Abstract

In part one we show that for a compact, metric, locally path-connected topological space X, the shape group of X - as defined in Foundations of Shape Theory by Mardesic and Segal - is isomorphic to the inverse limit of discrete homotopy groups introduced by Conrad Plaut and Valera Berestovskii. We begin by providing the reader preliminary definitions of the fundamental group of a topological space, inverse systems and inverse limits, the Shape Category, discrete homotopy groups, and culminate by providing an isomorphism of the shape and deck groups for peano continua. In part two we develop work and provide further classification of Sharkovskii topological groups, which we call Sharkovskii Groups. We culminate in proving the fact that a locally compact Sharkovskii group must either be the real numbers if it is not compact, or a torsion-free solenoid if it is compact.

Degree

PhD

College and Department

Physical and Mathematical Sciences; Mathematics

Rights

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