Math 751 — Fall 2001 Seminar in Topology: Arrangements of Hyperplanes

Text: P. Orlik, Introduction to Arrangements, C.B.M.S. Lecture Notes, AMS 1989.

Originally motivated by Arnold's beautiful formula for the cohomology of the pure braid space, a K(G,1) for the pure braid group, the topology of the complement of a complex hyperplane arrangement is still an active area of research. How much of the topology of such a space is determined by the intersection lattice of the arrangement? When is it a K(G,1)? What can we say about the fundamental group? We will begin with Orlik's Introduction to Arrangements, and then continue in whatever direction is of most interest to the class.

As is traditional for this course, after a brief introduction by the instructor the material will be presented by the students.