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Obstruction Theory
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Euler Class
The Euler class is a topological invariant associated with a vector bundle. It is an obstruction to the existence of a nowhere vanishing section. Example: The Euler class of the tangent bundle of a sphere is non-zero, indicating no non-vanishing vector fields exist on it.
Cohomology
Cohomology is a mathematical concept used in algebraic topology to study spaces in terms of algebraic invariants. Example: De Rham cohomology can detect the inability to extend a non-vanishing vector field from the punctured plane to the entire plane.
Steenrod Squares
Steenrod squares are cohomological operations used to detect obstructions and provide information on the secondary cohomology operations. Example: They can detect the impossibility of finding a section of a fiber bundle when no primary obstruction exists.
Fiber Bundle
A fiber bundle is a space that locally looks like a product space but globally may have a different topological structure. Example: The Möbius strip is a fiber bundle over the circle with a fiber that is a line segment.
Homotopy Lifting Property
The homotopy lifting property pertains to a map's ability to lift homotopies from one space to another. Example: A covering map exhibits the homotopy lifting property, which ensures that a homotopy of paths in the base can be lifted to the total space.
Obstruction Theory
Obstruction theory is a branch of algebraic topology that studies the question of whether a given partial mathematical structure can be extended to a larger structure. Example: Determining if a vector field on a manifold can be extended from a hemisphere to the entire sphere.
Postnikov Towers
Postnikov towers are a tool in algebraic topology that decomposes a space into layers, each of which captures information about homotopy groups at a certain dimension. Example: Analyzing a Postnikov tower can help identify where obstructions to lifts of maps may occur.
Characteristic Classes
Characteristic classes are algebraic invariants that measure the deviation of a fiber bundle from being trivial. Example: The Euler class is an obstruction to the existence of a nowhere vanishing section of a vector bundle.
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