In
mathematics
Mathematics is an area of knowledge that includes the topics of numbers, formulas and related structures, shapes and the spaces in which they are contained, and quantities and their changes. These topics are represented in modern mathematics ...
, a loop in a
topological space
In mathematics, a topological space is, roughly speaking, a geometrical space in which closeness is defined but cannot necessarily be measured by a numeric distance. More specifically, a topological space is a set whose elements are called points ...
is a
continuous function
In mathematics, a continuous function is a function such that a continuous variation (that is a change without jump) of the argument induces a continuous variation of the value of the function. This means that there are no abrupt changes in value ...
from the
unit interval
In mathematics, the unit interval is the closed interval , that is, the set of all real numbers that are greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 1. It is often denoted ' (capital letter ). In addition to its role in real analysis, ...
to such that In other words, it is a
path
A path is a route for physical travel – see Trail.
Path or PATH may also refer to:
Physical paths of different types
* Bicycle path
* Bridle path, used by people on horseback
* Course (navigation), the intended path of a vehicle
* Desire p ...
whose initial point is equal to its terminal point.
[.]
A loop may also be seen as a continuous map from the
pointed unit circle
In mathematics, a unit circle is a circle of unit radius—that is, a radius of 1. Frequently, especially in trigonometry, the unit circle is the circle of radius 1 centered at the origin (0, 0) in the Cartesian coordinate system in the Eucl ...
into , because may be regarded as a
quotient
In arithmetic, a quotient (from lat, quotiens 'how many times', pronounced ) is a quantity produced by the division of two numbers. The quotient has widespread use throughout mathematics, and is commonly referred to as the integer part of a ...
of under the identification of 0 with 1.
The set of all loops in forms a space called the
loop space
In topology, a branch of mathematics, the loop space Ω''X'' of a pointed topological space ''X'' is the space of (based) loops in ''X'', i.e. continuous pointed maps from the pointed circle ''S''1 to ''X'', equipped with the compact-open topology ...
of .
See also
*
Free loop
"Free Loop (One Night Stand)" (titled as "Free Loop" on ''Daniel Powter'') is a song written by Canadian singer Daniel Powter. It was his second single and the follow-up to his successful song, " Bad Day". In the United Kingdom, WEA failed to re ...
*
Loop group
In mathematics, a loop group is a Group (mathematics), group of Loop (topology), loops in a topological group ''G'' with multiplication defined pointwise.
Definition
In its most general form a loop group is a group of continuous mappings from a ...
*
Loop space
In topology, a branch of mathematics, the loop space Ω''X'' of a pointed topological space ''X'' is the space of (based) loops in ''X'', i.e. continuous pointed maps from the pointed circle ''S''1 to ''X'', equipped with the compact-open topology ...
*
Loop algebra
In mathematics, loop algebras are certain types of Lie algebras, of particular interest in theoretical physics.
Definition
For a Lie algebra \mathfrak over a field K, if K ,t^/math> is the space of Laurent polynomials, then
L\mathfrak := \mathf ...
*
Fundamental group
In the mathematical field of algebraic topology, the fundamental group of a topological space is the group of the equivalence classes under homotopy of the loops contained in the space. It records information about the basic shape, or holes, of ...
*
Quasigroup
In mathematics, especially in abstract algebra, a quasigroup is an algebraic structure resembling a group in the sense that "division" is always possible. Quasigroups differ from groups mainly in that they need not be associative and need not have ...
References
Topology
es:Grupo fundamental#Lazo
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