Graduate Geometry, Topology and Dynamics Seminar
Edgar A. Bering IV
UIC
Pachner's theorem and PL manifolds.
Abstract: In 1991 Udö Pachner gave a refinement of Alexander's combinatorial characterization of piecewise-linear homeomorphism, showing that two PL manifolds are homeomorphic if and only if they admit triangulations related by a finite sequence of so-called 'bistellar' moves. We will present the necessary background and proof of Pachner's theorem. Time permitting we will also sketch some of the applications to low-dimensional topology, in particular in constructing the Turaev-Viro invariant of 3-manifolds.
Wednesday October 3, 2012 at 3:00 PM in SEO 612