1)\)-dimensional manifold with a free \(G\)-action. Further let \(W\) be a \(d\)-dimensional submanifold, and let \(\Sigma\) be the union of a finite \(G\)-invariant arrangement of \((d-n-1)\)-dimensional smooth submanifolds. If the pair \((W,\Sigma)\) meets certain requirements of connectedness and general position then there exists a \(G\)-map from \(M\) to \(W\setminus\Sigma\) if and only if a certain obstruction element in \(H_n(W\setminus\Sigma,\mathbb Z)_G\) vanishes. This theorem is strong enough to derive short proofs of all of the following: Lovász' conjecture on lower bounds of certain graph coloring problems, initially solved by \textit{E. Babson} and \textit{D. N. Kozlov} [Ann. Math. (2) 165, No. 3, 965--1007 (2007; Zbl 1132.05019)], a result on the partition of sphere measures by hyperplanes due to \textit{V. V. Makeev} [J. Math. Sci., New York 104, No. 4, 1358--1363 (2001); translation from Zap. Nauchn. Semin. POMI 252, 165--174 (1998; Zbl 0989.52002)], and a further result on the measure partition by fans.

Recommendations

• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 6020320
• User's guide to equivariant methods in combinatorics. II
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 2209747
• Computational topology of equivariant maps from spheres to complements of arrangements
• Vanishing of all equivariant obstructions and the mapping degree

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Cited in

(19)

• Computing balanced islands in two colored point sets in the plane
• Cutting the same fraction of several measures
• Convex equipartitions via equivariant obstruction theory
• Vanishing of all equivariant obstructions and the mapping degree
• Optimal bounds for the colored Tverberg problem
• Discrete geometry on colored point sets in the plane -- a survey
• Hyperplane mass partitions via relative equivariant obstruction theory
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 6020320 (Why is no real title available?)
• Computational topology of equivariant maps from spheres to complements of arrangements
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• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1069967 (Why is no real title available?)
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