Simple groups and fundamental groups












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What does it mean, topologically, to have a simple fundamental group?
For instance, the torus $S^1 times S^1$ has $mathbb Z times mathbb Z$not simple. The case of $S^1$ is $mathbb Z$, not simple either.



But if instead, in $S^1$ we identify antipodal points, or even, if we identify points after rotating 120 degrees, we would get $mathbb Z/2mathbb Z, mathbb Z/3mathbb Z$...
We can obtain the torus from a $2$ dimensional square by two identifications of a segment, whereas we may construct S$^1$ by doing so from one segment.
Is there a relationship between what we identify and being or not simple the fundamental group?
Another construction of $S^1$ is by identifying, in $mathbb R$, integers...May be if we identify elements of some infinite simple group (and still obtain a topological space)...










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    $begingroup$


    What does it mean, topologically, to have a simple fundamental group?
    For instance, the torus $S^1 times S^1$ has $mathbb Z times mathbb Z$not simple. The case of $S^1$ is $mathbb Z$, not simple either.



    But if instead, in $S^1$ we identify antipodal points, or even, if we identify points after rotating 120 degrees, we would get $mathbb Z/2mathbb Z, mathbb Z/3mathbb Z$...
    We can obtain the torus from a $2$ dimensional square by two identifications of a segment, whereas we may construct S$^1$ by doing so from one segment.
    Is there a relationship between what we identify and being or not simple the fundamental group?
    Another construction of $S^1$ is by identifying, in $mathbb R$, integers...May be if we identify elements of some infinite simple group (and still obtain a topological space)...










    share|cite|improve this question











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      $begingroup$


      What does it mean, topologically, to have a simple fundamental group?
      For instance, the torus $S^1 times S^1$ has $mathbb Z times mathbb Z$not simple. The case of $S^1$ is $mathbb Z$, not simple either.



      But if instead, in $S^1$ we identify antipodal points, or even, if we identify points after rotating 120 degrees, we would get $mathbb Z/2mathbb Z, mathbb Z/3mathbb Z$...
      We can obtain the torus from a $2$ dimensional square by two identifications of a segment, whereas we may construct S$^1$ by doing so from one segment.
      Is there a relationship between what we identify and being or not simple the fundamental group?
      Another construction of $S^1$ is by identifying, in $mathbb R$, integers...May be if we identify elements of some infinite simple group (and still obtain a topological space)...










      share|cite|improve this question











      $endgroup$




      What does it mean, topologically, to have a simple fundamental group?
      For instance, the torus $S^1 times S^1$ has $mathbb Z times mathbb Z$not simple. The case of $S^1$ is $mathbb Z$, not simple either.



      But if instead, in $S^1$ we identify antipodal points, or even, if we identify points after rotating 120 degrees, we would get $mathbb Z/2mathbb Z, mathbb Z/3mathbb Z$...
      We can obtain the torus from a $2$ dimensional square by two identifications of a segment, whereas we may construct S$^1$ by doing so from one segment.
      Is there a relationship between what we identify and being or not simple the fundamental group?
      Another construction of $S^1$ is by identifying, in $mathbb R$, integers...May be if we identify elements of some infinite simple group (and still obtain a topological space)...







      general-topology topological-groups






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      edited Dec 5 '18 at 16:03







      vanmeri

















      asked Dec 5 '18 at 15:35









      vanmerivanmeri

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          I'm not sure where you're going with the identification idea. In general there are many ways to construct a given space by making an identification from some other space. Also, the identifications you suggest on $S^1$ do not produce the fundamental groups $Bbb{Z}/n$; the resulting space is still $S^1$, so the fundamental group is still $Bbb{Z}$. Maybe it would help you to gather more examples. (You might consider the lens spaces.)



          However, there is a correspondence between covering spaces and subgroups of the fundamental group. This gives a topological description of spaces with simple fundamental group: they are spaces which have only two covering spaces, the trivial cover and the universal cover.






          share|cite|improve this answer









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          • $begingroup$
            You need "niceness" assumptions on spaces. In general, a space does not have a universal cover.
            $endgroup$
            – Paul Frost
            Dec 9 '18 at 17:36










          • $begingroup$
            True, but the examples in the question suggest that it is basically about manifolds.
            $endgroup$
            – Hew Wolff
            Dec 12 '18 at 0:41











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          $begingroup$

          I'm not sure where you're going with the identification idea. In general there are many ways to construct a given space by making an identification from some other space. Also, the identifications you suggest on $S^1$ do not produce the fundamental groups $Bbb{Z}/n$; the resulting space is still $S^1$, so the fundamental group is still $Bbb{Z}$. Maybe it would help you to gather more examples. (You might consider the lens spaces.)



          However, there is a correspondence between covering spaces and subgroups of the fundamental group. This gives a topological description of spaces with simple fundamental group: they are spaces which have only two covering spaces, the trivial cover and the universal cover.






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$













          • $begingroup$
            You need "niceness" assumptions on spaces. In general, a space does not have a universal cover.
            $endgroup$
            – Paul Frost
            Dec 9 '18 at 17:36










          • $begingroup$
            True, but the examples in the question suggest that it is basically about manifolds.
            $endgroup$
            – Hew Wolff
            Dec 12 '18 at 0:41
















          0












          $begingroup$

          I'm not sure where you're going with the identification idea. In general there are many ways to construct a given space by making an identification from some other space. Also, the identifications you suggest on $S^1$ do not produce the fundamental groups $Bbb{Z}/n$; the resulting space is still $S^1$, so the fundamental group is still $Bbb{Z}$. Maybe it would help you to gather more examples. (You might consider the lens spaces.)



          However, there is a correspondence between covering spaces and subgroups of the fundamental group. This gives a topological description of spaces with simple fundamental group: they are spaces which have only two covering spaces, the trivial cover and the universal cover.






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$













          • $begingroup$
            You need "niceness" assumptions on spaces. In general, a space does not have a universal cover.
            $endgroup$
            – Paul Frost
            Dec 9 '18 at 17:36










          • $begingroup$
            True, but the examples in the question suggest that it is basically about manifolds.
            $endgroup$
            – Hew Wolff
            Dec 12 '18 at 0:41














          0












          0








          0





          $begingroup$

          I'm not sure where you're going with the identification idea. In general there are many ways to construct a given space by making an identification from some other space. Also, the identifications you suggest on $S^1$ do not produce the fundamental groups $Bbb{Z}/n$; the resulting space is still $S^1$, so the fundamental group is still $Bbb{Z}$. Maybe it would help you to gather more examples. (You might consider the lens spaces.)



          However, there is a correspondence between covering spaces and subgroups of the fundamental group. This gives a topological description of spaces with simple fundamental group: they are spaces which have only two covering spaces, the trivial cover and the universal cover.






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$



          I'm not sure where you're going with the identification idea. In general there are many ways to construct a given space by making an identification from some other space. Also, the identifications you suggest on $S^1$ do not produce the fundamental groups $Bbb{Z}/n$; the resulting space is still $S^1$, so the fundamental group is still $Bbb{Z}$. Maybe it would help you to gather more examples. (You might consider the lens spaces.)



          However, there is a correspondence between covering spaces and subgroups of the fundamental group. This gives a topological description of spaces with simple fundamental group: they are spaces which have only two covering spaces, the trivial cover and the universal cover.







          share|cite|improve this answer












          share|cite|improve this answer



          share|cite|improve this answer










          answered Dec 9 '18 at 5:04









          Hew WolffHew Wolff

          2,245716




          2,245716












          • $begingroup$
            You need "niceness" assumptions on spaces. In general, a space does not have a universal cover.
            $endgroup$
            – Paul Frost
            Dec 9 '18 at 17:36










          • $begingroup$
            True, but the examples in the question suggest that it is basically about manifolds.
            $endgroup$
            – Hew Wolff
            Dec 12 '18 at 0:41


















          • $begingroup$
            You need "niceness" assumptions on spaces. In general, a space does not have a universal cover.
            $endgroup$
            – Paul Frost
            Dec 9 '18 at 17:36










          • $begingroup$
            True, but the examples in the question suggest that it is basically about manifolds.
            $endgroup$
            – Hew Wolff
            Dec 12 '18 at 0:41
















          $begingroup$
          You need "niceness" assumptions on spaces. In general, a space does not have a universal cover.
          $endgroup$
          – Paul Frost
          Dec 9 '18 at 17:36




          $begingroup$
          You need "niceness" assumptions on spaces. In general, a space does not have a universal cover.
          $endgroup$
          – Paul Frost
          Dec 9 '18 at 17:36












          $begingroup$
          True, but the examples in the question suggest that it is basically about manifolds.
          $endgroup$
          – Hew Wolff
          Dec 12 '18 at 0:41




          $begingroup$
          True, but the examples in the question suggest that it is basically about manifolds.
          $endgroup$
          – Hew Wolff
          Dec 12 '18 at 0:41


















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