Why there cannot be a single chart for n-sphere?

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In summary, the conversation discusses the possibility of a single chart for a manifold n-sphere, specifically the figure-8. The speaker has been trying to prove this but has not yet succeeded. They discuss different definitions of a coordinate chart and how a map must be a homeomorphism from an open subset of the manifold to ℝn. The speaker shares an example of a topology that has a single chart for the figure-8 and expresses their difficulty in understanding how it works. The conversation ends with a discussion on the impossibility of a single chart for Sn and the limitations of considering the figure-8 as an embedded object in ℝ^2.
  • #1
ayan849
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My question is about a general comment made in differential geometry books:
There cannot be a single chart for the manifold n-sphere.
I have been trying a proof for long but ...
Can you help me out?
 
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  • #2
ayan849 said:
My question is about a general comment made in differential geometry books:
There cannot be a single chart for the manifold n-sphere.
I have been trying a proof for long but ...
Can you help me out?

What attempts at proof have you tried?
 
  • #3
I haven't really tried to prove that there cannot be a single chart. But the usual charts that we have, like the 2 charts using stereographic projection, the 6 charts using hemispheres...and many others---all produce atleast 2 charts.
 
  • #4
What happened was I was reading a book where they have discussed the construction of charts for the figure-8: {(sin t, sin 2t): t ε (0,2π)}. Using the subspace topology of R^2, you cannot make it into a manifold. But there are topologies that admit its manifold structure, and there is a topology that has a single chart for figure-8.
From this example, we were trying to prove the existence of single charts for S^1: {(cos t, sin t): t ε [0,2π)}.
 
  • #5
There are several equivalent definitions of coordinate chart, and one says that a map is a chart if it is a homeomorphism from open subset of manifold to wholen. So if there was a single chart for a sphere or for a circle, it would have to be homeomorphic to ℝn.

From this example, we were trying to prove the existence of single charts for S^1: {(cos t, sin t): t ε [0,2π)}.
There are problems with this "chart". For example, it's range is not open. And even if you wanted to remedy this situation by saying that circle is a manifold with boundary (so that [0,2π) is open in H1), it still doesn't satisfy one other crucial condition to count as a chart.
 
  • #6
ayan849 said:
What happened was I was reading a book where they have discussed the construction of charts for the figure-8: {(sin t, sin 2t): t ε (0,2π)}. Using the subspace topology of R^2, you cannot make it into a manifold. But there are topologies that admit its manifold structure, and there is a topology that has a single chart for figure-8.

Could you please share that topology? I frankly don't see how to do it, unless you have different definition of (topological) manifold.
 
  • #7
Alesak said:
a map is a chart if it is a homeomorphism from open subset of manifold to wholen. So if there was a single chart for a sphere or for a circle, it would have to be homeomorphic to ℝn.


There are problems with this "chart". For example, it's range is not open. And even if you wanted to remedy this situation by saying that circle is a manifold with boundary (so that [0,2π) is open in H1), it still doesn't satisfy one other crucial condition to count as a chart.

I agree. But is there a proof that there CANNOT be ANY single chart for Sn?
 
  • #8
Alesak said:
Could you please share that topology? I frankly don't see how to do it, unless you have different definition of (topological) manifold.

In stead of taking the subspace topology of ℝ^2, consider open intervals in (0,2π) to get mapped to the figure-8. This is indeed a homeomorphism, as in case of subspace topology of ℝ^2, it was not (because of the presence of the "cross" at the middle which was making our life hard).
 
  • #9
ayan849 said:
I agree. But is there a proof that there CANNOT be ANY single chart for Sn?

Well, if you want it formaly, I would do proof by contradiction.

Suppose there is a single chart for all Sn. Then, by definition, there is a homeomorphism between Rn and Sn. But Rn and Sn are not homeomorphic. So contradiction.
 
  • #10
ayan849 said:
In stead of taking the subspace topology of ℝ^2, consider open intervals in (0,2π) to get mapped to the figure-8. This is indeed a homeomorphism, as in case of subspace topology of ℝ^2, it was not (because of the presence of the "cross" at the middle which was making our life hard).

Sorry, still don't see it. How exactly do you map open intervals in (0,2π) to figure 8?


There still have to be open set containing the middle point of figure 8 homeomorphic to, say, (0, 1), but IMHO that's impossible.

Also, every connected 1-manifold is homeomorphic to either circle or real line, so it can be embedded into ℝ^2, so it has to have inherited topology from R^2.
 
  • #11
Alesak said:
Sorry, still don't see it. How exactly do you map open intervals in (0,2π) to figure 8?


There still have to be open set containing the middle point of figure 8 homeomorphic to, say, (0, 1), but IMHO that's impossible.

Also, every connected 1-manifold is homeomorphic to either circle or real line, so it can be embedded into ℝ^2, so it has to have inherited topology from R^2.

map the nbd of π in (0, 2π) to one branch at the middle of fig8, right nbd of 0 to one portion of the remaining branch near the middle of fig8 and left nbd of 2π to the remaining portion of the remaining branch near the middle of fig8. Thats how u can cover the whole of fig8.
 
  • #12
ayan849 said:
map the nbd of π in (0, 2π) to one branch at the middle of fig8, right nbd of 0 to one portion of the remaining branch near the middle of fig8 and left nbd of 2π to the remaining portion of the remaining branch near the middle of fig8. Thats how u can cover the whole of fig8.

Well, but is inverse of this function really continuous? Homomorphism is bijection that is continuous and has continuous inverse.
 
  • #13
Inverse will be continuous if you look at fig8 as a separate object not embedded in R^2. If you consider it to be embedded in R^2, then it will not be a homeomorphism.
 
  • #14
ayan849 said:
Inverse will be continuous if you look at fig8 as a separate object not embedded in R^2. If you consider it to be embedded in R^2, then it will not be a homeomorphism.

R^2 doesn't really need to be considered. For this map to qualify as a chart, it would need to be homeomorphic to (0, 1) or (0, 2π) or R with usual euclidean topology (by definition of chart). What book are you reading?
 
  • #15
Also see Locally Euclidean.

It is also possible to to define manifold using only coordinate charts without any reference to underlying topology, with that the topology can be inherited. So with manifolds, your are really restricted when it comes to choosing underlying topology. See this example of nonmanifold.
 
  • #16
Alesak said:
R^2 doesn't really need to be considered. For this map to qualify as a chart, it would need to be homeomorphic to (0, 1) or (0, 2π) or R with usual euclidean topology (by definition of chart). What book are you reading?

A course in differential geometry-s.kumaresan.
 
  • #17
Alesak said:
Sorry, still don't see it. How exactly do you map open intervals in (0,2π) to figure 8?


There still have to be open set containing the middle point of figure 8 homeomorphic to, say, (0, 1), but IMHO that's impossible.

Also, every connected 1-manifold is homeomorphic to either circle or real line, so it can be embedded into ℝ^2, so it has to have inherited topology from R^2.

Try to make fig-8 with a piece of open string. The map is trivial.
 
  • #18
Alesak said:
Well, if you want it formaly, I would do proof by contradiction.

Suppose there is a single chart for all Sn. Then, by definition, there is a homeomorphism between Rn and Sn. But Rn and Sn are not homeomorphic. So contradiction.

this is your answer, one is compact, the other is not.
 
  • #19
ayan849 said:
Try to make fig-8 with a piece of open string. The map is trivial.

Ok, to convince you 8 is not a manifold, try this: since you say it is a manifold, there has to be open nbd around every point homeomorphic to (0, 1). So find me homeomorphism between figure X, which is a ndb of middle point of 8, and (0, 1). The (0, 1) interval is with usual euclidean topology.
 
  • #20
well:smile:
note carefully my figure 8: {(sin t, sin 2t): t ε (0, 2π)}. It is really not a 8. The middle portion is not a "cross". If t ε [0, 2π], then it is certainly not a manifold. By my "figure 8" IS a manifold and I am sure you know how. :)
 
  • #21
That's a really sneaky example;)
 
  • #22
please see my another thread regarding connection and give some light on it if possible.
 
  • #23
I would, but I don't know single iota about connections!
 
  • #24
ayan849 said:
What happened was I was reading a book where they have discussed the construction of charts for the figure-8: {(sin t, sin 2t): t ε (0,2π)}. Using the subspace topology of R^2, you cannot make it into a manifold. But there are topologies that admit its manifold structure, and there is a topology that has a single chart for figure-8.
From this example, we were trying to prove the existence of single charts for S^1: {(cos t, sin t): t ε [0,2π)}.

Manifolds that can be covered by a single coordinate chart are homoemorphic to Euclidean space.

There are many ways to see that Euclidean space can not be homeomorphic to a sphere.

For one thing a sphere is compact and Euclidean space is not.

Also,'Euclidean space can be continuously shrunk to a single point. The map (X,t) -> tX for t between 0 and 1 does the trick.

A sphere can not be continuously shrunk to a point. For otherwise its top homology group would be zero.

Can you think of any other arguments? For starters think about whether Euclidean space minus a point can be homeomorphic to all of Euclidean space.
 
  • #25
many thanks for the discussion. I think I have my answer now.
 

1. Why is it not possible to create a single chart for an n-sphere?

It is not possible to create a single chart for an n-sphere because an n-sphere is a curved, multi-dimensional surface and cannot be fully represented on a two-dimensional chart. This is similar to how a globe cannot be accurately represented on a flat map without distortion.

2. What is the maximum number of charts needed to represent an n-sphere?

The maximum number of charts needed to represent an n-sphere is n+1. This is because an n-sphere has n dimensions, and each chart can only represent one dimension. Therefore, an extra chart is needed to fully represent the n-sphere.

3. Can a single chart represent a smaller portion of an n-sphere?

No, a single chart cannot represent a smaller portion of an n-sphere. A chart can only represent one dimension, so it is not possible to capture the curvature and complexity of a portion of an n-sphere with just one chart.

4. Why is it important to use multiple charts for an n-sphere?

Using multiple charts for an n-sphere allows for a more accurate and comprehensive representation of the shape. It also allows for easier calculations and analysis of the n-sphere.

5. Is it possible to flatten an n-sphere onto a single chart?

No, it is not possible to flatten an n-sphere onto a single chart without distorting its shape. This is because an n-sphere is a curved surface and cannot be accurately represented on a flat chart without some form of distortion.

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