Mapping torus

The mapping torus of $f:F\to F$ isIf $f$ is a homeomorphism, the projection to the circle $S^1$ is a fiber bundle with fiber $F$. For a general continuous map, the mapping torus need not be a fiber bundle, but its homology still has the Wang sequence.

The mapping torus of a torus map with this monodromy has fundamental group generated by $x,y,t$ with $x$ central and $ty{t}^{-1}=x^{b}y$. Normal forms $x^m{y}^n{t}^k$ multiply byThis proves torsion-freeness and nilpotence of class at most two. For $b\ne 0$ its center is $⟨x⟩$ and commutator subgroup $⟨x^b⟩$; for $b=0$ it is ${\mathbb{Z}}^3$. These realize all noncyclic torsion-free nilpotent closed orientable three-manifold groups.

This mapping torus fibers over the circle with fiber $T^{n-1}$ and inversion as monodromy. The Wang sequence computes its additive cohomology. Coordinate projections to the Klein bottle expose its mod-two cup products.

The base class $t$ and coordinate classes $x_i$ all have degree one. Pullback of the mod-two intersection pairing of the Klein bottle gives $x_i^2=t{x}_i$. The Leray-Hirsch theorem gives the basis consisting of square-free products $x_I$ and $t{x}_I$. Thus the additive dimensions match those of a torus, but the degree-one squares differ for $n\ge 2$.

For $r=n-1$, the Wang sequence gives an additive splittingThe kernel is free, so the splitting exists as groups. The map in even degree is zero; the map in odd degree is multiplication by minus two.

Choose the base class $a$, degree-two torsion classes ${\tau }_i=\hat{\beta }(x_i)$, and degree-two free lifts $b_{ij}$ reducing to $x_i{x}_j$. A generator $\kappa$ of the top $\mathbb{Z}/2$ reduces to $t{x}_1{x}_2{x}_3$. The mod-two cohomology ring of an inversion mapping torus determines products in top integral degree, since reduction there is injective. The products of distinct $b_{12},b_{13},b_{23}$ equal $\kappa$; so does $b_{ij}{\tau }_k$ when $i,j,k$ are all distinct. Their other degree-four products vanish. Also $a{\tau }_i=0$ because degree-three integral cohomology is torsion-free.

A fiber monodromy is the return homeomorphism of the fiber of a bundle over $S^1$. Its mapping torus reconstructs the total space.

Homological monodromy is the induced automorphism of the homology of a fiber. For a fibered knot, its action on the first homology group presents the Alexander module.

The quotient of the real Heisenberg group by the Integer Heisenberg group is the mapping torus of the torus automorphismIts universal cover is the contractible real Heisenberg group, so its fundamental group is the integer Heisenberg group.

For the mapping torus of $f:F\to F$, the Wang exact sequence contains

For $n\ge 2$, the Wang sequence and the mapping degree $(-1{)}^{n+1}$ of the antipodal map give $H_0=H_1=\mathbb{Z}$. If $n$ is odd, $H_n=H_{n+1}=\mathbb{Z}$; if $n$ is even, $H_n=\mathbb{Z}/2$ and $H_{n+1}=0$. All other groups vanish. At $n=1$ the mapping torus is a torus with $H_1={\mathbb{Z}}^2$. At $n=0$, the two-point swapping mapping torus is a circle. Every example is already a closed manifold; for $n\ge 1$ it is orientable exactly when $n$ is odd.

The antipodal map on the two-sphere reverses orientation, so its mapping torus is a nonorientable closed three-manifold. The Wang sequence gives $H_0=H_1=\mathbb{Z}$, $H_2=\mathbb{Z}/2$ and $H_3=0$. The universal coefficient theorem for cohomology therefore gives the cohomology ring $\mathbb{Z}[t,u]/(t^2,tu,u^2,2u)$ with $|t|=1$, $|u|=3$. The base-circle class satisfies $t^2=0$ by pullback; the other positive-degree products vanish for dimension reasons.

Modulo two the antipodal map acts trivially on fiber cohomology. The Wang sequence supplies a class $y$ restricting to the generator of $H^2(S^2;{\mathbb{F}}_2)$. The Leray-Hirsch theorem with classes $1,y$ gives a basis $1,t,y,ty$, so $ty\ne 0$. Pullback from the circle gives $t^2=0$, while dimension gives $y^2=0$. This cohomology ring agrees with that of $S^1\times S^2$, although the original manifold is nonorientable.

For a continuous self-map $f:X\to X$, the mapping torus has the Wang sequence even when $f$ is not a homeomorphism. Cover the time circle by a seam neighborhood and an interval away from the seam. Their inverse images retract to $X$: the seam neighborhood is a mapping cylinder, and the other is a product. Their intersection retracts to two copies of $X$. The Mayer–Vietoris sequence map on homology is, after consistent choices of signs,Invertible changes of coordinates reduce it to the direct sum of $\mathrm{id}-f_{\ast }$ and an isomorphism. Canceling the isomorphism summands gives the Wang sequence. This proof does not assume a fiber bundle structure for a noninvertible $f$.