Walk a 3-sphere w/Hopf Fibration: Parameterization

  • Thread starter Hornbein
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In summary, the conversation discusses a three-sphere with a Hopf fibration and how moving an infinitesimal distance perpendicular to one fiber results in walking along a great circle. The parameterization of this path can be represented by specifying a starting point on the three-sphere and a path on the two-sphere. This information is sufficient to reconstruct the path on the three-sphere.
  • #1
Hornbein
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Consider a three-sphere with a Hopf fibration. Choose a point on one fiber. Move an infinitesimal distance ds perpendicular to that fiber to reach a point on another fiber. Repeat ad infinitum. What is a parameterization of the resulting path?
 
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  • #2
You would end up walking in a great circle. Parametrize that however you like.
 
  • #3
All distances are either positive or zero; there are no infinitesimal distances.

But if you are asking about a differentiable path on the 3-sphere S3 whose tangent vectors are always perpendicular to the fibres of the Hopf fibration . . .

(and note that the Hopf fibration may be thought of as a specific mapping

p: S3 → S2

from the 3-sphere to the 2-sphere)

. . . then your path is equivalent to specifying a starting point x on S3, and also a path on S2, beginning at p(x), that represents the path on S3 after it has been pushed down to S2 by applying the mapping p to each point of your path.

In other words, given the starting point x on S3, and the image under p of your path in S2, that is all you need to know in order to uniquely reconstruct your path on S3.
 

1. What is a 3-sphere and what is Hopf fibration?

A 3-sphere is a four-dimensional analog of a sphere, which is a three-dimensional object. It is a mathematical concept that can be defined as the set of points in four-dimensional space that are equidistant from a fixed point. Hopf fibration, on the other hand, is a mathematical mapping that describes the relationship between a 3-sphere and a 2-sphere. It is a way of visualizing the 3-sphere by projecting it onto a 2-sphere.

2. How do you walk a 3-sphere with Hopf fibration?

To walk a 3-sphere with Hopf fibration, you need to first understand the parameterization of the 3-sphere. This involves defining a set of parameters that can uniquely describe any point on the 3-sphere. Then, using the Hopf fibration mapping, you can project the 3-sphere onto a 2-sphere and walk along the surface of the 2-sphere, which will correspond to walking on the 3-sphere in four-dimensional space.

3. What is the purpose of walking a 3-sphere with Hopf fibration?

The purpose of walking a 3-sphere with Hopf fibration is to gain a better understanding of the properties and geometry of the 3-sphere. It can also be used to visualize and explore higher-dimensional spaces and concepts, which can have applications in various fields such as physics, mathematics, and computer science.

4. Is it possible to walk a 3-sphere with Hopf fibration in real life?

No, it is not possible to physically walk on a 3-sphere with Hopf fibration as it exists in four-dimensional space, which is beyond our three-dimensional reality. However, we can use mathematical models and computer simulations to visualize and explore the 3-sphere and its properties.

5. Are there any real-world applications of walking a 3-sphere with Hopf fibration?

While there may not be direct real-world applications of walking a 3-sphere with Hopf fibration, the concepts and techniques involved can have applications in various fields such as physics, mathematics, and computer science. For example, the 3-sphere and Hopf fibration are used in string theory and quantum mechanics to describe higher-dimensional spaces and phenomena. They are also used in computer graphics and animation to create visual effects and simulations of higher-dimensional spaces.

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