Poincare duality group 2026-10-14
A Poincare duality group of dimension has a finite-length resolution of the trivial group ring module by finitely generated projective modules, and vanishes except in degree , where it is infinite cyclic as an abelian group. The top module can have an orientation-sign action. Reversing the dual projective resolution gives , equivalently with the appropriate diagonal action. Untwisted duality requires trivial orientation action. In positive dimension , since a finitely supported invariant element cannot exist for an infinite group.
Universal abelian cover Created 2026-10-06 Updated 2026-10-07
For a connected space, this is the connected covering corresponding to the kernel of the homomorphism from its fundamental group to its abelianization. Its deck transformation group is . Lifted cells make its cellular chain complex a complex over the group ring .
Weyl alternant 2026-10-14
For a Weyl group acting on a weight lattice, the displayed element of its group ring is alternating: applying multiplies it by , by reindexing the sum. It vanishes when is fixed by a root reflection. For the Weyl vector , it is the Weyl denominator. The Weyl character formula is the ratio . These general root-system alternants specialize to monomial determinants in type A but are not restricted to that type.