Nonstabilized Nielsen coincidence invariants and Hopf--Ganea homomorphisms

In classical fixed point and coincidence theory the notion of Nielsen numbers has proved to be extremely fruitful. We extend it to pairs (f_1,f_2) of maps between manifolds of arbitrary dimensions, using nonstabilized normal bordism theory as our main tool. This leads to estimates of the minimum numbers MCC(f_1,f_2) (and MC(f_1,f_2), respectively) of path components (and of points, resp.) in the coincidence sets of those pairs of maps which are homotopic to (f_1,f_2). Furthermore, we deduce finiteness conditions for MC(f_1,f_2). As an application we compute both minimum numbers explicitly in various concrete geometric sample situations. The Nielsen decomposition of a coincidence set is induced by the decomposition of a certain path space E(f_1,f_2) into path components. Its higher dimensional topology captures further crucial geometric coincidence data. In the setting of homotopy groups the resulting invariants are closely related to certain Hopf--Ganea homomorphisms which turn out to yield finiteness obstructions for MC.Comment: This is the version published by Geometry & Topology on 24 May 200

Geometric and homotopy theoretic methods in Nielsen coincidence theory

In classical fixed point and coincidence theory the notion of Nielsen numbers has proved to be extremely fruitful. Here we extend it to pairs (f_1, f_2) of maps between manifolds of arbitrary dimensions. This leads to estimates of the minimum numbers MCC(f_1, f_2) (and MC(f_1, f_2), resp.) of pathcomponents (and of points, resp.) in the coincidence sets of those pairs of maps which are homotopic to (f_1, f_2). Furthermore we deduce finiteness conditions for MC(f_1, f_2). As an application we compute both minimum numbers explicitly in four concrete geometric sample situations. The Nielsen decomposition of a coincidence set is induced by the decomposition of a certain path space E(f_1, f_2) into pathcomponents. Its higher dimensional topology captures further crucial geometric coincidence data. An analoguous approach can be used to define also Nielsen numbers of certain link maps

Linking and coincidence invariants

Given a link map f into a manifold of the form Q = N \times \Bbb R, when can it be deformed to an unlinked position (in some sense, e.g. where its components map to disjoint \Bbb R-levels) ? Using the language of normal bordism theory as well as the path space approach of Hatcher and Quinn we define obstructions \widetilde\omega_\epsilon (f), \epsilon = + or \epsilon = -, which often answer this question completely and which, in addition, turn out to distinguish a great number of different link homotopy classes. In certain cases they even allow a complete link homotopy classification. Our development parallels recent advances in Nielsen coincidence theory and leads also to the notion of Nielsen numbers of link maps. In the special case when N is a product of spheres sample calculations are carried out. They involve the homotopy theory of spheres and, in particular, James--Hopf--invariants.Comment: 16 page

Minimizing coincidence numbers of maps into projective spaces

In this paper we continue to study (`strong') Nielsen coincidence numbers (which were introduced recently for pairs of maps between manifolds of arbitrary dimensions) and the corresponding minimum numbers of coincidence points and pathcomponents. We explore compatibilities with fibrations and, more specifically, with covering maps, paying special attention to selfcoincidence questions. As a sample application we calculate each of these numbers for all maps from spheres to (real, complex, or quaternionic) projective spaces. Our results turn out to be intimately related to recent work of D Goncalves and D Randall concerning maps which can be deformed away from themselves but not by small deformations; in particular, there are close connections to the Strong Kervaire Invariant One Problem.Comment: This is the version published by Geometry & Topology Monographs on 29 April 200

Nielsen numbers in topological coincidence theory

We discuss coincidences of pairs (f_1, f_2) of maps between manifolds. We recall briefly the definition of four types of Nielsen numbers which arise naturally from the geometry of generic coincidences. They are lower bounds for the minimum numbers MCC and MC which measure to some extend the 'essential' size of a coincidence phenomenon. In the setting of fixed point theory these Nielsen numbers all coincide with the classical notion but in general they are distinct invariants. We illustrate this by many examples involving maps from spheres to the real, complex or quaternionic projective space KP(n'). In particular, when n' is odd and K = R or C or when n' = 23 mod 24 and K = H, we compute the minimum number MCC and all four Nielsen numbers for every pair of these maps, and we establish a 'Wecken theorem' in this context (in the process we correct also a mistake in previous work concerning the quaternionic case). However, when n' is even, counterexamples can occur, detected e.g. by Kervaire invariants.Comment: Coincidence, minimum number, Nielsen number, Reidemeister number, Wecken theorem, projective spac