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The discussion revolves around computing the fundamental group of a space formed by two 2-spheres and two arcs. The user contemplates using the van Kampen theorem but struggles to define appropriate open sets for the analysis. They propose contracting one arc, leading to a configuration resembling S^2 joined at a point, suggesting that the fundamental group would be isomorphic to Z. Additional references related to dispersion relations and wave mechanics are shared, emphasizing the importance of higher-order derivatives in equations like the KdV. The user also seeks resources for algebraic structures and expresses frustration with unreliable websites.
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Consider the following space X, consisting of two 2-spheres and two arcs glued together. Compute its fundamental group.

Since I can't draw a picture online, call the first sphere S_1 and call the second sphere S_2. Then one arc connects x_1 \in S_1 to x_2 \in S_2 and another arc connects y_1\in S_1 to y_2 \in S_2, where all the points are distinct.

I thought about this problem and contracted the arcs (so it looks like two 2-spheres identified in two points), and I want to use van Kampen. But I'm having a hard time figuring out two open sets A and B so that A \cup B = X and A\cap B is path connected.

Thank you!

Actually, can I contract one of the arcs so that the two 2-spheres touch at one point, then move the points x_1, x_2, y_1, y_2 to the point of intersection? Then I have S^2 \vee S^1\vee S^2. Then \Pi_1(X) = \mathbb{Z}[\itex]. Is this a correct analysis?
 
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This subject seems to be coming up quite often, especially for those studying wave mechanics.

Here is a brief intro. I'll be looking for better articles and I hope others will contribute references or insight from personal experience.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dispersion_relation

and related topics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_velocity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase_velocity

http://tosio.math.toronto.edu/wiki/index.php/Dispersion_relation - note that this is a wiki page from Department of Mathematics at U. Toronto

I also hope to address anharmonic and non-linear systems.

I think it important for students to understand the significance of the higher order spatial (and temporal) derivates with respect to the dependent variable, uxxx or \partial^3_x\phi in the KdV equation.
 
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I was looking for a reference for something relating to something mentioned, and ran across a nice site for a lot of references. If there is a thread that it can be re-posted--let me know.

http://web.mit.edu/redingtn/www/netadv/


This site organizes topics from various sources including arXiv alphabetically for you.

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oh--and I still couldn't find what I was looking for though
 
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well i don't know how much you can trust a site where it says there something like:
"physics hypothesis that there is no speed barrier in the universe"

i would say quite unpopular approach is it not?
 
Agreed 'loop"...and if you nav to the home page it is filled with java errors that make looking frustrating and counterproductive.
 
http://www.msm.cam.ac.uk/Teaching/index.html
 
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