## Algebraic & Geometric Topology

### A manifold calculus approach to link maps and the linking number

Brian A Munson

#### Abstract

We study the space of link maps $Link(P1,…,Pk;N)$, the space of smooth maps $P1⊔⋯⊔Pk→N$ such that the images of the $Pi$ are pairwise disjoint. We apply the manifold calculus of functors developed by Goodwillie and Weiss to study the difference between it and its linear and quadratic approximations. We identify an appropriate generalization of the linking number as the geometric object which measures the difference between the space of link maps and its linear approximation. Our analysis of the difference between link maps and its quadratic approximation resembles recent work of the author on embeddings, and is used to show that the Borromean rings are linked.

#### Article information

Source
Algebr. Geom. Topol., Volume 8, Number 4 (2008), 2323-2353.

Dates
Revised: 30 October 2008
Accepted: 3 November 2008
First available in Project Euclid: 20 December 2017

https://projecteuclid.org/euclid.agt/1513796936

Digital Object Identifier
doi:10.2140/agt.2008.8.2323

Mathematical Reviews number (MathSciNet)
MR2465743

Zentralblatt MATH identifier
1168.57018

#### Citation

Munson, Brian A. A manifold calculus approach to link maps and the linking number. Algebr. Geom. Topol. 8 (2008), no. 4, 2323--2353. doi:10.2140/agt.2008.8.2323. https://projecteuclid.org/euclid.agt/1513796936

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