Poincaré Conjecture
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Theorem
Let $\Sigma^m$ be a smooth $m$-manifold.
Let $\Sigma^m$ satisfy:
- $H_0 \struct {\Sigma; \Z} = 0$
and:
- $H_m \struct {\Sigma; \Z} = \Z$
Then $\Sigma^m$ is homeomorphic to the $m$-sphere $\Bbb S^m$.
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Proof
The proof proceeds on several dimensional-cases. Note that the case $m = 3$ is incredibly intricate, and that a full proof would be impractical to produce here. An outline of the $m = 3$ case will be given instead.
Dimension $m = 1$
Follows from the Classification of Compact One-Manifolds.
$\Box$
Dimension $m = 2$
Follows from the Classification of Compact Two-Manifolds.
$\Box$
Dimension $m = 3$
Follows from Thurston's Geometrization Conjecture.
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$\Box$
Dimension $m = 4$
Follows from $4$-dimensional Topological $h$-Cobordism Theorem.
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$\Box$
Dimension $m = 5$
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Summary:
Any $\Sigma^5$ bounds a contractible $6$-manifold $Z$.
Let $\Bbb D^6$ be a $6$-disk (AKA $6$-ball).
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Then $Z - \Bbb D^6$ is an $h$-cobordism between $\Sigma$ and $\partial \Bbb D^6 = \Bbb S^5$.
Hence $\Sigma$ is differomorphic to $\Bbb S^5$ by the $h$-Cobordism Theorem.
$\Box$
Dimension $m \ge 6$
Let $\Sigma^m$ be a smooth $m$-manifold where $m \ge 6$.
Let $\Sigma^m$ satisfy:
- $H_0 \struct {\Sigma; \Z} = 0$
and:
- $H_m \struct {\Sigma; \Z} = \Z$
Then $\Sigma^m$ is homeomorphic to the $m$-sphere $\Bbb S^m$.
We can cut two small $m$-disks $D', D''$ from $\Sigma$.
The remaining manifold, $\Sigma \setminus \paren {D' \cup D''}$ is an h-cobordism between $\partial D'$ and $\partial D''$.
These are just two copies of $\Bbb S^{m-1}$.
By the $h$-cobordism theorem, there exists a diffeomorphism:
- $\phi: \Sigma \setminus \paren {D' \cup D''} \to \Bbb S^{m - 1} \times \closedint 0 1$
which can be chosen to restrict to the identity on one of the $\Bbb S^{m - 1}$.
Let $\Xi$ denote this $\Bbb S^{m - 1}$ such that $\phi$ restricts to the identity.
Since $\psi \vert_\Xi = Id$, we can extend $\psi$ across $D''$, the interior of $\Xi$ to obtain a diffeomorphism $\phi': \Sigma \setminus D'' \to \Bbb S^{m - 1} \cup D'$.
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Let $\Bbb D^m$ denote this latter manifold, which is merely an $m$-disk.
Our diffeomorphism $\phi': \Sigma \setminus D'' \to \Bbb D^m$ induces a diffeomorphism on the boundary spheres $\Bbb S^{m - 1}$.
Any diffeomorphism of the boundary sphere $\Bbb S^{m - 1}$ can be extended radially to the whole disk:
- $\map {\operatorname {int} } {\Bbb S^{m - 1} } = D''$
but only as a homeomorphism of D.
Hence the extended function $\phi'': \Sigma \to \Bbb S^m$ is a homeomorphism.
$\blacksquare$
Source of Name
This entry was named for Jules Henri Poincaré.
Historical Note
The Poincaré Conjecture was first posed in $1904$ by Jules Henri Poincaré.
It was finally resolved by the work of Grigori Perelman, who solved Thurston's Geometrization Conjecture in $2003$ (although some sources say $2004$).
Sources
- 1989: Ephraim J. Borowski and Jonathan M. Borwein: Dictionary of Mathematics ... (previous) ... (next): Poincaré conjecture
- 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Poincaré conjecture
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Millennium Prize problems
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Poincaré conjecture
- 2014: Christopher Clapham and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (5th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Millennium Prize problems
- 2021: Richard Earl and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (6th ed.) ... (previous): Appendix $23$: Millennium Prize problems: $7$.