- published: 18 Oct 2015
- views: 338
In mathematics, a 3-manifold is a space that locally looks like Euclidean 3-dimensional space. Intuitively, a 3-manifold can be thought of as a possible shape of the universe. Just like a sphere looks like a plane to a small enough observer, all 3-manifolds look like our universe does to a small enough observer. This is made more precise in the definition below.
A topological space X is a 3-manifold if it is a second-countable Hausdorff space and if every point in X has a neighbourhood that is homeomorphic to Euclidean 3-space.
The topological, piecewise-linear, and smooth categories are all equivalent in three dimensions, so little distinction is made in whether we are dealing with say, topological 3-manifolds, or smooth 3-manifolds.
Phenomena in three dimensions can be strikingly different from phenomena in other dimensions, and so there is a prevalence of very specialized techniques that do not generalize to dimensions greater than three. This special role has led to the discovery of close connections to a diversity of other fields, such as knot theory, geometric group theory, hyperbolic geometry, number theory, Teichmüller theory, topological quantum field theory, gauge theory, Floer homology, and partial differential equations. 3-manifold theory is considered a part of low-dimensional topology or geometric topology.
The geometry of 3-manifolds
The Mystery of 3-Manifolds - William Thurston
Slices of 3-Manifolds
Topology For Beginners: Introduction To 3D Manifolds
Low-dimensional dynamics and hyperbolic 3-manifolds - Carvalho
The evolution of geometric structures on 3-manifolds.
Finite Topology Surfaces Of Constant Mean Curvature In Hyperbolic 3-Manifolds
Geometry of complex surface singularities and 3-manifolds - Neumann
Volumes of Hyperbolic 3-Manifolds - David Gabai
3-Manifold Groups - Ian Agol
This is dangerous. Open up your head feel the shell shock.
This is dangerous. I walk the mindfields so watch your head rock.
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I walk through mindfields ha ha ha
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I walk through mindfields so watch your head rock.