Braid groups and loop spaces

Abstract

Contents Introduction § 1. Braid groups and configuration spaces § 2. Automorphism groups of free groups § 3. Generalized braid groups § 4. Braid groups in handlebodies § 5. Singular braids § 6. Classifying spaces for automorphism groups of free groups § 7. Cohomology of pure braid groups § 8. Homology of braid groups and loop spaces § 9. Cohomology of generalized braid groups § 10. Order complexes and the cohomology of exceptional generalized braid groups § 11. Homology of braid groups in handlebodies and of configuration spaces for surfaces § 12. Homology of singular braids § 13. Braids and Thom spectra § 14. Braids, monopoles, and spaces of rational functions Appendix. Categories and loop spacesBibliography