Date of Award
2017
Document Type
Honors Thesis (Open Access)
Department
Colby College. Mathematics and Statistics Dept.
Advisor(s)
Scott Taylor
Abstract
This survey will develop the theory of normal surfaces as they apply to the S3 recognition algorithm. Sections 2 and 3 provide necessary background on manifold theory. Section 4 presents the theory of normal surfaces in triangulations of 3-manifolds. Section 6 discusses issues related to implementing algorithms based on normal surfaces, as well as an overview of the Regina, a program that implements many 3-manifold algorithms. Finally section 7 presents the proof of the 3-sphere recognition algorithm and discusses how Regina implements the algorithm.
Keywords
Normal Surfaces, Algorithms, Manifolds, Geometry, Topology
Recommended Citation
Hews, Josh D., "Normal Surfaces and 3-Manifold Algorithms" (2017). Honors Theses. Paper 854.https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/honorstheses/854