Tag - Homotopy theory

Edoardo Lanari: Gray tensor products and lax functors of (∞,2)-categories

10th September, 2020

We give a definition of the Gray tensor product in the setting of scaled simplicial sets which is associative and forms a left Quillen bi-functor with respect to the bicategorical model structure of Lurie. We then introduce a notion of oplax functor in this setting, and use it in order to characterize the Gray tensor product by means of a universal property. A similar characterization was used by Gaitsgory and Rozenblyum in their definition of the Gray product, thus giving a promising lead for comparing the two settings.

John Pardon: Pontryagin-Thom for orbifold bordism

24th July, 2020

The classical Pontryagin-Thom isomorphism equates manifold bordism groups with corresponding stable homotopy groups. This construction moreover generalizes to the equivariant context. I will discuss work which establishes a Pontryagin-Thom isomorphism for orbispaces (an orbispace is a 'space' that is locally modelled on Y/G for Y a space and G a finite group; examples of orbispaces include orbifolds and moduli spaces of pseudo-holomorphic curves). This involves defining a category of orbispectra and an involution of this category extending Spanier-Whitehead duality. Global homotopy theory also plays a key role.

Charles Walker: Characterization of Lax Orthogonal Factorization Systems

15th July, 2020

In this talk we will study the lax orthogonal factorization systems (LOFSs) of Clementino and Franco, with a particular focus on finding equivalent definitions of them.

In particular, we wish to define them as a pair of classes ℰ and ℳ subject to some conditions. To achieve this, we will reduce the definition of a LOFS in terms of algebraic weak factorization systems (defined as a KZ 2-comonad L and KZ 2-monad R on the 2-category of arrows [2, 𝒞] with a 2-distributive law LR ⇒ RL) to a more property-like definition (meaning a definition with less data but more conditions).

To do this, we replace strict KZ 2-monads with the property-like definition of KZ pseudomonads in terms of Kan-extensions due to Marmolejo and Wood. In addition, pseudo-distributive laws involving KZ pseudomonads have a property-like description which will be used. Thus one can deduce the conditions the classes ℰ and ℳ must satisfy.

We will also consider some similarities and differences between LOFSs and (pseudo-)orthogonal factorization systems, and will extend their definitions to include universal fillers for squares which only commute up to a comparison 2-cell.

Fred Cohen: Connections Between Braid Groups, Homotopy Theory, and Low Dimensional Topology

6th October, 2004

An elementary homomorphism from a free group to the pure braid group yields interesting connections between braid groups, homotopy theory, and low dimensional topology. This map induces a map on the Lie algebra obtained from the descending central series. Further, this map induces a morphism of simplicial groups. All of these maps are shown to be injective.

Brunnian braids are discussed. The analogous maps of Lie algebras induced on the filtration quotients of the mod-p descending central series is again an injection. Using these facts it turns out that the homotopy groups of this simplicial group, those of the 2-sphere, are isomorphic to natural subquotients of the pure braid group. In addition, the mod-p analogues give a connection between the classical unstable Adams spectral sequence, and the mod-p analogues of Vassiliev invariants of pure braids.