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 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.

Periodic differential equations appear in many contexts such as in the theory of nonlinear oscillators, in celestial mechanics, or in population dynamics with seasonal effects. The most traditional approach to study these equations is based on the introduction of small parameters, but the search of nonlocal results leads to the application of several topological tools. Examples are fixed point theorems, degree theory, or bifurcation theory. These well-known methods are valid for equations of arbitrary dimension and they are mainly employed to prove the existence of periodic solutions. Following the approach initiated by Massera, this book presents some more delicate techniques whose validity is restricted to two dimensions. These typically produce additional dynamical information such as the instability of periodic solutions, the convergence of all solutions to periodic solutions, or connections between the number of harmonic and subharmonic solutions. The qualitative study of periodic planar equations leads naturally to a class of discrete dynamical systems generated by homeomorphisms or embeddings of the plane. To study these maps, Brouwer introduced the notion of a translation arc, somehow mimicking the notion of an orbit in continuous dynamical systems. The study of the properties of these translation arcs is full of intuition and often leads to "non-rigorous proofs". In the book, complete proofs following ideas developed by Brown are presented and the final conclusion is the Arc Translation Lemma, a counterpart of the Poincare-Bendixson theorem for discrete dynamical systems. Applications to differential equations and discussions on the topology of the plane are the two themes that alternate throughout the five chapters of the book.

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 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.

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.

This unique book's subject is meanders (connected, oriented, non-self-intersecting planar curves intersecting the horizontal line transversely) in the context of dynamical systems. By interpreting the transverse intersection points as vertices and the arches arising from these curves as directed edges, meanders are introduced from the graphtheoretical perspective. Supplementing the rigorous results, mathematical methods, constructions, and examples of meanders with a large number of insightful figures, issues such as connectivity and the number of connected components of meanders are studied in detail with the aid of collapse and multiple collapse, forks, and chambers. Moreover, the author introduces a large class of Morse meanders by utilizing the right and left one-shift maps, and presents connections to Sturm global attractors, seaweed and Frobenius Lie algebras, and the classical Yang-Baxter equation. Contents Seaweed Meanders Meanders Morse Meanders and Sturm Global Attractors Right and Left One-Shifts Connection Graphs of Type I, II, III and IV Meanders and the Temperley-Lieb Algebra Representations of Seaweed Lie Algebras CYBE and Seaweed Meanders

This book consists of 16 surveys on Thurston's work and its later development. The authors are mathematicians who were strongly influenced by Thurston's publications and ideas. The subjects discussed include, among others, knot theory, the topology of 3-manifolds, circle packings, complex projective structures, hyperbolic geometry, Kleinian groups, foliations, mapping class groups, Teichmuller theory, anti-de Sitter geometry, and co-Minkowski geometry. The book is addressed to researchers and students who want to learn about Thurston's wide-ranging mathematical ideas and their impact. At the same time, it is a tribute to Thurston, one of the greatest geometers of all time, whose work extended over many fields in mathematics and who had a unique way of perceiving forms and patterns, and of communicating and writing mathematics.

Topological Phases of Matter are an exceptionally dynamic field of research: several of the most exciting recent experimental discoveries and conceptual advances in modern physics have originated in this field. These have generated new, topological, notions of order, interactions and excitations. This text provides an accessible, unified and comprehensive introduction to the phenomena surrounding topological matter, with detailed expositions of the underlying theoretical tools and conceptual framework, alongside accounts of the central experimental breakthroughs. Among the systems covered are topological insulators, magnets, semimetals, and superconductors. The emergence of new particles with remarkable properties such as fractional charge and statistics is discussed alongside possible applications such as fault-tolerant topological quantum computing. Suitable as a textbook for graduate or advanced undergraduate students, or as a reference for more experienced researchers, the book assumes little prior background, providing self-contained introductions to topics as varied as phase transitions, superconductivity, and localisation.

This book introduces aspects of topology and applications to problems in condensed matter physics. Basic topics in mathematics have been introduced in a form accessible to physicists, and the use of topology in quantum, statistical and solid state physics has been developed with an emphasis on pedagogy. The aim is to bridge the language barrier between physics and mathematics, as well as the different specializations in physics. Pitched at the level of a graduate student of physics, this book does not assume any additional knowledge of mathematics or physics. It is therefore suited for advanced postgraduate students as well. A collection of selected problems will help the reader learn the topics on one's own, and the broad range of topics covered will make the text a valuable resource for practising researchers in the field. The book consists of two parts: one corresponds to developing the necessary mathematics and the other discusses applications to physical problems. The section on mathematics is a quick, but more-or-less complete, review of topology. The focus is on explaining fundamental concepts rather than dwelling on details of proofs while retaining the mathematical flavour. There is an overview chapter at the beginning and a recapitulation chapter on group theory. The physics section starts with an introduction and then goes on to topics in quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics of polymers, knots, and vertex models, solid state physics, exotic excitations such as Dirac quasiparticles, Majorana modes, Abelian and non-Abelian anyons. Quantum spin liquids and quantum information-processing are also covered in some detail.

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 book provides an accessible yet rigorous introduction to topology and homology focused on the simplicial space. It presents a compact pipeline from the foundations of topology to biomedical applications. It will be of interest to medical physicists, computer scientists, and engineers, as well as undergraduate and graduate students interested in this topic. Features: Presents a practical guide to algebraic topology as well as persistence homology Contains application examples in the field of biomedicine, including the analysis of histological images and point cloud data

This book aims to provide undergraduates with an understanding of geometric topology. Topics covered include a sampling from point-set, geometric, and algebraic topology. The presentation is pragmatic, avoiding the famous pedagogical method "whereby one begins with the general and proceeds to the particular only after the student is too confused to understand it." Exercises are an integral part of the text. Students taking the course should have some knowledge of linear algebra. An appendix provides a brief survey of the necessary background of group theory.

Over the past six decades, several extremely important fields in mathematics have been developed. Among these are Ito calculus, Gaussian measures on Banach spaces, Malliavan calculus, and white noise distribution theory. These subjects have many applications, ranging from finance and economics to physics and biology. Unfortunately, the background information required to conduct research in these subjects presents a tremendous roadblock. The background material primarily stems from an abstract subject known as infinite dimensional topological vector spaces. While this information forms the backdrop for these subjects, the books and papers written about topological vector spaces were never truly written for researchers studying infinite dimensional analysis. Thus, the literature for topological vector spaces is dense and difficult to digest, much of it being written prior to the 1960s. Tools for Infinite Dimensional Analysis aims to address these problems by providing an introduction to the background material for infinite dimensional analysis that is friendly in style and accessible to graduate students and researchers studying the above-mentioned subjects. It will save current and future researchers countless hours and promote research in these areas by removing an obstacle in the path to beginning study in areas of infinite dimensional analysis. Features Focused approach to the subject matter Suitable for graduate students as well as researchers Detailed proofs of primary results

This 4-th edition of the leading reference volume on distance metrics is characterized by updated and rewritten sections on some items suggested by experts and readers, as well a general streamlining of content and the addition of essential new topics. Though the structure remains unchanged, the new edition also explores recent advances in the use of distances and metrics for e.g. generalized distances, probability theory, graph theory, coding theory, data analysis. New topics in the purely mathematical sections include e.g. the Vitanyi multiset-metric, algebraic point-conic distance, triangular ratio metric, Rossi-Hamming metric, Taneja distance, spectral semimetric between graphs, channel metrization, and Maryland bridge distance. The multidisciplinary sections have also been supplemented with new topics, including: dynamic time wrapping distance, memory distance, allometry, atmospheric depth, elliptic orbit distance, VLBI distance measurements, the astronomical system of units, and walkability distance. Leaving aside the practical questions that arise during the selection of a 'good' distance function, this work focuses on providing the research community with an invaluable comprehensive listing of the main available distances. As well as providing standalone introductions and definitions, the encyclopedia facilitates swift cross-referencing with easily navigable bold-faced textual links to core entries. In addition to distances themselves, the authors have collated numerous fascinating curiosities in their Who's Who of metrics, including distance-related notions and paradigms that enable applied mathematicians in other sectors to deploy research tools that non-specialists justly view as arcane. In expanding access to these techniques, and in many cases enriching the context of distances themselves, this peerless volume is certain to stimulate fresh research.

Focuses on the latest research in Graph Theory Provides recent research findings that are occurring in this field Discusses the advanced developments and gives insights on an international and transnational level Identifies the gaps in the results Presents forthcoming international studies and researches, long with applications in Networking, Computer Science, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, etc.

This proceedings volume presents a diverse collection of high-quality, state-of-the-art research and survey articles written by top experts in low-dimensional topology and its applications. The focal topics include the wide range of historical and contemporary invariants of knots and links and related topics such as three- and four-dimensional manifolds, braids, virtual knot theory, quantum invariants, braids, skein modules and knot algebras, link homology, quandles and their homology; hyperbolic knots and geometric structures of three-dimensional manifolds; the mechanism of topological surgery in physical processes, knots in Nature in the sense of physical knots with applications to polymers, DNA enzyme mechanisms, and protein structure and function. The contents is based on contributions presented at the International Conference on Knots, Low-Dimensional Topology and Applications - Knots in Hellas 2016, which was held at the International Olympic Academy in Greece in July 2016. The goal of the international conference was to promote the exchange of methods and ideas across disciplines and generations, from graduate students to senior researchers, and to explore fundamental research problems in the broad fields of knot theory and low-dimensional topology. This book will benefit all researchers who wish to take their research in new directions, to learn about new tools and methods, and to discover relevant and recent literature for future study.

This book discusses basic topics in the spectral theory of dynamical systems. It also includes two advanced theorems, one by H. Helson and W. Parry, and another by B. Host. Moreover, Ornstein's family of mixing rank-one automorphisms is given with construction and proof. Systems of imprimitivity and their relevance to ergodic theory are also examined. Baire category theorems of ergodic theory, scattered in literature, are discussed in a unified way in the book. Riesz products are introduced and applied to describe the spectral types and eigenvalues of rank-one automorphisms. Lastly, the second edition includes a new chapter "Calculus of Generalized Riesz Products", which discusses the recent work connecting generalized Riesz products, Hardy classes, Banach's problem of simple Lebesgue spectrum in ergodic theory and flat polynomials.

This book provides an introduction to some key subjects in algebra and topology. It consists of comprehensive texts of some hours courses on the preliminaries for several advanced theories in (categorical) algebra and topology. Often, this kind of presentations is not so easy to find in the literature, where one begins articles by assuming a lot of knowledge in the field. This volume can both help young researchers to quickly get into the subject by offering a kind of " roadmap " and also help master students to be aware of the basics of other research directions in these fields before deciding to specialize in one of them. Furthermore, it can be used by established researchers who need a particular result for their own research and do not want to go through several research papers in order to understand a single proof. Although the chapters can be read as " self-contained " chapters, the authors have tried to coordinate the texts in order to make them complementary. The seven chapters of this volume correspond to the seven courses taught in two Summer Schools that took place in Louvain-la-Neuve in the frame of the project Fonds d'Appui a l'Internationalisation of the Universite catholique de Louvain to strengthen the collaborations with the universities of Coimbra, Padova and Poitiers, within the Coimbra Group.

This book presents a systematic and comprehensive account of the theory of differentiable manifolds and provides the necessary background for the use of fundamental differential topology tools. The text includes, in particular, the earlier works of Stephen Smale, for which he was awarded the Fields Medal. Explicitly, the topics covered are Thom transversality, Morse theory, theory of handle presentation, h-cobordism theorem and the generalised Poincare conjecture. The material is the outcome of lectures and seminars on various aspects of differentiable manifolds and differential topology given over the years at the Indian Statistical Institute in Calcutta, and at other universities throughout India. The book will appeal to graduate students and researchers interested in these topics. An elementary knowledge of linear algebra, general topology, multivariate calculus, analysis and algebraic topology is recommended.

This is a state-of-the-art introduction to the work of Franz Reidemeister, Meng Taubes, Turaev, and the author on the concept of torsion and its generalizations. Torsion is the oldest topological (but not with respect to homotopy) invariant that in its almost eight decades of existence has been at the center of many important and surprising discoveries. During the past decade, in the work of Vladimir Turaev, new points of view have emerged, which turned out to be the "right ones" as far as gauge theory is concerned. The book features mostly the new aspects of this venerable concept. The theoretical foundations of this subject are presented in a style accessible to those, who wish to learn and understand the main ideas of the theory. Particular emphasis is upon the many and rather diverse concrete examples and techniques which capture the subleties of the theory better than any abstract general result. Many of these examples and techniques never appeared in print before, and their choice is often justified by ongoing current research on the topology of surface singularities. The text is addressed to mathematicians with geometric interests who want to become comfortable users of this versatile invariant.

This work is a continuation of the first volume published by Springer in 2011, entitled "A Cp-Theory Problem Book: Topological and Function Spaces." The first volume provided an introduction from scratch to Cp-theory and general topology, preparing the reader for a professional understanding of Cp-theory in the last section of its main text.This present volume covers a wide variety of topics in Cp-theory and general topology at the professional level bringing the reader to the frontiers of modern research. The volume contains 500 problems and exercises with complete solutions. It can also be used as an introduction to advanced set theory and descriptive set theory. The book presents diverse topics of the theory of function spaces with the topology of pointwise convergence, or Cp-theory which exists at the intersection of topological algebra, functional analysis and general topology. Cp-theory has an important role in the classification and unification of heterogeneous results from these areas of research. Moreover, this book gives a reasonably complete coverage of Cp-theory through 500 carefully selected problems and exercises. By systematically introducing each of the major topics of Cp-theory the book is intended to bring a dedicated reader from basic topological principles to the frontiers of modern research."