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Walter D. Neumann

Publications and source records attributed to Walter D. Neumann.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2021

Orbifold splice quotients and log covers of surface pairs

A three-dimensional orbifold $(Σ, γ_i, n_i)$, where $Σ$ is a rational homology sphere, has a universal abelian orbifold covering, whose covering group is the first orbifold homology. A singular pair $(X,C)$, where $X$ is a normal surface singularity with $\mathbb Q$HS link and $C$ is a Weil divisor, gives rise on its boundary to an orbifold. One studies the preceding orbifold notions in the algebro-geometric setting, in particular defining the universal abelian log cover of a pair. A first key theorem computes the orbifold homology from an appropriate resolution of the pair. In analogy with the case where $C$ is empty and one considers the universal abelian cover, under certain conditions on a resolution graph one can construct pairs and their universal abelian log covers. Such pairs are called orbifold splice quotients.

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arXiv2016

Lipschitz geometry of complex surfaces: analytic invariants and equisingularity

We prove that the outer Lipschitz geometry of a germ $(X,0)$ of a normal complex surface singularity determines a large amount of its analytic structure. In particular, it follows that any analytic family of normal surface singularities with constant Lipschitz geometry is Zariski equisingular. We also prove a strong converse for families of normal complex hypersurface singularities in $\mathbb C^3$: Zariski equisingularity implies Lipschitz triviality. So for such a family Lipschitz triviality, constant Lipschitz geometry and Zariski equisingularity are equivalent to each other.

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arXiv2015

Lipschitz geometry does not determine embedded topological type

We investigate the relationships between the Lipschitz outer geometry and the embedded topological type of a hypersurface germ in $(\mathbb C^n,0)$. It is well known that the Lipschitz outer geometry of a complex plane curve germ determines and is determined by its embedded topological type. We prove that this does not remain true in higher dimensions. Namely, we give two normal hypersurface germs $(X_1,0)$ and $(X_2,0)$ in $(\mathbb C^3,0)$ having the same outer Lipschitz geometry and different embedded topological types. Our pair consist of two superisolated singularities whose tangent cones form an Alexander-Zariski pair having only cusp-singularities. Our result is based on a description of the Lipschitz outer geometry of a superisolated singularity. We also prove that the Lipschitz inner geometry of a superisolated singularity is completely determined by its (non embedded) topological type, or equivalently by the combinatorial type of its tangent cone.

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arXiv2013

Lipschitz geometry of complex curves

We describe the Lipschitz geometry of complex curves. For the most part this is well known material, but we give a stronger version even of known results. In particular, we give a quick proof, without any analytic restrictions, that the outer Lipschitz geometry of a germ of a complex plane curve determines and is determined by its embedded topology. This was first proved by Pham and Teissier, but in an analytic category.

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arXiv2010

On Leighton's graph covering theorem

We give short expositions of both Leighton's proof and the Bass-Kulkarni proof of Leighton's graph covering theorem, in the context of colored graphs. We discuss a further generalization, needed elsewhere, to "symmetry-restricted graphs." We can prove it in some cases, for example, if the "graph of colors" is a tree, but we do not know if it is true in general. We show that Bass's Conjugation Theorem, which is a tool in the Bass-Kulkarni approach, does hold in the symmetry-restricted context.

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arXiv2008

The 2-generalized knot group determines the knot

Generalized knot groups $G_n(K)$ were introduced independently by Kelly (1991) and Wada (1992). We prove that $G_2(K)$ determines the unoriented knot type and sketch a proof of the same for $G_n(K)$ for $n>2$.

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arXiv2007

Bi-Lipschitz geometry of weighted homogeneous surface singularities

We show that a weighted homogeneous complex surface singularity is metrically conical (i.e., bi-Lipschitz equivalent to a metric cone) only if its two lowest weights are equal. We also give an example of a pair of weighted homogeneous complex surface singularities that are topologically equivalent but not bi-Lipschitz equivalent.

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arXiv2007

Quasi-isometric classification of graph manifold groups

We show that the fundamental groups of any two closed irreducible non-geometric graph-manifolds are quasi-isometric. This answers a question of Kapovich and Leeb. We also classify the quasi-isometry types of fundamental groups of graph-manifolds with boundary in terms of certain finite two-colored graphs. A corollary is the quasi-isometry classification of Artin groups whose presentation graphs are trees. In particular any two right-angled Artin groups whose presentation graphs are trees of diameter at least 3 are quasi-isometric, answering a question of Bestvina; further, this quasi-isometry class does not include any other right-angled Artin groups.

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arXiv2006

Length and eigenvalue equivalence

Two Riemannian manifolds are called eigenvalue equivalent when their sets of eigenvalues of the Laplace-Beltrami operator are equal (ignoring multiplicities). They are (primitive) length equivalent when the sets of lengths of their (primitive) closed geodesics are equal. We give a general construction of eigenvalue equivalent and primitive length equivalent Riemannian manifolds. For example we show that every finite volume hyperbolic $n$--manifold has pairs of eigenvalue equivalent finite covers of arbitrarily large volume ratio. We also show the analogous result for primitive length equivalence.

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arXiv2006

Complex analytic realization of links

We present the complex analytic and principal complex analytic realizability of a link in a 3-manifold $M$ as a tool for understanding the complex structures on the cone $C(M)$.

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arXiv2005

Complex surface singularities with integral homology sphere links

While the topological types of {normal} surface singularities with homology sphere link have been classified, forming a rich class, until recently little was known about the possible analytic structures. We proved in [Geom. Topol. 9(2005) 699-755] that many of them can be realized as complete intersection singularities of "splice type", generalizing Brieskorn type. We show that a normal singularity with homology sphere link is of splice type if and only if some naturally occurring knots in the singularity link are themselves links of hypersurface sections of the singular point. The Casson Invariant Conjecture (CIC) asserts that for a complete intersection surface singularity whose link is an integral homology sphere, the Casson invariant of that link is one-eighth the signature of the Milnor fiber. In this paper we prove CIC for a large class of splice type singularities. The CIC suggests (and is motivated by the idea) that the Milnor fiber of a complete intersection singularity with homology sphere link Sigma should be a 4-manifold canonically associated to Sigma. We propose, and verify in a non-trivial case, a stronger conjecture than the CIC for splice type complete intersections: a precise topological description of the Milnor fiber. We also point out recent counterexamples to some overly optimistic earlier conjectures in [Trends in Singularities, Birkhauser (2002) 181--190 and Math. Ann. 326(2003) 75--93].

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arXiv2004

Homological action of the modular group on some cubic moduli spaces

We describe the action of the automorphism group of the complex cubic x^2+y^2+z^2-xyz-2 on the homology of its fibers. This action includes the action of the mapping class group of a punctured torus on the subvarieties of its SL(2,C) character variety given by fixing the trace of the peripheral element (so-called "relative character varieties"). This mapping class group is isomorphic to PGL(2,Z). We also describe the corresponding mapping class group action for the four-holed sphere and its relative SL(2,C) character varieties, which are fibers of deformations x^2+y^2+z^2-xyz-2-Px-Qy-Rz of the above cubic. The 2-congruence subgroup PGL(2,Z)_(2) still acts on these cubics and is the full automorphism group when P,Q,R are distinct.

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arXiv2001

The Orevkov invariant of an affine plane curve

We show that although the fundamental group of the complement of an algebraic affine plane curve is not easy to compute, it possesses a more accessible quotient, which we call the Orevkov invariant.

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arXiv2001

Universal abelian covers of surface singularities

We discuss the evidence for and implications of a conjecture that the universal abelian cover of a Q-Gorenstein surface singularity with finite local homology (i.e., the singularity link is a Q-homology sphere) is a complete intersection singularity.

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arXiv2001

Immersed and virtually embedded pi_1-injective surfaces in graph manifolds

We show that many 3-manifold groups have no nonabelian surface subgroups. For example, any link of an isolated complex surface singularity has this property. In fact, we determine the exact class of closed graph-manifolds which have no immersed pi_1-injective surface of negative Euler characteristic. We also determine the class of closed graph manifolds which have no finite cover containing an embedded such surface. This is a larger class. Thus, manifolds M^3 exist which have immersed pi_1-injective surfaces of negative Euler characteristic, but no such surface is virtually embedded (finitely covered by an embedded surface in some finite cover of M^3).

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arXiv2001

Universal abelian covers of quotient-cusps

The quotient-cusp singularities are isolated complex surface singularities that are double-covered by cusp singularities. We show that the universal abelian cover of such a singularity, branched only at the singular point, is a complete intersection cusp singularity of embedding dimension 4. This supports a general conjecture that we make about the universal abelian cover of a $\Q$-Gorenstein singularity.

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