Paper 2, Section II, 21G21 G

Algebraic Topology
Part II, 2009

Let p:XYp: X \rightarrow Y be a connected covering map. Define the notion of a deck transformation (also known as covering transformation) for pp. What does it mean for pp to be a regular (normal) covering map?

If p1(y)p^{-1}(y) contains nn points for each yYy \in Y, we say pp is nn-to-1. Show that pp is regular under either of the following hypotheses:

(1) pp is 2-to-1,

(2) π1(Y)\pi_{1}(Y) is abelian.

Give an example of a 3 -to-1 cover of S1S1S^{1} \vee S^{1} which is regular, and one which is not regular.