Manifold Atlas:Definition of “manifold”

Definition 1.1. An n-dimensional manifold $== Introduction == <wikitex>; This page defines the term “manifold” as used in the Manifold Atlas. <!-- and summarises a few key properties of all manifolds --> We assume that all manifolds are of a fixed dimension n. {{beginthm|Definition|}} An '''n-dimensional manifold''' $M$ is a [[Wikipedia:Second_countable|second countable]] [[Wikipedia:Hausdorff_space|Hausdorff space]] for which every point $x \in M$ has a neighbourhood $U_x$ homeomorphic to an open subset of $\Rr^n_+ := \{ v \in \Rr^n | v_1 \geq 0 \}$. * The '''interior''' of $M$, denoted $\mathrm{int}(M)$, is the subset of points for which $U_x \subset \Rr^n$. * The '''boundary''' of $M$, written $\partial M$, is the complement of the interior of $M$. * $M$ is called '''closed''' if $M$ is compact and $\partial M$ is empty. {{endthm}} A manifold $M$ as above is often called a topological manifold for emphasis or clarity. Typically, but not necessarly, the word “manifold” will mean "topological manifold with extra structure", be it [[Wikipedia:Piecewise_linear_manifold|piecewise-linear]], [[Wikipedia:Differential_manifold|smooth]], [[Wikipedia:Complex_manifold|complex]], [[Wikipedia:Symplectic_manifold|symplectic]], [[Wikipedia:Contact_manifold|contact]], [[Wikipedia:Riemannian_manifold|Riemannian]], etc. The extra structure will be emphasised or suppressed in notation and vocabulary as is appropriate. We briefly review some common categories of manifolds below. </wikitex> == Atlases of charts == <wikitex>; We give a unified presentation of piecewise linear, smooth and complex manifolds. Recall that a chart on a topological manifold $M$ is a homeomporphism $\phi_\alpha : U_\alpha \to V_\alpha$ from an open subset $U_\alpha$ of $M$ to an open subset $V_\alpha$ of $\Rr^n_+$. The transition function defined by two charts $\phi_\alpha$ and $\phi_\beta$ is the homeomorphism <!-- --> $$ \phi_{\alpha, \beta} : \phi_\alpha(U_\alpha \cap U_\beta) \longrightarrow \phi_\beta(U_\alpha \cap U_\beta).$$ <!-- --> An atlas for $M$ is a collection of charts $A = \{ (U_\alpha, \phi_\alpha)\}$ such that the $U_\alpha$ cover $M$. Let $\Cat$ denote either the piecewise linear, smooth or complex categories where by “smooth" we indicate $C^\infty$ maps. That is we require the every $\phi_{\alpha, \beta}$ to be either [[Wikipedia:Piecewise_linear_function#Notation|piecewise linear]], [[Wikipedia:Smooth_function#Differentiability_classes_in_several_variables|smooth of class $C^\infty$]] or [[Wikipedia:Holomorphic_function|homolorphic]]. An atlas is a $\Cat$ Atlas if every transition function defined by the that atlas is a $\Cat$ function. $\Cat$ atlases are compatible if their union again forms a $\Cat$ atlas and by [[Wikipedia:Zorn's_lemma|Zorn's Lemma]] each $\Cat$ atlas defines a unique maximal $\Cat$ atlas. {{beginthm|Definition}} A $\Cat$-manifold $(M, A)$ is a manifold $M$ together with a maximal $\Cat$ atlas $A$. A $\Cat$-isomorphism $(M, A) \cong (N, B)$ is a homeomorphism $f: M \cong N$ which is a $\Cat$ morphism when viewed in every pair of charts in $A$ and $B$. </wikitex> <!-- == Piecewise-linear manifolds == <wikitex>; * A piecewise linear manifold $(M, A)$, PL-manifold, is a manifold $M$ together with a maximal atlas $\mathcal{A}$ of piecewise linear charts $A$. * A PL-homeomorphism $(M, A) \cong (N, B)$ is a homeomorphism $f: M \cong N$ which is piecewise linear when viewed in every pair of charts in $A$ and $B$. </wikitex> == Smooth manifolds == <wikitex>; We shall use the term smooth manifold to refer to $C^\infty$ smooth manifolds. * A smooth manifold $(M, \alpha)$ is a smooth manifold $M$ together with a maximal atlas of smooth charts $\alpha$. * A diffeomorphism between smooth manfiolds $(M, \alpha) \cong (N, \beta)$ is a homeomorphism $f : N \to M$ such that $f$ is $C^\infty$ when viewed in every pair of charts in $\alpha$ and $\beta$. </wikitex> == Complex manifolds == <wikitex>; * A complex manifold $(M, \gamma)$, is an even dimensional manifold $M$ together with a maximal atlas $\mathcal{A}$ of holomorphic charts $A$. * A complex diffeomorphism $(M, \gamma) \cong (N, \delta)$ is a homeomorphism $f: M \cong N$ which is piecewise linear when viewed in ever pair of charts in $\gamma$ and $\delta$. </wikitex> --> <!-- == Riemannian manifolds == <wikitex>; </wikitex> == References == {{#RefList:}} --> [[Category:Theory]] <!-- {{Stub}} -->M$ is a second countable Hausdorff space for which every point $x \in M$ has a neighbourhood $U_x$ homeomorphic to an open subset of $\Rr^n_+ := \{ v \in \Rr^n | v_1 \geq 0 \}$.

• The interior of $M$, denoted $\mathrm{int}(M)$, is the subset of points for which $U_x \subset \Rr^n$.
• The boundary of $M$, written $\partial M$, is the complement of the interior of $M$.
• $M$ is called closed if $M$ is compact and $\partial M$ is empty.

Definition 2.1. A $\Cat$-manifold $(M, A)$ is a manifold $M$ together with a maximal $\Cat$ atlas $A$.