Abstract: A continuous map X -> Y is called a phantom map if the composition K -> X -> Y is null homotopic whenever K is a finite dimensional CW-complex. Thus a constant map, or one homotopic to it, is an example of a phantom map but there are lots of phantom maps which are not null-homotopic. In this talk we will describe some essential phantom maps and we will give a survey of general results about phantom maps and the spaces X which occur as the domains of such maps. If time permits we will describe some open questions in this area.
This talk will be accessible to general faculty.