Topology is a large subject with several branches, broadly categorized as algebraic topology, point-set topology, and geometric topology. Point-set topology is the main language for a broad range of mathematical disciplines, while algebraic topology offers as a powerful tool for studying problems in geometry and numerous other areas of mathematics. This book presents the basic concepts of topology, including virtually all of the traditional topics in point-set topology, as well as elementary topics in algebraic topology such as fundamental groups and covering spaces. It also discusses topological groups and transformation groups. When combined with a working knowledge of analysis and algebra, this book offers a valuable resource for advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students of mathematics specializing in algebraic topology and harmonic analysis.

"Knot theory is a fascinating mathematical subject, with multiple links to theoretical physics. This enyclopedia is filled with valuable information on a rich and fascinating subject." - Ed Witten, Recipient of the Fields Medal "I spent a pleasant afternoon perusing the Encyclopedia of Knot Theory. It's a comprehensive compilation of clear introductions to both classical and very modern developments in the field. It will be a terrific resource for the accomplished researcher, and will also be an excellent way to lure students, both graduate and undergraduate, into the field." - Abigail Thompson, Distinguished Professor of Mathematics at University of California, Davis Knot theory has proven to be a fascinating area of mathematical research, dating back about 150 years. Encyclopedia of Knot Theory provides short, interconnected articles on a variety of active areas in knot theory, and includes beautiful pictures, deep mathematical connections, and critical applications. Many of the articles in this book are accessible to undergraduates who are working on research or taking an advanced undergraduate course in knot theory. More advanced articles will be useful to graduate students working on a related thesis topic, to researchers in another area of topology who are interested in current results in knot theory, and to scientists who study the topology and geometry of biopolymers. Features Provides material that is useful and accessible to undergraduates, postgraduates, and full-time researchers Topics discussed provide an excellent catalyst for students to explore meaningful research and gain confidence and commitment to pursuing advanced degrees Edited and contributed by top researchers in the field of knot theory

The featured review of the AMS describes the author s earlier work in the field of approach spaces as, A landmark in the history of general topology . In this book, the author has expanded this study further and taken it in a new and exciting direction.

The number of conceptually and technically different systems which characterize approach spaces is increased and moreover their uniform counterpart, uniform gauge spaces, is put into the picture. An extensive study of completions, both for approach spaces and for uniform gauge spaces, as well as compactifications for approach spaces is performed. A paradigm shift is created by the new concept of index analysis.

Making use of the rich intrinsic quantitative information present in approach structures, a technique is developed whereby indices are defined that measure the extent to which properties hold, and theorems become inequalities involving indices; therefore vastly extending the realm of applicability of many classical results. The theory is then illustrated in such varied fields as topology, functional analysis, probability theory, hyperspace theory and domain theory. Finally a comprehensive analysis is made concerning the categorical aspects of the theory and its links with other topological categories.

"Index Analysis" will be useful for mathematicians working in category theory, topology, probability and statistics, functional analysis, and theoretical computer science."

A practical, accessible introduction to advanced geometry

Exceptionally well-written and filled with historical and bibliographic notes, Methods of Geometry presents a practical and proof-oriented approach. The author develops a wide range of subject areas at an intermediate level and explains how theories that underlie many fields of advanced mathematics ultimately lead to applications in science and engineering. Foundations, basic Euclidean geometry, and transformations are discussed in detail and applied to study advanced plane geometry, polyhedra, isometries, similarities, and symmetry. An excellent introduction to advanced concepts as well as a reference to techniques for use in independent study and research, Methods of Geometry also features:

• Ample exercises designed to promote effective problem-solving strategies
• Insight into novel uses of Euclidean geometry
• More than 300 figures accompanying definitions and proofs
• A comprehensive and annotated bibliography
• Appendices reviewing vector and matrix algebra, least upper bound principle, and equivalence relations

A complete, self-contained introduction to a powerful and resurging mathematical discipline … Combinatorial Geometry presents and explains with complete proofs some of the most important results and methods of this relatively young mathematical discipline, started by Minkowski, Fejes Tóth, Rogers, and Erd???s. Nearly half the results presented in this book were discovered over the past twenty years, and most have never before appeared in any monograph. Combinatorial Geometry will be of particular interest to mathematicians, computer scientists, physicists, and materials scientists interested in computational geometry, robotics, scene analysis, and computer-aided design. It is also a superb textbook, complete with end-of-chapter problems and hints to their solutions that help students clarify their understanding and test their mastery of the material. Topics covered include:

• Geometric number theory
• Packing and covering with congruent convex disks
• Extremal graph and hypergraph theory
• Distribution of distances among finitely many points
• Epsilon-nets and Vapnik—Chervonenkis dimension
• Geometric graph theory
• Geometric discrepancy theory
• And much more

The book is a revised and updated version of the lectures given by the author at the University of Timi oara during the academic year 1990-1991. Its goal is to present in detail someold and new aspects ofthe geometry ofsymplectic and Poisson manifolds and to point out some of their applications in Hamiltonian mechanics and geometric quantization. The material is organized as follows. In Chapter 1 we collect some general facts about symplectic vector spaces, symplectic manifolds and symplectic reduction. Chapter 2 deals with the study ofHamiltonian mechanics. We present here the gen- eral theory ofHamiltonian mechanicalsystems, the theory ofthe corresponding Pois- son bracket and also some examples ofinfinite-dimensional Hamiltonian mechanical systems. Chapter 3 starts with some standard facts concerning the theory of Lie groups and Lie algebras and then continues with the theory ofmomentum mappings and the Marsden-Weinstein reduction. The theory of Hamilton-Poisson mechan- ical systems makes the object of Chapter 4. Chapter 5 js dedicated to the study of the stability of the equilibrium solutions of the Hamiltonian and the Hamilton- Poisson mechanical systems. We present here some of the remarcable results due to Holm, Marsden, Ra~iu and Weinstein. Next, Chapter 6 and 7 are devoted to the theory of geometric quantization where we try to solve, in a geometrical way, the so called Dirac problem from quantum mechanics. We follow here the construc- tion given by Kostant and Souriau around 1964.

There has been an increasing interest in the statistical analysis of geometric objects and structures in many branches of science and engineering in recent years. The aim of this book is to present these statistical methods for practical use by non-mathematicians by outlining the mathematical ideas rather than concentrating on detailed proofs. The clarity of exposition ensures that the book will be a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners in many scientific disciplines who wish to use these methods in their work. In particular, the book is suited to materials scientists, geologists, environmental scientists, and biologists.

This interdisciplinary volume collects contributions from experts in their respective fields with as common theme diagrams. Diagrams play a fundamental role in the mathematical visualization and philosophical analysis of forms in space. Some of the most interesting and profound recent developments in contemporary sciences, whether in topology, geometry, dynamic systems theory, quantum field theory or string theory, have been made possible by the introduction of new types of diagrams, which, in addition to their essential role in the discovery of new classes of spaces and phenomena, have contributed to enriching and clarifying the meaning of the operations, structures and properties that are at the heart of these spaces and phenomena. The volume gives a closer look at the scope and the nature of diagrams as constituents of mathematical and physical thought, their function in contemporary artistic work, and appraise, in particular, the actual importance of the diagrams of knots, of braids, of fields, of interaction, of strings in topology and geometry, in quantum physics and in cosmology, but also in theory of perception, in plastic arts and in philosophy. The editors carefully curated this volume to be an inspiration to students and researchers in philosophy, phenomenology, mathematics and the sciences, as well as artists, musicians and the general interested audience.

This book presents the topology of smooth 4-manifolds in an intuitive self-contained way, developed over a number of years by Professor Akbulut. The text is aimed at graduate students and focuses on the teaching and learning of the subject, giving a direct approach to constructions and theorems which are supplemented by exercises to help the reader work through the details not covered in the proofs. The book contains a hundred colour illustrations to demonstrate the ideas rather than providing long-winded and potentially unclear explanations. Key results have been selected that relate to the material discussed and the author has provided examples of how to analyse them with the techniques developed in earlier chapters.

A study of topology and geometry, beginning with a comprehensible account of the extraordinary and rather mysterious impact of mathematical physics, and especially gauge theory, on the study of the geometry and topology of manifolds. The focus of the book is the Yang-Mills-Higgs field and some considerable effort is expended to make clear its origin and significance in physics. Much of the mathematics developed here to study these fields is standard, but the treatment always keeps one eye on the physics and sacrifices generality in favor of clarity. The author brings readers up the level of physics and mathematics needed to conclude with a brief discussion of the Seiberg-Witten invariants. A large number of exercises are included to encourage active participation on the part of the reader.

This book provides a comprehensive study of convex integration theory in immersion-theoretic topology. Convex integration theory, developed originally by M. Gromov, provides general topological methods for solving the h-principle for a wide variety of problems in differential geometry and topology, with applications also to PDE theory and to optimal control theory. Though topological in nature, the theory is based on a precise analytical approximation result for higher order derivatives of functions, proved by M. Gromov. This book is the first to present an exacting record and exposition of all of the basic concepts and technical results of convex integration theory in higher order jet spaces, including the theory of iterated convex hull extensions and the theory of relative h-principles. A second feature of the book is its detailed presentation of applications of the general theory to topics in symplectic topology, divergence free vector fields on 3-manifolds, isometric immersions, totally real embeddings, underdetermined non-linear systems of PDEs, the relaxation theorem in optimal control theory, as well as applications to the traditional immersion-theoretical topics such as immersions, submersions, k-mersions and free maps. The book should prove useful to graduate students and to researchers in topology, PDE theory and optimal control theory who wish to understand the h-principle and how it can be applied to solve problems in their respective disciplines.

The collection of papers in this volume represents recent advances in the under standing of the geometry and topology of singularities. The book covers a broad range of topics which are in the focus of contemporary singularity theory. Its idea emerged during two Singularities workshops held at the University of Lille (USTL) in 1999 and 2000. Due to the breadth of singularity theory, a single volume can hardly give the complete picture of today's progress. Nevertheless, this collection of papers provides a good snapshot of what is the state of affairs in the field, at the turn of the century. Several papers deal with global aspects of singularity theory. Classification of fam ilies of plane curves with prescribed singularities were among the first problems in algebraic geometry. Classification of plane cubics was known to Newton and classification of quartics was achieved by Klein at the end of the 19th century. The problem of classification of curves of higher degrees was addressed in numerous works after that. In the paper by Artal, Carmona and Cogolludo, the authors de scribe irreducible sextic curves having a singular point of type An (n > 15) and a large (Le. , :::: 18) sum of Milnor numbers of other singularities. They have discov ered many interesting properties of these families. In particular they have found new examples of so-called Zariski pairs, i. e.

This book is an introductory graduate-level textbook on the theory of smooth manifolds. Its goal is to familiarize students with the tools they will need in order to use manifolds in mathematical or scientific research--- smooth structures, tangent vectors and covectors, vector bundles, immersed and embedded submanifolds, tensors, differential forms, de Rham cohomology, vector fields, flows, foliations, Lie derivatives, Lie groups, Lie algebras, and more. The approach is as concrete as possible, with pictures and intuitive discussions of how one should think geometrically about the abstract concepts, while making full use of the powerful tools that modern mathematics has to offer.

This second edition has been extensively revised and clarified, and the topics have been substantially rearranged. The book now introduces the two most important analytic tools, the rank theorem and the fundamental theorem on flows, much earlier so that they can be used throughout the book. A few new topics have been added, notably Sard's theorem and transversality, a proof that infinitesimal Lie group actions generate global group actions, a more thorough study of first-order partial differential equations, a brief treatment of degree theory for smooth maps between compact manifolds, and an introduction to contact structures.

Prerequisites include a solid acquaintance with general topology, the fundamental group, and covering spaces, as well as basic undergraduate linear algebra and real analysis.

Fixed Point Results in W-Distance Spaces is a self-contained and comprehensive reference for advanced fixed-point theory and can serve as a useful guide for related research. The book can be used as a teaching resource for advanced courses on fixed-point theory, which is a modern and important field in mathematics. It would be especially valuable for graduate and postgraduate courses and seminars. Features Written in a concise and fluent style, covers a broad range of topics and includes related topics from research. Suitable for researchers and postgraduates. Contains brand new results not published elsewhere.

In this superb topology text, the readers not only learn about knot theory, 3-dimensional manifolds, and the topology of embedded graphs, but also their role in understanding molecular structures. Most results described in the text are motivated by the questions of chemists or molecular biologists, though they often go beyond answering the original question asked. No specific mathematical or chemical prerequisites are required. The text is enhanced by nearly 200 illustrations and 100 exercises. With this fascinating book, undergraduate mathematics students escape the world of pure abstract theory and enter that of real molecules, while chemists and biologists find simple and clear but rigorous definitions of mathematical concepts they handle intuitively in their work.

The textbook is a very good start into the mathematical field of topology. A variety of topological concepts with some elementary applications are introduced. It is organized in such a way that the reader gets to significant applications quickly.This revised version corrects the many discrepancies in the earlier edition. The emphasis is on the geometric understanding and the use of new concepts, indicating that topology is really the language of modern mathematics.

This monograph explores the concept of the Brouwer degree and its continuing impact on the development of important areas of nonlinear analysis. The authors define the degree using an analytical approach proposed by Heinz in 1959 and further developed by Mawhin in 2004, linking it to the Kronecker index and employing the language of differential forms. The chapters are organized so that they can be approached in various ways depending on the interests of the reader. Unifying this structure is the central role the Brouwer degree plays in nonlinear analysis, which is illustrated with existence, surjectivity, and fixed point theorems for nonlinear mappings. Special attention is paid to the computation of the degree, as well as to the wide array of applications, such as linking, differential and partial differential equations, difference equations, variational and hemivariational inequalities, game theory, and mechanics. Each chapter features bibliographic and historical notes, and the final chapter examines the full history. Brouwer Degree will serve as an authoritative reference on the topic and will be of interest to professional mathematicians, researchers, and graduate students.

This completely revised and corrected version of the well-known Florence notes circulated by the authors together with E. Friedlander examines basic topology, emphasizing homotopy theory. Included is a discussion of Postnikov towers and rational homotopy theory. This is then followed by an in-depth look at differential forms and de Tham's theorem on simplicial complexes. In addition, Sullivan's results on computing the rational homotopy type from forms is presented. New to the Second Edition: *Fully-revised appendices including an expanded discussion of the Hirsch lemma *Presentation of a natural proof of a Serre spectral sequence result *Updated content throughout the book, reflecting advances in the area of homotopy theory With its modern approach and timely revisions, this second edition of Rational Homotopy Theory and Differential Forms will be a valuable resource for graduate students and researchers in algebraic topology, differential forms, and homotopy theory.

The Center and Focus Problem: Algebraic Solutions and Hypotheses, M. N. Popa and V.V. Pricop, ISBN: 978-1-032-01725-9 (Hardback) This book focuses on an old problem of the qualitative theory of differential equations, called the Center and Focus Problem. It is intended for mathematicians, researchers, professors and Ph.D. students working in the field of differential equations, as well as other specialists who are interested in the theory of Lie algebras, commutative graded algebras, the theory of generating functions and Hilbert series. The book reflects the results obtained by the authors in the last decades. A rather essential result is obtained in solving Poincare's problem. Namely, there are given the upper estimations of the number of Poincare-Lyapunov quantities, which are algebraically independent and participate in solving the Center and Focus Problem that have not been known so far. These estimations are equal to Krull dimensions of Sibirsky graded algebras of comitants and invariants of systems of differential equations.

The Center and Focus Problem: Algebraic Solutions and Hypotheses, M. N. Popa and V.V. Pricop, ISBN: 978-1-032-01725-9 (Hardback) This book focuses on an old problem of the qualitative theory of differential equations, called the Center and Focus Problem. It is intended for mathematicians, researchers, professors and Ph.D. students working in the field of differential equations, as well as other specialists who are interested in the theory of Lie algebras, commutative graded algebras, the theory of generating functions and Hilbert series. The book reflects the results obtained by the authors in the last decades. A rather essential result is obtained in solving Poincare's problem. Namely, there are given the upper estimations of the number of Poincare-Lyapunov quantities, which are algebraically independent and participate in solving the Center and Focus Problem that have not been known so far. These estimations are equal to Krull dimensions of Sibirsky graded algebras of comitants and invariants of systems of differential equations.

Features Provides an accessible introduction to mathematics in art Supports the narrative with a self-contained mathematical theory, with complete proofs of the main results (including the classification theorem for similarities) Presents hundreds of figures, illustrations, computer-generated graphics, designs, photographs, and art reproductions, mainly presented in full color Includes 21 projects and about 280 exercises, about half of which are fully solved Covers Euclidean geometry, golden section, Fibonacci numbers, symmetries, tilings, similarities, fractals, cellular automata, inversion, hyperbolic geometry, perspective drawing, Platonic and Archimedean solids, and topology New to the Second Edition New exercises, projects and artworks Revised, reorganised and expanded chapters More use of color throughout

This text serves as a pedagogical introduction to the theoretical concepts on application of topology in condensed matter systems. It covers an introduction to basic concepts of topology, emphasizes the relation of geometric concepts such as the Berry phase to topology, having in mind applications in condensed matter. In addition to describing two basic systems such as topological insulators and topological superconductors, it also reviews topological spin systems and photonic systems. It also describes the use of quantum information concepts in the context of topological phases and phase transitions, and the effect of non-equilibrium perturbations on topological systems.This book provides a comprehensive introduction to topological insulators, topological superconductors and topological semimetals. It includes all the mathematical background required for the subject. There are very few books with such a coverage in the market.

Far from being separate entities, many social and engineering systems can be considered as complex network systems (CNSs) associated with closely linked interactions with neighbouring entities such as the Internet and power grids. Roughly speaking, a CNS refers to a networking system consisting of lots of interactional individuals, exhibiting fascinating collective behaviour that cannot always be anticipated from the inherent properties of the individuals themselves. As one of the most fundamental examples of cooperative behaviour, consensus within CNSs (or the synchronization of complex networks) has gained considerable attention from various fields of research, including systems science, control theory and electrical engineering. This book mainly studies consensus of CNSs with dynamics topologies - unlike most existing books that have focused on consensus control and analysis for CNSs under a fixed topology. As most practical networks have limited communication ability, switching graphs can be used to characterize real-world communication topologies, leading to a wider range of practical applications. This book provides some novel multiple Lyapunov functions (MLFs), good candidates for analysing the consensus of CNSs with directed switching topologies, while each chapter provides detailed theoretical analyses according to the stability theory of switched systems. Moreover, numerical simulations are provided to validate the theoretical results. Both professional researchers and laypeople will benefit from this book.

In the last few years the use of geometrie methods has permeated many more branehes of mathematies and the seiences. Briefly its role may be eharaeterized as folIows. Whereas methods of mathematieal analysis deseribe phenomena 'in the sm all " geometrie methods eontribute to giving the picture 'in the large'. A seeond no less important property of geometrie methods is the eonvenienee of using its language to deseribe and give qualitative explanations for diverse mathematieal phenomena and patterns. From this point of view, the theory of veetor bundles together with mathematieal analysis on manifolds (global anal- ysis and differential geometry) has provided a major stimulus. Its language turned out to be extremely fruitful: connections on prineipal veetor bundles (in terms of whieh various field theories are deseribed), transformation groups including the various symmetry groups that arise in eonneetion with physieal problems, in asymptotie methods of partial differential equations with small parameter, in elliptie operator theory, in mathematieal methods of classieal meehanies and in mathematieal methods in eeonomies. There are other eur- rently less signifieant applieations in other fields. Over a similar period, uni- versity edueation has ehanged eonsiderably with the appearanee of new courses on differential geometry and topology. New textbooks have been published but 'geometry and topology' has not, in our opinion, been wen eovered from a prae- tieal applieations point of view.

This is the second volume of the Handbook of the Geometry and Topology of Singularities, a series which aims to provide an accessible account of the state-of-the-art of the subject, its frontiers, and its interactions with other areas of research. This volume consists of ten chapters which provide an in-depth and reader-friendly survey of some of the foundational aspects of singularity theory and related topics.Singularities are ubiquitous in mathematics and science in general. Singularity theory interacts energetically with the rest of mathematics, acting as a crucible where different types of mathematical problems interact, surprising connections are born and simple questions lead to ideas which resonate in other parts of the subject, and in other subjects. Authored by world experts, the various contributions deal with both classical material and modern developments, covering a wide range of topics which are linked to each other in fundamental ways. The book is addressed to graduate students and newcomers to the theory, as well as to specialists who can use it as a guidebook.