English

Rational homotopy type and computability

Algebraic Topology 2024-10-22 v3 Computational Geometry

Abstract

Given a simplicial pair (X,A)(X,A), a simplicial complex YY, and a map f:AYf:A \to Y, does ff have an extension to XX? We show that for a fixed YY, this question is algorithmically decidable for all XX, AA, and ff if YY has the rational homotopy type of an H-space. As a corollary, many questions related to bundle structures over a finite complex are likely decidable. Conversely, for all other YY, the question is at least as hard as certain special cases of Hilbert's tenth problem which are known or suspected to be undecidable.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2007.10632,
  title  = {Rational homotopy type and computability},
  author = {Fedor Manin},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2007.10632},
  year   = {2024}
}

Comments

26 pages. This is a major revision: The former Lemma 7.2 had been proven incorrectly and is now a conjecture, as is one direction of what was previously the main theorem. I have added proofs of a number of special cases as well as an explanation of why the general statement seems very difficult

R2 v1 2026-06-23T17:16:20.726Z