Department of Mathematics, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403
Abstract:
We model the homotopy fiber of the inclusion of the space of long knots in dimension into the corresponding space of immersions, through an operad structure on compactifications of configuration spaces. Development of this operad structure involves defining an operad structure on the simplicial model for the two-sphere. We apply results of McClure and Smith to deduce the existence of a two-cubes action on .