How Do Transition Functions Define a Möbius Strip in Fiber Bundles?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the definition of a Möbius strip in the context of fiber bundles, specifically focusing on the role of transition functions and gluing instructions. Participants explore how these functions apply to different points in the base space, particularly those not included in the intersection of the covering sets.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that the transition function ##ϕ_{12}(b)## serves as the 'instructions' for gluing the two charts to form a Möbius strip, with specific reference to the identity map and reflection.
  • Others argue that the gluing instructions differ based on the subsets of the intersection ##U_1 \cap U_2##, suggesting that fibers over points in one subset are glued without reflection while those in another subset are glued with reflection.
  • A later reply questions the treatment of points in ##S^1## that do not belong to the intersection, raising concerns about the absence of a defined gluing procedure for those fibers.
  • Some participants clarify that the intersection does not cover the entire circle ##S^1##, leading to further inquiries about the implications for fibers over the remaining points.
  • It is noted that gluing occurs only on intersections, implying that for points outside the intersection, no transition function is applied.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty regarding the treatment of points not included in the intersection of the covering sets. There is no consensus on how to handle these points, and multiple competing views remain regarding the application of gluing instructions.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in the coverage of the circle ##S^1## by the overlapping segments and the implications for the fibers over points not included in the intersection. The assumptions regarding the nature of the transition functions and their application to different subsets remain unresolved.

cianfa72
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TL;DR
Möbius strip fiber bundle defined through 'gluing instructions' between its two charts
Hi,

starting from this (old) thread
Fredrik said:
But suppose instead that the ##ϕ_{12}(b)## is the identity map on ##F## for all ##b## in ##X##, and the map ##f↦−f## for all ##b## in ##Y##. Then the bundle is a Möbius strip.
I'm a bit confused about the following: the transition function ##ϕ_{12}(b)## is defined just on the intersection ##U_1\cap U_2## and as said in that thread it actually amounts to the 'instructions' to glue together the two charts to obtain the Möbius strip.

Neverthless my doubt is: what about the 2 points in ##S^1## (the base space) not taken in account ? On that points (and for the corresponding fibers) we actually do not define any 'gluing instruction' ?
 
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The gluing instruction is to paste with a reflection, multiplication by ##-1## if you view the fibers as copies of the interval ##[-1,1]##.

If you use circles rather than intervals as the fibers then the gluing instruction to paste by reflection around an axis of the circle gives a fiber bundle whose fibers are circles. Geometrically it is a closed surface called the Klein Bottle.
 
Last edited:
lavinia said:
The gluing instruction is to paste with a reflection, multiplication by ##-1## if you view the fibers as copies of the interval ##[-1,1]##.
Sorry, as far as I understood, the intersection ##U_1\cap U_2## is made of two disjoint subsets (name it ##X## and ##Y##).

For Möbius strip the gluing instruction for fibers 'staying' onto base points belonging to ##A## are different from that 'staying' on point belonging on ##B##. Namely for fibers staying on ##A## points the gluing instruction is "paste without reflection" rather than with reflection (multiplication by -1) for fibers staying on ##B## points
 
cianfa72 said:
Sorry, as far as I understood, the intersection ##U_1\cap U_2## is made of two disjoint subsets (name it ##X## and ##Y##).

For Möbius strip the gluing instruction for fibers 'staying' onto base points belonging to ##A## are different from that 'staying' on point belonging on ##B##. Namely for fibers staying on ##A## points the gluing instruction is "paste without reflection" rather than with reflection (multiplication by -1) for fibers staying on ##B## points
On one interval paste without reflection. On the other paste with reflection. Imagine making a Mobius band out of a strip of paper and it will be clear.
 
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lavinia said:
On one interval paste without reflection. On the other paste with reflection. Imagine making a Mobius band and it will be clear.
That's clear to me. My concern is about the two points that do not belong to the intersection ##U_1\cap U_2## thus to neither ##X## nor ##Y##. For the fibers 'over' them (preimage under bundle projection of those two points in the base space) the gluing procedure does not apply at all ?
 
cianfa72 said:
That's clear to me. My concern is about the two points that do not belong to the intersection ##U_1\cap U_2## thus to neither ##X## nor ##Y##. For the fibers 'over' them (preimage under bundle projection of those two points in the base space) the gluing procedure does not apply at all ?

I am not sure what two points you mean.

The picture I have is the circle covered by two over lapping segments that intersect in two disjoint open intervals.

On one interval the transition function is the identity and on the other it is reflection.
 
lavinia said:
The picture I have is the circle covered by two over lapping segments that intersect in two disjoint open intervals.
These two disjoint open intervals do not cover the entire circle ##S^1## , right ?
So, what about fibers over the other (two) points belonging to ##S^1## ? That is my question !
 
cianfa72 said:
These two disjoint open intervals do not cover the entire circle ##S^1## , right ?
So, what about fibers over the other (two) points belonging to ##S^1## ? That is my question !

The rest of the circle you do nothing. There is no transition function.
 
lavinia said:
The rest of the circle you do nothing. There is no transition function.
As explained by @Fredrik in that thread, take the base ##B=S^1## and let ##U_1=S^1-\{(0,1)\}## and ##U_2=S^1-\{(0,-1)\}##.

Now ##U_1 \cap U_2## --made of the two disjoint subsets ##X## and ##Y## of ##S^1##-- does not cover enterely ##S^1## because ##\{(0,1)\}## and ##\{(0,-1)\}## are not included there.
 
  • #10
cianfa72 said:
As explained by @Fredrik in that thread, take the base ##B=S^1## and let ##U_1=S^1-\{(0,1)\}## and ##U_2=S^1-\{(0,-1)\}##.

Now ##U_1 \cap U_2## --made of the two disjoint subsets ##X## and ##Y## of ##S^1##-- does not cover enterely ##S^1## because ##\{(0,1)\}## and ##\{(0,-1)\}## are not included there.
Right.

Gluing happens only on intersections.
 
  • #11
I would suggest that, when quoting a problem to start a new thread, quote the whole problem.
 

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