Seminar on low-dimensional topology, summer semester 2023

This is the website for the graduate seminar on low-dimensional topology.

Content:

Low-dimensional topology is concerned with 3- and 4-dimensional manifolds and embedded, possibly tangled substructures, such as knots, links and braids. In this seminar we will meet some useful techniques for working with such objects and see why they are, in some sense, more interesting than higher-dimensional objects. Topics may include Morse theory, handle decompositions, Heegaard splittings, Kirby calculus, the h-cobordism theorem, the Alexander polynomial...

Prerequisites:

This seminar is mainly aimed at Masters and advanced Bachelor students in Mathematics and Mathematical Physics. Prerequisites: topology, algebraic topology, differential geometry.

Coordinates:

The seminar is scheduled to be held in block format and in person:

• Friday 14th April, 10:15-11:45, Room 142, Geomatikum: preparatory meeting
• Friday 12th May, from 10:00, Room 428, Geomatikum: first session
• Friday 16th June from 10:00, Room 428, Geomatikum: second session
• Friday 7th July, from 10:00, Room 428, Geomatikum: third session
• Additionally, on all other Friday during the semester, Room 142 will be available for discussions between 10:15-11:45

Resources:

An outline of the seminar will be provided and continually expanded and updated throughout the semester. Additional material can be found on the moodle page of the seminar.

Contact:

Paul Wedrich.